Romans 3 (Keith and Thomas)

by Opcomm · Published October 5, 2010 · Updated March 17, 2016

Teaching 10.5.10
When you have the same routine for a long time, you consider it the norm
- Same issue pops up with sin
- When you have been committing the same sin for a long time, it becomes the norm
- So when people point our sin out, we act like it is not a sin (it’s just the “norm”)
- God has a problem with our moral sins
  - The Old Testament describes our sin like a “blinding gas”
Psalm 9-18
- God’s verdict on the human race: not so good
  - In the Kosmos, there is nothing wrong with us
  - In the Bible, we are ALL messed up
- Do you think people are basically good?
  - In general, people will say sure
  - BUT… look back into history
    - Nowhere is history does it say goodness reigns supreme
    - History is full of bloodshed, brutality and atrocities
  - When you study history what do you really see?
    - No real peace
We think that we have all of our stuff together and that we are fine…
- WE ARE NOT FINE… WE ARE FAR FROM FINE
- What do we need?
  - Man’s problem, God’s solution
Romans 3:19
- “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”
  - James 2:10
    - If you are under the law, then you are not following God
  - Everyone had a list of do’s and don’ts
  - But those that thought they were good, shut up
  - The law throws off the blanket that hides our sins
    - The laws are there to show us our sins
Romans 3:21
- “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,”
  - We don’t climb into this “good works” and “self-effort” stuff
  - We were given this
  - Orienting us away from the thought that we are good enough
Faith means TRUST
- NOT “you’re the people who don’t know what they are talking about”
- You got to take a step of faith
  - This is a personal decision
- This is IMPORTANT!
Romans 3:23
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
  - No distinctions are being made… ALL of us have fallen
  - Standard of measure: perfection
    - Not possible for us because WE HAVE ALL SINNED
  - When you ask people if they are good enough to get into heaven…
    - Their response is “I don’t know”
Romans 3:24
- “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
  - Justified = acquitted
    - God is prepared to acquit you
  - Redemption = purchase
    - Through Jesus’ death
Romans 3:25
- “Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”
  - Leviticus 17
    - You don’t eat meat with blood because life is within the blood
  - We need God’s presence
    - When you sin, you don’t have a relationship with the Lord
  - God says that he has a solution
Romans 3:26
- “For the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
  - Lord is the just, the justifier and the judge
  - Isaiah
    - The Lord has made all the sins fall on himself
    - Jesus Christ
Romans 3:28
- “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
  - NOT work-based, LOVE-BASED
  - God doesn’t want to hear that we owe him
  - He wants to give us a gift
  - He wants a love relationship
    - Not a just thing, a LOVE thing
    - But you must admit that you don’t deserve this awesome gift
  - You can either pick God’s gift or toil with the law
  - God isn’t looking for members, handouts or money
    - He wants to love us!