Romans Chapter Three              Lesson   34

 

Answer:  3:6  Strongest rejection of these arguments given.

- If God were unfair, unjust in judging the Jew [3:5] then it would logically follow He could not judge the world.  

 

- have 2 major judgments of the world,  both future; Tribulation;  GWTJ;

- If neither of these do not take place, if you could will them away some how then God is not God and His word doesn't mean anything!

 

 

With 3:7-8 Paul strengthens his argument with an illustration;

- vs.7  This is typical debaters technique; Paul assumes a position and then destroys it. 

 

Since my sin of lying Paul says, benefits God, by making His truthfulness clearer, how is it then Paul says I am still being judged as a sinner?  How can He judge my sin? 

 

 

- And then we have their blasphemous assertion in vs:8a;  it’s logically the next step!  "Let us do evil that good may come? 

 

 

What does that sound like? That is "Let us do evil that good may come?  Sounds like the ends justify the means!  Never a biblical principle, ever!

 

 

Our attitude should be;   Lord, I'm in a tough situation here and I'm going to do what I know is right, no matter how hard it is and I'm going to trust you for the results.   You'll have to work it out.

 

 

Answer:  v.8b  Their condemnation is just!

The objectors reply is so ridiculous that Paul sees no need to refute them, He simply entrusts them to God.

- Their judgment keeps on being what is right, just, deserved, e;ndikoj

 

Observations:

1. These verses show the danger of human logic extended beyond the teaching of Scripture??

 

 

2. When we see these things, [extended faulty logic] our response should be the same as Paul's,  God forbid! 

 

3. Truth may be manipulated to become the basis of error.

 

 

4. Paul taught grace so clearly, as we shall see, that He was accused of promoting sin.

 

5. Coming up to the summary of this section in verse v:9,  here's what Paul has been leading up to!

 

a. The heathen sinned against the light they received from creation.

b. The moralists sinned against 2 lights, creation and their conscience.

c. The religious type sinned against much light, having the revelation  of God, the "oracles of God."  

d. How many promises and prophecies? Thousands!

 

6. There is truth that were sin abounds grace much more abounds.

- One reason that sin and evil is in the world; is related to revealing how great and glorious God really is;

 

7. These objectors also demonstrate a defective view of sin in that they take it lightly.

 

8. In doing so they also demonstrate a lack of understanding of the character of God.

 

9. They need to learn, as we do,  that sin is not just breaking or overstepping an abstract law that God has established but that sin is a violation of a person, the person of God.

 

 

The Scriptures have concluded all under sin. God has included all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all.

 

 

3:9-20  The condemnation of ALL is summarized! 

Intro:

 

 

 

 

- Paul gives us here the divine viewpoint, the answer to all these apparent dilemmas of man.

 

Outline:

In 3:1-8 we saw that Paul answered the Jewish counter claims to his teaching  in a debate with an objector.

In 3:9  The Charge; summation of his presentation;  Condemnation of  “all”

In 3:10-18 Paul lifts up the mirror of the word, the OT before the faces of all men, all mankind to validate the charge he has just made.    [Have a 14 point indictment]

Then in 3:19 find the verdict handed down.

 

3:9  Verse 9 opens just as verse 1;  With a question;  What then?

 

- In vs:1 the question he was dealing with was,  Is there an advantage  in being a Jew?  Paul's answer was yes, great in every respect.

 

- Here in verse 9 he begins with the question "Are we better than they?"  What is Paul's  answer?? Not at all!! 

 

 

What he's asking is this,  Are the Jews in a superior position to the Gentiles?  Ans. Not at all!

 

- Why?? "For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin."

- "already charged" proaitia,omai  legal term  to accuse/incriminate previously; therefore to charge before hand.

 

This statement encompasses the whole scope of man's condition as God views them.

It says that all men, all mankind, are under the guilt, the power,  and the penalty of sin and the condemnation that it brings to them.

 

- What man must ultimately come to grips with, is the reality that we have no means within ourselves to deal with this condition, "all under sin."

 

 

3:10-18  Paul validates the charge made.

And he does so by going back to the OT Scriptures and holding them up and says here's some documentation to prove the universality of what I have just said.

 

The fourteen count indictment breaks down this way;

- Paul first focuses on man's character  3:10-12.

- In 3:13-17 focuses on man's conduct  3:13-17

- In 3:18  he gives the underlying cause.

 

Paul first focuses on man's character  3:10-12. 

3:10  "There is none righteous, not even one;"

 

- For those who think they somehow have arrived based on who they are and what they have done in their lives is sufficient to please God - this takes them totally out of the picture.

 

The perspective in vs:10-12 is that of a judge;  God as judge;

 

3:11  "There is none who understands." suni,hmi  to perceive/understand

 

Man motivated by his old nature suppresses the truth about God, he fails to understand who He is and therefore he does not seek after Him.

 

"There is none who seeks after Him"  evkzhte,w  to actively seek;  implies a determined search. 

 

Just what are they looking for? 

 

They are looking for a god or gods not the God,  the God of truth and justice who created all things. 

 

Does man naturally choose God's way or do they go their own way?

 

What is man's natural reaction to the light of truth?   Jn 3:19-20 

 

- When Adam fell, did he seek God or did God seek out him? 

 

 

How does He seek man?  He calls man through the Gospel, and the pre-salvation convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.

 

3:12 They have all, immoral pagan, the moralist, the religious type, have turned aside,   [turned away from God, from truth], they have become useless.