Romans 3 - All Have Sinned

Previously in Romans 2, we saw Paul prove both the moralist and the religious man to be law breakers. The Gentiles will perish without the Law, because the Law is written on their hearts. The Jews, who were under the Law, will be judged by the Law. He ended with a radical statement for the Jewish reader, circumcision only profits if you keep the law, otherwise, it is counted uncircumcision. Likewise, if you are uncircumcised and keep the law, it is counted as circumcision. Our tendency in our human nature is to think that we are somehow an exception to the rule. these things apply to everyone else, but my circumstances are different. However, Paul is going to prove this notion to be false as well.

If the Jew is just as much a lawbreaker as the Gentile and their circumcision of no value, what advantage is there to being in Jew, Paul asks? He then answers, “much in every way.” This is primarily because they were given the Word of God. It is this Word that testifies of the coming plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Whether the Jewish people believe it or not, it doesn’t change that God is true and that men are liars. Even though we are unfaithful, He remains faithful (2 Tim 2:13). Charles Spurgeon stated the following about God being true: “It is a strange, strong expression; but it is none too strong. If God says one thing, and every man in the world says another, God is true, and all men are false. God speaks the truth, and cannot lie. God cannot change; his word, like himself, is immutable. We are to believe God’s truth if nobody else believes it. The general consensus of opinion is nothing to a Christian. He believes God’s word, and he thinks more of that than of the universal opinion of men.” This faithfulness is even seen in His judgment in unbelieving and unrepentant man.

Next Paul mentions some possible objections to this truth, and then answers them. First, if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, how can God judge me for my sin? His righteousness reveals our sin, and our unrighteousness reveals His righteousness on the day of judgment. To take it even further, if God’s truth is increased by my lie, and this brings glory to Him, why don’t we then just do evil so good will come? Paul was being falsely accused of teaching this, but he states those who truly teach this are justly condemned. These are objections that are stated out of a proud and unrepentant heart. He is coming back in judgment one day soon, and those who are wise will avoid it through faith in Christ.

Since the Jews were given the word of God, does this mean they are better than everyone else? Paul says, “Not at all.” He had previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles to be under sin. This “under sin” means to be sold under sin, and speaks to our slavery to it before coming to Christ. Next, He will put the nail in the coffin of the universal sinfulness of man.

He then quotes from some Old Testament passages in Psalms and Isaiah, and when you read those passages, it seems like they are referring to a specific group of people (e.g. David’s enemies), but here Paul quotes them as referring to mankind as a whole. He writes, “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Lest we be tempted to think we are the exception to the rule, Paul tells us there is none righteous, no, not one. He repeats it a second time, “There is none who does good, no, not one.” When the Lord repeats something twice, He is wanting to make sure we get the point. Man in his unregenerate state is a slave to his sin, he has no spiritual understanding, and does not even seek after God. He is entirely given to his sin. As we discussed before, it is God who seeks us out and calls us with His Holy Spirit. He opens our understanding to spiritual things (1 Co 2:11-16).

Paul then returns his discussion back to the law. He said that whatever the law says, it says it to those who were under the law, that every mouth would be stopped, and that the whole world would become guilty before God. In my witnessing to others, I have personally observed this happen. When you go through the 10 Commandments with someone (even just a few of them), it stops their mouths. This is especially true when you bring in the words of Jesus who said even if you think it in your heart, you are guilty. It is for this reason that no one can be justified by the deeds of the law. The law can only bring the knowledge of sin, and therefore is our schoolmaster or tutor to bring us to Christ. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:21-24)

This means that man has a fatal disease, and if our hope was in the law, it would be an incurable one. However, this is where the Lord stepped in. Now that Paul has established that man has the fatal disease of sin, he now shifts to its only cure.

He begins by saying, “but now,” signifying a transition between the judgment of God and justification. We see again that the righteousness of God is revealed, apart from the law, that is to say the keeping of the law had nothing to do with this righteousness, the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus to all who believe. So, Paul has come full circle back to justification by faith as he stated in chapter 1, and it is the bad news of sin and God’s wrath discussed in these three chapters that make this justification so glorious. Without these chapters, justification through faith loses its value, and the grace of God is something we would take for granted.

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However, we have been justified freely (without cost to us) by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This grace is the unearned favor of God. Not only does the Lord not give us what we deserve (eternal punishment in hell), but He gives us salvation and eternal life when we did nothing to deserve it. It is given to us because of our faith in Jesus who paid the price on the cross to buy us back from the slavery of sin.

God set forth Jesus to be a propitiation by His blood through faith. This word in its classical form refers to making a sacrifice to appease the anger of the Greek gods. Jesus appeased the wrath of God on the cross. This same Greek word is used to refer to the mercy seat, the lid that covered the ark, where blood was sprinkled once a year by the high priest. So then, Jesus is both our atoning sacrifice and our mercy seat.

This demonstrates the righteousness of God, because He had previously passed over the sins that were committed by the Jewish people. The blood of bulls and goats could never truly take away sin, so God in His forbearance covered them until the blood of His Son could remove them. Again, God is just in doing so, because Jesus was a perfect sacrifice. He can legally justify us through our faith in Jesus.

Paul asks the question, “Where is boasting then?” He then answers it that it is excluded, not by works, but by the law of faith. If we could be justified by our works, then we would boast about it. However, since we are all condemned by the law, it is by faith, and our boast can only be in Christ. We must conclude then that we are justified by faith, apart from the deeds of the law. If both Jew and Gentile are condemned by the law with no hope of escape on their own merits, then it would logically follow that both can be justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Lastly, he asks if faith nullifies the law? His answer is faith establishes it. Faith establishes the law that it reveals our sin, drives us to our knees, and shows us our need for Jesus Christ. In the following chapter Paul will give us an Old Testament example of someone who was justified by faith.

Romans 2 - God's Wrath Against the Moral and Religious Man

 

Last time in Romans,  we saw Paul’s condemnation of the pagan man, the idol worshiper who is given over to sensual pleasures. Mankind chooses to suppress the truth of God’s existence, becomes ungrateful, and then turns to idol worship. This leads to sexual immorality, and eventually to vile passions in the homosexual lifestyle. Along the way the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction, and mankind persists in his rebellion and unbelief. As a result, God begins giving them over to their desires and the destructive consequences of their sin until they reach the point of becoming reprobate. They have rejected God long enough that He finally gives them over to their desire to do so. At this point, pretty much anything goes, and those individuals will eventually face the wrath of God in Hell. In this chapter Paul addresses the moralist and religious man, who as we will see, is self-righteous. Man’s tendency is to think if he at least upholds some moral standard or shows religious devotion that it will cancel out his faults, or that God will somehow overlook them. However, Paul is going to make the case that all three groups (the pagan, moralist, and the religious man) are equally deserving of God’s wrath.

Lest we should somehow think we are better than the pagan man in Romans 1, Paul changes from the general plural to the specific singular (they to you). He says you are inexcusable when you judge, because when you do so, you are doing the same things. The word judge does not mean we are to refrain from discerning between right and wrong, but we are not to judge unto condemnation or judge hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5, 15-19, and Heb 5:12-14). We are to be in the habit of using the word of God to determine good from evil. God’s judgment or condemnation, however, is according to truth. Having a moral standard and passing judgment on others for not keeping it will not free us from the same condemnation if we are doing the same things. It’s the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering that holds back His judgment and blesses us in spite of our sins.

These attributes should be what draw us to repentance, but people unfortunately despise it in their ungratefulness. In their hardness and impenitent hearts, they are treasuring up wrath for the day of wrath. We can either be a recipient of God’s goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, or of His wrath, in which He will give everyone according to their deeds (a scary place to be). These people are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth. There will be indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. In contrast, for those who patiently and consistently do good, seeking glory, honor, and immortality, they will have eternal life. They will receive glory, honor, and peace. Here we see reference to the Jew and the Greek, meaning the religious and moral man is across people groups. At first glance it may seem as though Paul is teaching a works-based theology, but he is merely stating that the evidence of those who are desiring eternal life will be that they persist in doing good.

There is no partiality with God. Those who have sinned without the law will perish without the law, and those who have sinned in the law will perish by the law. It’s not enough to just be a hearer of the law, for a lot of people hear the word of God and don’t obey it. In fact, none of us obey it. In order to be justified by the law, a person must be a doer of it perfectly (Gal 5:3 and James 2:10).

Paul tells us something interesting here: the Gentiles will die in their sins because the Gentiles obey the law even though they weren’t taught it. This is because the law is written on their hearts. People have an innate sense of what is right and wrong. The proof of this is when a person is offended by things like murder, theft, adultery etc. It’s not ok unless they’re the ones doing it. However, the more a person does it, the more hardened their heart becomes. Their thoughts either will accuse or excuse themselves when Jesus will judge the secrets of men’s hearts according to Paul’s Gospel. This is proof that God’s wrath is part of the Gospel message. Again, it’s what makes the good news truly good news.

Lastly, Paul will focus specifically on the Jew (the religious man). The Jewish people believed that because God had given them the law, they were His chosen people, and thought that keeping the law ensured their salvation. However, Paul would ask the Jew, do you steal, do you commit adultery, do you profit from the idol’s temple? They who boast in the law, did they dishonor God by breaking the law? The obvious answer to these questions is, yes. We have all broken the law in one form or another, if not outwardly, certainly inwardly, in the heart. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Mat 5:27-28) So then, the sins of the heart still make us guilty before God.

Paul quotes from Isaiah in stating the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. When Paul is talking about the law, he is referring primarily to the 10 Commandments, the 10 cannons of God’s law. An interesting fact, all of the 10 Commandments are restated in the NT as valid for us today with one exception, and that is the keeping of the Sabbath. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. The literal keeping of the Sabbath was meant for a sign between God and the Jewish people. Paul will develop this later, but the law was not given to make man righteous, but to reveal to him he cannot be righteous on his own.

He then gets into the topic of circumcision. For the Jew, circumcision was a big deal (Gen 17:1-4). This was the physical sign they were God’s people, and if they refused to be circumcised, they would be cut off from being part of the nation. A Jew would likely have protested to Paul’s argument saying they were saved because they were circumcised. However, Paul said if they, being circumcised, did not keep the law, then it was as though they were not circumcised. Likewise, if an uncircumcised man keeps the law, it would be counted as circumcision, and he would in turn judge them who were breaking the law. He then makes a radical statement if you were a Jew: being a Jew is not outward in the act of circumcision, but being a Jew is being one inwardly, and circumcision was of the heart, in the Spirit. In other words, the true change is not outward in a person’s behavior, but in their heart when they respond to the call of God by faith. Circumcision was merely an outward sign of an inward faith. Paul will later refer to Abraham who was credited righteousness before he was circumcised, and will explain to us what is this circumcision of the heart.

Where might we find those who fit into the category of the moral or religious man? We can find them within the Christian Church, in both Catholic and Protestant denominations. We also can see them in pseudo-Christian sects like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Really, it’s anyone who is trusting in their own righteousness or religious devotion to be in right standing with God, and attempt to condemn others for not doing the same. Many of these are very nice people and moral by man’s standards, but as we have already seen, our own morals or religious devotion cannot make us meet the righteous requirements of the law.

In application, do we have a tendency to be overly critical of others? Do we condemn or pass judgment on others when we are doing the same things? Sometimes the things we are doing are actually just as bad or worse. It is right to properly identify sin as the Bible says it, but we need to be careful that we are not condemning others, for that is the Lord’s job. We also need to be careful not to judge hypocritically. We need to remember where the Lord has brought us from. This will hopefully help us to deal with others in humility. Remember, it’s the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. When we are dealing with the moralist or the religious person, it is important to go back to the 10 Commandments to draw their attention to their own sin in order to show them their need for the Gospel. So far, Paul has proven all of humanity (the pagan, moralist, and the religious man) to be guilty, and just in case we are missing it, he will explain things even more clearly in the next chapter.

Romans 1 - The Wrath of God Revealed from Heaven

Previously in Romans, we looked at Paul’s introduction to the book, and we saw how he wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. God’s righteousness is revealed to man by faith, and the just shall live by that faith.

Next, in verses 1:18-3:20, he will demonstrate why man must be justified by faith, because he is under the sentence of divine judgment. He begins with the immoral and pagan man, the individual or group who have historically been idol worshippers and given over to sensual pleasures. They may have heard little to none of the Gospel. The remainder of chapter 1 describes the downward progression of a person or society who has rejected God. As we read, we will see Paul refer three times to God giving them up, and then over, to their sinful passions, and it is a form of His judgment. John McArthur referred to it as God’s abandonment judgment. He leaves man to his own devices, and allows him to experience the full consequences of his sins.

So, the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven. The wrath of God is His anger and vengeance toward sin, and ultimately ends in the lake of fire for those who have not believed in the Gospel (Rev 20:11-15). The wrath of God is not popular, but it’s a very real thing and part of the Gospel message. Because of our inherent sin nature, from the age of accountability, we have His wrath abiding on us until we come to Christ. John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (Jn 3:36) It’s revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, indicating it’s the behavior that God is unpleased with. The sinful acts are committed by sinful people, but the Lord wants to save the individual (He’s willing that none should perish). Notice he doesn’t say they don’t know the truth, but that they suppress it in unrighteousness.  In order to suppress or hold something down, you have to know it exists. Mankind doesn’t like to admit there is a god, because if he did, then he would be accountable to Him. He suppresses the truth to go on sinning.

What may be known of God is evident among them because He has shown it to them. From the beginning, God has made Himself known through His creation. So much so, that Paul says that man is without excuse. In other words, a person will not be able to stand before God on judgment day and say they didn’t know better. When we look at creation and all its complexities, we see all the marks of intelligent design, and if there is intelligent design, there must have been an intelligent designer. David understood this. He wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” (Psa 19:1-6) Chuck Missler writes, “The witness to God in nature is so clear and so constant that ignoring it is indefensible.” It is my personal opinion that if a person is truly and honestly seeking the truth rather than suppressing it, God will reveal Himself to them, either by personal revelation or through another person such as a missionary. There are records of this very thing happening in history.

This downward progression of man begins with knowing God, but choosing not to glorify Him as God, nor be thankful to Him. If we find ourselves not interested in worshipping the Lord and thanking Him for His benefits, that is our first indicator our hearts are not right. This then leads to futility of thinking and a darkening of the heart to spiritual truth. Man’s thoughts leave the divine and begin thinking only in the natural. Since he was made to worship God, when he does not, he naturally begins to worship something else (idolatry). He makes a god in his own image or in the image of something in nature.

Since he has now made his own god, he begins fulfilling his own selfish passions. Sinful behavior naturally follows idolatry. Here is where we see the first time it states that God gives them up to uncleanness, which are the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies. Historically, man has made idols to represent their greatest needs or passions, so sexual immorality was a big part of idol worship. The problems with this are obvious: first are the unwanted pregnancies and what to do with those children. Then there is the STDs that can cause all sorts of health problems, including cancer. Third, we have the emotional scarring from sexual relationships, becoming one flesh with someone, ripping that apart, and then doing the same all over again with someone else. They have exchanged the truth of God for the lie. Idol worship is truly a lie: it promises to fulfil our wants and needs, but only leaves us feeling emptier in the end.

The second giving them up is to vile passions. The lust of man is never satisfied, so as he ignores the conviction of the Holy Spirit, it only leads to more. Here the women leave natural relationships with men for same-sex relations. Likewise, the men do the same, burning in their lusts for each other, and doing that which is shameful. The Bible describes it as against nature. The words Paul uses here for women and men are female and male, and were used for lower creatures. The implication here is that this is animal-like behavior. Missler again writes, “This is not speaking of natural or normal appetites of the body, or even the abuses of these: adultery or harlotry. It is dealing with unnatural appetites in which all normal instincts are left behind.” Any of us who grew up on a farm or have just been around animals know they don’t have moral understanding. We have all probably heard in referring to homosexuality that sexual sin is sexual sin, and in one sense that is true; however, there does appear to be a distinct division here that this is unnatural and perverse. It’s important to remember that this is not the unpardonable sin, but it is also important to call it what it is (what the Scriptures say it is). Again, there is a built-in penalty where the destructive consequences of the sin are part of God’s judgment on it. Research indicates that male homosexuals have three times the rate of partners as do heterosexual males, and eight times that of heterosexual women. This obviously increases the rate of STDs as well.

Lastly, because they did not want to retain God in their knowledge, we see the third giving them over to a debased (reprobate) mind. God gives them over to this complete and utter rejection of Him. The word reprobate means rejected or worthless, and was used of metals that did not pass the test. The lord said in Genesis that His Spirit will not always strive with man, and there comes a point where the Lord does give a person over. It’s not that they want to get right with Him and cannot, but that they simply don’t want to. They’ve lost all desire to because the Holy Spirit has stopped drawing them (Jn 6:44). This is what the Scriptures refer to as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the complete rejection of the Gospel and biblical truth.

Once here, the person(s) are given over to any and all sorts of evil listed in verse 29-31.

It’s not that these sins did not exist before, but that they are openly practiced and even celebrated in society. Since many of our states and even our federal government have legally sanctioned homosexual sin, it’s been a rapid downward spiral into okaying all sorts of sinful behavior, the worst of which is probably yet to come if the Lord doesn’t intervene. Just recently we have an innocent Ukrainian woman stabbed to death on a train by a thug wanting to kill a white person, a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis by a trans person, and a political assassination of Charlie Kirk, a Christian patriot, by a person with a furry fixation (someone who has a sexual interest in anthropomorphic animals). This is sick stuff, folks. Have we reached the point of being given over to a reprobate mind as a culture? Only God knows, but I would say we are getting dangerously close. At least we still have some states who are willing to administer the death penalty for capital crimes such as these, an indicator we are not as far gone as those mentioned in Romans 1. Truthfully, we are getting dangerously close to a Romans 1 world, and that is just the proof the end is near. Jesus said that it would be like the days of Noah and the days of Lot when He comes (Luke 17:26-30). The days of Noah and the days of Lot were characterized by violence and sexual perversion. His second coming will be in judgment on these sins.

Verse 32 states that the righteous judgment of God is the death penalty for all who practice these things, as well as those who approve or take pleasure in them that do them. It’s not enough simply to not commit the sins ourselves, but we are not to support or enable others to do so.

In conclusion, in what ways are we allowing pagan America to affect us? Are we disinterested in worshiping the Lord? Are we ungrateful to God for His blessing and provision? Are there areas in which we are mixing idolatrous practices with Christianity? Yoga and other occultic practices are popular today even in the Church. Are we sexually immoral in any way. This would include what we think about or might look up on the internet. Paul told the Ephesians that fornication was not even once to be named among them. Are we covetous, envious, or deceitful? Are we gossipers, proud or boastful? Are we disobedient to parents (if you are a child)? Are we untrustworthy? What about unloving, unforgiving, or unmerciful? If so, we need to confess these sins to the Lord and turn from them.

Most of us who are believers probably are not regularly practicing these things, but are we approving or taking pleasure in those that do? What do we do when a T.V. show or movie features a homosexual or other sexually immoral person? Do we turn it off, or do we keep watching? I am amazed at the number of Christians who liked the most recent Top Gun movie. Although there were certainly some good themes in the movie such as forgiveness and reconciliation, there was a scene in which nothing was left to your imagination that he and his girlfriend were fornicating. What do we do when our music has explicit or suggestive content? Do we turn it off, or keep on listening? Paying for this stuff sends a message to the artists to keep producing more of the same. This is besides filling our minds with filth. What do we do when a trans person wants to be called by their preferred pronouns? Do we go along with it under the guise of being respectful and loving, or do we do the truly loving thing by telling them this isn’t pleasing to the Lord? This is pagan stuff, guys, for which the Lord is coming back in judgment, so as believers, we shouldn’t want to participate in these things.

Paul’s first focus has been on the pagan or immoral man, and in the next chapter he will address the moral and religious man. We may have the tendency to think because we at least try to adhere to a moral standard or are religious that we are better off, but Paul will prove this notion otherwise.