Romans 3:9-20
Getting on the Same Pages as God about Our Guilt
Introduction
A. I love you all, Don’t blame me it is the Bible
B. The Scripture Passage today that we have to deal with, hurts
C. I will tell you right now after where done, you are not going to feel good about yourselves
D. Also I will advice you all to pick your feet up off the ground. Why? Because I am probably going to step on a lot of toes today.
E. I love you all, don’t blame me it in the Bible
F. I have always like the Paul’s writing. I have found this to be logical practical and too the point
G. Some writers are easier for me to follow; Paul is definitely one of them.
H. Paul lays us for us the case against man.
I. Today we are going to look at
a. The Who
b. The Charge
c. The Verdict
I. The Who (3:9-12)
A. Explanation
1. Once again Paul is up to his famous FAQ style, to answer questions before they are asked
2. To prove Paul’s point he uses a very good technique. He quotes scripture
3. If you ever want to prove a point, quote Scripture, it is hard to debate what the Word of God says
4. Focusing in on verses 10, 11, and 12. I want you to take out your pencil and underline every time that it says “No One” or “all” or “Not one.” Any of those words are meant to include everybody.
5. Now count them up, according to my count 7 times in three verses it makes reference to all
6. That is very important. I believe Paul did that to further his point that this is everyone.
7. But Paul goes further then that. Not only is it every body but it also indicates that it is the whole man
8. Verse 11 “there is not one who UNDERSTANDS” by that Paul is referring to the mind. The mind is being controlled by sin
9. Verse 11 “No one who SEEKS God” by that Paul is referring to the Heart. The Heart is being controlled by sin
10. Verse 12 “There is no one who DOES good” By that Paul is referring to the persons will. The will is being controlled by sin
B. Application
1. Now lets put all these thoughts together and apply them to our lives
2. The Bible is very clear on who is going to be charged in the case against man
3. Every one
4. Most of you probably accept that thought but allow me to step on some tows
5. By indicating everyone by saying that all our guilty, you are essentially convicting yourself and everyone else
6. What that means is the Muslims, guilty. Blacks, guilty. Jews, Guilty. Buddhist, Guilty. Islamic, guilty. American Christians … Guilty
7. Do not think you are any better then they are just because you claim to be a Christian, do not think you are any better then they are just because you are an American
8. The fact is we are all guilty. Period.
9. And we are not just talking about one part of our bodies we are completely guilty
10. Our Minds, Our Hearts, our will all guilty
C. Illustration
1. When we get cars donated at the Lighthouse there are three major parts. There is the Engine, the Transmission, and the Body. Often that case is that one of those areas is bad. Maybe a blown transmission bad engine or bad body. What we hope to do is get another car exactly like it and make two out of one. However we occasionally receive the car with a bad engine bad transmission and bad body. Obliviously we take the car to the junkyard and get rid of it.
2. Here is the connection, we as humans have three parts. It would be nice if one of those three parts would work. Unfortunately for us, if we were a car we would deserve to go to the junkyard.
3. All of Everyone, not just part of everyone, The entire everyone is guilty of sin
4. The Who is All
II. The Crime (3:13-18)
A. Explanation
1. Exactly what did we do? Paul tells of the Crimes we committed in Verses 13-18
2. Paul gives us an X=ray study or the guilty sinner, from head to tow
3. Verse 13 and 14 Paul examines the throat tongue lips and mouth
4. Of course when we see the word their in this case we can assume that it is from the previous argument of the guilt of the sin is on All
5. We soon get the picture that our out of our mouths flows all sort of filth
6. Filth – or better put SIN
7. Moving on Paul in verse 15 is talking about the feet
8. Just as his words are deceitful, his actions with his feet are destructive
9. We then get to verse 17 and rather then take a X-ray Paul gives us a cat scan of the brain
10. If cat scans could find out what is going through their mind, it would reveal that the one who sins can not find what they are looking for, peace, it does not exist for them
11. Finally we need a psychological exam in verse 18 to reveal that the who, sinner if you will, is also committing the crime of pride
12. He thinks he is all that. In his mind there is no need for God.
B. Application
1. What does this mean for us?
2. When you go over the list of the crimes you notice something.
3. Murder is not mentioned hear, stealing is not mentioned hear
4. There is a common misconception out there that if you do not commit the “Major Crimes” then you are ok
5. But notice where Paul spends his time and makes his case
6. Sin with out mouths; have any of you said something you knew was wrong?
7. Sin with our feet, have any of you done something that you knew was wrong?
8. Sin with our Mind; have any you had a thought that you knew was wrong?
9. Sin with our Pride, Have any of you ever thought more highly of yourselves then you should?
C. Illustration
1. For my birthday my family got me an X-Box. One of the games that I have is GT 2002 racing. Basically it is just a racing game. Ever so often you have to complete a special “License Race” In this race you have a set time that you must finish the course. The one race the time to beat was 1:09 sec. 3 or 4 times my time was 1:09:011. 11 hundredths of a second! That’s it. You know what I did not pass. I had to do it again.
2. Just like being off 11 hundredths of a second if you are just a little bit off from God’s standard, you do not pass
3. The Crime is Sin
III. The Verdict (3:19-20)
A. Explanation
1. When we look at Verse 19 and 20 we have to remember a couple things about the God’s law, also known as the Old Testament
2. First of all it was to be followed by all
3. Second, it was very through. It did not leave a lot to be interpreted. You could understand it.
4. It was basically black and white. Wright and Wrong
5. With that in mind when we add the quotations that Paul has just made together we quickly realize we are guilty
6. So that every mouth may be silenced, of course mouths are going to be silenced what else do they have to say
7. You can not argue with the fact that everyone is guilty before God
8. The law, the Old Testament, can indeed make you righteous
9. Here is the problem though
10. Nobody can do what the law demands
11. Therefore rather then the law declaring people righteous, through the law we come conscious of sin
B. Application
1. What can we apply to our lives from this?
2. Guilty. We are guilty
3. I would love to be able to sit there and argue the fact
4. I would love to be able to sit here and declare myself righteous
5. But the fact is because we have not fallowed the law
6. We Are Guilty
7. I do not care how “Good” of a life you lived
8. I do not care if you have won the noble peace prize
9. If you do not follow the law completely, you are guilty
10. And there is no doubt about it
C. Illustration
1. When I was 19 I was traveling home from Edinboro after a week of camp. I was in a little bit of a rush. Traveling slightly faster then I should. I was doing about 75 in a 65. I got pulled over and the cop gave me a ticket. I did not have the money to pay it. I did not want to find the money to pay it. So I went to court and fought it.
2. I got there one time, was a little nervous, the hearing started, we were sworn in, the Judge ask the officer to tell his side of the story and he did, and then the judge asked me how do I plea. Pause. I went there to try and get out of a ticket
3. I was thinking what could I say that would get me out of this ticket. What could I do so I would not have to pay? Well I am thinking of these things I accidentally looked at my wrist. On my wrist was a WWJD bracelet. Shoot I was caught
4. You know what I said. I am Guilty, I am sorry.
5. I had nothing to say I was silenced, I knew I was wrong
6. The Verdict is Guilty.
Conclusion
A. The who is all
B. The Crime is sin
C. And the Verdict is guilty
D. Ouch, this stuff hurts doesn’t it?
E. The best that I can think of to end this sermon, and I am sorry if it does not leave you feeling happy
F. Is to ask a simple question. Has, to paraphrase the Bible, has your mouth ever been stopped?
G. Are you boasting about your own self-righteousness and defending yourself before God?
H. It is only when we stand silent before God as sinner that He can save us
I. When we defend and commend ourselves, we condemn ourselves
J. The whole world is guilty before God – That includes you, that includes me.
K. I want you to examine your life, find the many areas that you are guilty
L. Then stand silent before God and confess
M. If after hearing all this and examining your life you are a complete mess let me give you the next steps
N. Continue starting with Rom 3:21 and read the rest of Romans slowly, taking time to let the words sink in, not skimming.
O. Then give me a call and we will talk
P. It is time we get on the same page as God about our Guilt
