The Sinfulness of Mankind – Adult STS Lesson 231

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23 (Memory Verse)

Introduction

In the preceding chapter of his epistle to the church in Rome, Apostle Paul taught that God would not justify every Jew merely on the basis of their lineage with Abraham. Rather, He would predicate the acceptance of anyone—Jew or Gentile—on the same conditions, namely, repentance and faith. “Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?” (Romans 2:26). The implication of this doctrine is that God is not swayed by such external considerations as race or nationality. He “desirest truth in the inward parts” from both the Jews and the Gentiles.

The Jews had objected to Paul’s teaching that placed them on the same pedestal with the Gentiles, thereby nullifying the privileges of their relationship with Abraham, and the covenant of circumcision. However, the apostle insists that “he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh” (Romans 2:28). He shows God’s disapproval and warning against their sins and false assumptions with the inspired writings of their own prophets (Romans 3:19,20,25 with Psalm 143:2, Leviticus 16:15). The same was the apostle’s goal towards the Gentiles. He wrote: “For all (Jews and Gentiles) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

1. THE SINFULNESS OF THE JEWS

Romans 3:1-9; 2 Kings 22:6-20; Romans 6:1,2; 3:9

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:1,2). Apostle Paul does not deny that the Jews had some advantages over the Gentiles. The point, however, is that it is one thing to have an initial advantage but quite another to improve on it to the end. The door of acceptance with God was open to both the Jews and the Gentiles alike. In the race to that door, the Jews failed to make the best of their privileges and advantage, by turning it into a privilege for sin. The most important of Israel’s privileges is “that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” They had the revelation of God’s will through the Law of Moses and the writings of other prophets, which other nations were not privileged to have initially. Rather than seize on this privilege, they became opposers of the gospel of Christ; thereby turning their privileges into a stumbling block. The knowledge of the Scripture, rightly applied acts as a spiritual compass to forestall a deviation from Christ. They helped redirect back to the right course. An instance of this right application of the privilege was at the beginning of King Josiah’s reign, when the discovery of the book of the law in the temple by Hilkiah, the high priest, fuelled a spiritual reformation and return to God (2 Kings 22:6-20). It is always a sign of God’s mercy when He makes His word prominent among a people, family or church.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (verse 3). The apostle maintains that God’s faithfulness and holiness ensure that those among the Jews who were faithful to the terms of His covenant and made good use of their privileges, will certainly not be denied the benefits of their obedience, notwithstanding the disobedience of their compatriots. As the Scripture says, “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto [Israel]” (Psalm 89:35). He, however, teaches also that God will by no means overlook the sins of the Jews, notwithstanding their specious argument that He would be magnifying His grace by so doing. “But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? [I speak as a man] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” (Romans 3:5,6).

There were among the Jews those who would palliate the unbelief and disobedience of the Jews. They argued that it would be unfair for God to punish the Jews for their sins, when those same sins had resulted in the greater glory of God by prompting the extension of the knowledge of God by the Gentiles. Even going by their argument, the apostle maintained that sin does not become less sinful just because God in His power and sovereignty turned such sin to His glory. We must not do evil that good may come (verse 8).

There were those who even claimed, albeit falsely, that apostle Paul preached such absurdity: Neither the covenant of circumcision with Israel nor God’s free grace extended to the Gentiles can be taken for a license to sin. He later amplified the same truth in this epistle: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1,2). He concluded that the Jews had no better claim to God’s kingdom than the Gentiles. “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin” (verse 9). “All have sinned” and are in need of “God’s imputed righteousness.”

2. SIN: A UNIVERSAL DILEMMA

Romans 3:10-18; 2 Corinthians 13:5, Psalms 140:3; 141:7, Isaiah 59:7,8; Proverbs 15:4

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (verse 10). Relying on the Scriptures, Apostle Paul shows by inspiration, the sinfulness of all souls—Jews and Gentiles: “There is no one, left on his or her own who seeks after God or lives a righteous life: ‘no, not one.'” He quotes from the Old Testament and lists some of the sternest indictments of God’s prophets against both the Jews and Gentiles. On the contrary, true believers have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and bear testimony of the freedom from the bondage of sin. We may therefore gauge the truth of our claims in Christ, by examining ourselves by these scriptural benchmarks, whether He is truly in us, or whether we are reprobates (2 Corinthians 13:5).

One, ‘There is none righteous, no not one’ (verse 10). A true believer manifests in all situations a true righteousness through the faith of Christ (Philippians 1:9). Enabled by His grace, we are able to follow in his steps who ‘did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth’ (1 Peter 2:22).

Two, ‘There is none that understandeth’ (verse 11). Christ has given us understanding to know Him that is true and be able to differentiate truth from error.

Three, ‘There is none that seeketh after God’ (verse 11). Every false religion leads people away from God, but we know that Christ is the only Way to Him.

Four, ‘They are all gone out of the way’ (verse 12). Failure to embrace Christ truthfully amounts to groping in the dark and ending in eternal torment.

Five, ‘They are together become unprofitable’ (verse 12). Believers were in time past unprofitable to God, to others and to themselves. But accepting Christ has made us His profitable servants, useful to our communities and families through daily, godly influence (Philemon 11).

Six, ‘There is none that doeth good, no not one’ (verse 13-2:14).

Seven, ‘Their throat is an open sepulchre’ (verse 13). The unregenerate person’s foul, offensive language reflects the decay in the heart; whereas a believer’s words are ‘always with grace, seasoned with salt’ (Colossians 4:6).

Eight, ‘With their tongues they have used deceit’ (verse 13). Sinners are mischief makers who always seek to gain advantage of others, but the tongue of the righteous is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4).

Nine, ‘The poison of asps is under their lips’ (verse 13). The words of unregenerate persons are like poison capable of destroying others, but true believers edify and minister grace to their hearers (Ephesians 4:29).

Ten, ‘Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness’ (verse 14). The hatred and ill will in the heart of sinners find expression in caustic and bitter words, whereas saints’ tongues are under the Spirit’s bridle (James 1:26).

Eleven, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood’ (verse 15). Fuelled by hatred in their hearts, sinners can easily degenerate into shedding blood through outright murder, abortion or suicide. Saints are as harmless as doves, spreading love, life and reconciliation.

Twelve, ‘Destruction and misery are in their ways’ (verse 16). Sin is likened to leaven, an agent of corruption, decay and retrogression, attended by human suffering. Believers on the other hand are likened to salt, having preservative and seasoning effect.

Thirteen, ‘And the way of peace have they not known’ (verse 17). The natural man has a tendency towards strife and conflict, whether as an individual, family members or groups. God’s children are peacemakers, ready to make concessions and sacrifices in the pursuit of it.

Fourteen, ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes’ (verse 18). The root of humanity’s sinfulness is the absence of reverential fear for God, love and submission to Him. Believers’ attitude towards God is driven by love, sanctifying fear and gratitude.

3. SALVATION FOR ALL THROUGH CHRIST’S BLOOD

Romans 3:19-31; Luke 18:11; Psalm 14:2,3; Acts 14:7; Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (verses 23,24). Sin may be defined as any thought, word or deed which falls short of God’s standard of holiness and perfection. This definition shows why it is impossible for an unaided fallen human to attain acceptable righteousness by the law. If someone is to be adjudged righteous, it must be without (outside) the law. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (verse 20). The moral law given by God is so far from justifying man that it succeeds only in exposing and declaring man’s sinfulness. It offers no hope “for by the (moral) law is the knowledge of sin” (verse 20). Likewise, the ceremonial law with its rampant sacrifice of animal blood is also impotent in dealing with our sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).

The resolution of the predicament of our sin lies only with the free grace of God. This grace is given through our Lord Jesus Christ as a gift. When a Pharisee sought to push his acceptance before God, by flaunting the credentials of his “good works”, our Lord Jesus Christ declared that he could not be justified: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican” (Luke 18:11). The required standard of righteousness is not just the morality of men, but God’s perfection and holiness, and this can only be attained through Christ. The confidence of the Jews in the law is shattered by the judgment passed on them by the psalmist: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God… they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2,3).

As for the Gentiles, although they had no codified law given to them, yet God did not leave them without witness. He manifests His being, mercy, order, wisdom and power among them in His creation. The witness of God’s being and His adduced attributes rather than lead the Gentiles to glorify Him as God and be thankful, led them to self-corruption and gross, abominable idolatries and other demonic practices. Thus, both the Jews with the law, and the Gentiles without the law are equally guilty before God.

Sin has made a breach between God and humanity, creating a need for reconciliation. The offended divine Majesty is willing to be reconciled to sinful mankind. He Himself appointed the Mediator of the reconciliation for humanity to Himself: our Savior did this in a manner that does not compromise while satisfying His demand of justice. He provided man’s perfect Representative, who bore our sins and offences and was raised for our justification and peace of reconciliation. As Christ who knows no sin became a sin offering for us, so also we who believe in Him are made righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Questions for Review

1. Mention the initial advantages which the Jews had over the Gentiles.

2. What is sin, and what are the sins of sinners?

3. Why are all men declared sinners?

4. Explain why it is absurd to argue in favour of sin because God’s grace is thereby magnified.

5. Why is there a need for reconciliation?

6. How can a sinner be reconciled with God?

7. What danger awaits the unrepentant soul in eternity?