Everyone is Lost in Sin - Romans 1:18-25, 28-32; 3:9-10 - Ocotber 5, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – Everyone is Lost in Sin – October 5, 2008

This begins a new series of study entitled “This I Believe.”

Our scripture is Romans 1:18-25, 28-32; 3:9-10.

All of our scripture for the next two (2) months will be in the Book of Romans.

The Book of Romans is an exciting book to study. The Apostle Paul wrote Romans about 57 A.D. Paul had not visited Rome and he wanted to prepare them for his visit by giving them an overview of his understanding of the gospel. The church in Rome is believed to have been started by Jews who had received CHRIST at Pentecost when CHRIST sent the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell each believer. The church in Rome grew and its majority membership were Jews but also contained a high number of Gentiles.

Many Christians use scripture found in Romans to tell others how to receive CHRIST. These scriptures are referred to as Roman road to salvation:

Romans 3:23 – Everyone has sinned.

Romans 6:23 – The penalty for our sin is death.

Romans 5:8 – JESUS CHRIST died for sin.

Romans 10:8-10 – To be forgiven for our sin, we must believe that JESUS died for our sin, was resurrected from the dead and confess JESUS as LORD. Salvation comes through JESUS CHRIST.

This is a good guide to use but keep in mind that salvation depends on the heart and not saying the right words. I heard of a person simply saying, “LORD I give up” and CHRIST came into his life immediately and in a powerful way. GOD knew exactly what he meant. GOD understands our heart. If a person is sincere and desires forgiveness for his or her sin and to have a relationship with CHRIST, HE knows what is in his or her heart. Some people know when CHRIST enters their lives but for some it may be a gradual awareness of HIS presence in their lives. The key is for your spirit to bear witness of the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT in your life.

Romans 8:16:

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

We need to keep in mind that Rome was a multi-cultural society and was a haven for all sorts of gods. Paul wanted to make it clear that every person needed salvation. Jews were religious people but every Jew needs to be saved from the consequences of sin, which is death and eternal separation from GOD.

Salvation is justification or being made clean before GOD. We often use the word justification to help us understand the cleansing nature that CHRIST’S shed blood has for sinners – just-as-if-I-never-sinned. Once a person has asked CHRIST to forgive him or her of his or her sin, then living each day in the light of his or her salvation is called sanctification. Sanctification is to be set aside to serve GOD or to be made saint like. As we journey with our LORD upon earth and obediently serve HIM, believers will be glorified when we complete our journey upon earth. In last week’s lesson, we heard the master tell his faithful servants, “Well done” because you invested what I entrusted to you wisely. GOD wants every believer to invest wisely what has been entrusted to us and that is CHRIST in us the hope of glory.

Paul states in Chapter One his eagerness to preach the gospel to any person – Jew, Gentile, Greek, non-Greek, wise, unwise, to anyone. Paul is eager to tell the good news to any human who will listen. Since Paul was a Jew, he likely wanted to make it clear that the gospel was for all people. In verse 17, Paul made it clear that GOD declares a believer righteous because of faith and faith alone. Since he was a Jew, he likely wanted to make it clear that a new convert did not first have to go through some of the Jewish rituals, such as circumcision, before becoming a Christian. Salvation depends upon a person taking a step of faith. The step of faith then produces righteousness.

Romans 1:16-17:

The Righteous Will Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,[11] Other mss add of Christ because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith,[12] Or revealed out of faith into faith just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.[13] Or The one who is righteous by faith will live [14] Hab 2:4

Then he goes into verse 18 where this lesson begins.

Let’s read Romans 1:18-20:

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known[15] Or what is known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people[16] Lit they are without excuse.

Why does GOD become so angry with godless and unrighteous people? It is because GOD has surrounded every human with evidence of Himself, HIS power and nature. GOD is truth and HIS desire is that all humans will seek HIM to get to really know HIM. Godlessness and unrighteousness blocks their ability to see and comprehend it. However, every human is without excuse because GOD has manifested HIS eternal power and divine nature in everything HE has made. This includes the universe, earth and everything upon earth. All any human has to do is look around them and stand in awe of GOD the Creator of humans, all life and everything they can see. It is hard for anyone to escape this fact, unless he or she has allowed their flesh minds to make up a fantasy.

I went through a period when I thought there was no GOD. It stemmed from an instance that I got very upset with GOD. HE let me run with that idea for awhile. Then I began to notice things around me. This was early in our married life and we had two (2) children. The LORD brought to my mind the human body, how wonderfully made was our children and the miracle of a baby being formed in the mother’s womb – breathing embryonic fluid one minute and air the next. How wonderfully made was the human body.

I thought about sight. How we can see colors and focus our eyes without having to turn a knob to look at something up close or at a distance. [Keep in mind this was when I was young. Now I need glasses.] I thought about our nerves. How I would know if someone touched me on any area of my body. I thought about the universe, the earth, the seasons, the sunrise, the sunset, the variety of trees, plants, animals and the order of all things, including the universe. To think that such complexity came into existence by random probability did not make sense. This all lead me to accepting that GOD does exist.

As time passed and I continued to search and seek, the role of CHRIST became clearer. Now mind you, I was active in church while all of this was going on in my mind. I was searching and seeking. I was in my thirties before it all came together for me. I had to stop trying to figure it out intellectually and take another step of faith. I tried to live the Christian life in my own strength but it was impossible. I could not do it. I became frustrated and one day, while driving to work, I asked the LORD to take my life just as it was and to give me the strength to live the Christian life. In a nanosecond HE did.

From that instant, I have known that I was GOD’S child and had the assurance of my salvation in my heart. There have been many ups and downs since then but one thing is for sure, I know GOD is my FATHER because of what CHRIST did for me upon the cross. The proof that what HE did is true is HIS resurrection and the confirmation of the HOLY SPIRIT. I have not always pleased the LORD during these many years but HE has never abandoned me. HE went though some very difficult times with me and so did a very loving wife for whom I am very blessed and grateful.

Let’s read Romans 1:21-25:

21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds[17] Lit hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.[18] Ps 106:20; Jr 2:11 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. • Amen.

The human mind is very creative. When we watch the variety of television shows, movies and read fiction books we can see what the human mind can create. It spans from macabre to heartwarming; but all fiction and fantasy. Humans recognize that GOD exists but they fail to honor HIM. They know of HIM but not in the way believers know HIM. To know about GOD is far different than knowing HIM. To really know HIM requires a step of faith.

Humans like to think they have it all figured out and dream up their own concept about life. They come up with their own notions about where to place their faith. As they ponder these fantasies, it gives way to believing in the fantasy rather than truth. This makes GOD very angry because HE is truth and HIS desire is for every human to see truth and not fantasy or perceived truth.

I know of a person who was going to a non-Christian councilor. The councilor told them to pick something to believe in. So this person chose the moon. GOD says go beyond the moon, the stars and the universe. Consider WHO created them. Seek a relationship with GOD not some finite object. But humans focus on what they can see and fantasize about and even make objects to represent these things. GOD tells us not to make any image of HIM.

Let’s read Romans 1:28-32:

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness,[23] Other mss add sexual immorality evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving,[24] Other mss add unforgiving and unmerciful. 32 Although they know full well God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die[25] Lit things are worthy of death —they not only do them, but even applaud[26] Lit even take pleasure in others who practice them.

Because the attitude of the godless and unrighteous people is not to acknowledge GOD, HE cannot and will not force them to change their minds. It is not that GOD abandons them but the fact that they have abandoned GOD. GOD always allows a person to choose. HE never forces a person to accept HIM but HE makes every effort to reveal Himself to everyone. The choice is always ours to make.

My prayer is that you have made this choice and have chosen to accept CHRIST as your SAVIOR. If not do it now.

When a person abandons GOD there is a natural degeneration. Paul lists a few of these attributes in verse 29-32. These people know that they are being rebellious and that they run the risk of punishment. The sad thing is that they encourage others to follow their practice. Birds of a feather flock together.

I have heard of couples that liked to party and one becomes a Christian and stops partying. It often leads to problems because those who want to party want someone to party with them. When a person becomes a believer old things go away and his or her new life in CHRIST takes over.

Let’s read Romans 3:9-10:

9 What then? Are we any better?[5] Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles[6] Lit Greeks are all under sin,[7] Under sin’s power or dominion 10 as it is written:[8] Paul constructs this charge from a chain of OT quotations, mainly from the Psalms. There is no one righteous, not even one;

Paul has painted a graphic picture of the depravity of human nature. Then he brings his remarks home to those who might have thought they were above this sinful nature with two (2) questions – What then? Are we (Jews or Christians) any better?
Paul answers his own questions with a resounding, “Not at all!” Just because you are a religious person does not exempt you from being a sinner. Everyone must recognize and acknowledge that they are sinners – saved by grace. None are righteous, no, not even one.

It is easy for those of us who have been Christians for a long time to become self- righteous. Again, it comes back to the fantasies that the human mind dreams up. We can begin to look down on others who are not as spiritual as we think we are. Can we effectively minister to others if we think more highly of ourselves than we should? This has nothing to do with self esteem. Self esteem is very important but arrogance is a problem.

We are sinners saved by grace. We have been rescued from the jaws of sin and death to walk with our SAVIOR and LORD JESUS.

Christian’s sin and when we do 1 John 1:9-10 tells us:

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.