Key Truth: Our rebellion is total as a result of the Fall which requires total renewal as can only be accomplished by Christ alone.

Introduction:

“The problem is that people are helpless prisoners of sin. Why is this point important? Mainly because our understanding of someone’s problem dictates the answer to that problem.” 

Douglas J. Moo, The NIV Application Commentary: Romans

Q: How bad is our sin problem really? Is there no good in us or at least some form of neutrality?

Our Primary Problem: Rebellion Against God:

Romans 3:9-12

“Sin is the revolt of the self against God, the dethronement of God with a view to the enthronement of oneself. Ultimately, sin is self-deification, the reckless determination to occupy the throne which belongs to God alone.”

John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans

Q: Is our rebellion primarily moral or covenantal in nature? What implications does this have for redemption?

Our Secondary Problem: War Against Humanity:

Romans 3:13-18

“Their interest is in bloodshed and destruction, not in peace. From which we see that sin not only separates people from God but from one another as well.”

Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans

Q: What does our morality and ethics ultimately reflect? What should be the motivation for and goal of our morality and ethics?

Our Only Hope: Reconciliation and Peace in Christ Alone:

Romans 3:19-26

“This is the conclusion which the apostle has had in view from the beginning of his argument. His whole design is to prove that men cannot be justified by their own righteousness, in order to prepare them to receive the righteousness of God.”

Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans

Q: Given our condition apart from Christ, how much of the redemptive process depends on us?

Application:

“Our first response to Paul’s indictment, then, should be to make it as certain as we possibly can that we have ourselves, accepted this divine diagnosis of our human condition as true, and that we have fled from the just judgment of God on our sins to the only refuge there is, namely Jesus Christ who died for our sins.”

John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans

Our rebellion is total as a result of the Fall as evidenced by:

-our primary rejection of God and His covenantal relationship

-our secondary selfish and destructive morality and ethics

-our inability to save ourselves regardless of the revelation of Creation or Scripture

-our need for total renewal as can only be accomplished in Christ alone who is perfect

Benediction:

Psalm 32:1-2