All Have Sinned

Romans 3 All Have Sinned

- Read Romans 3

When it comes to salvation, is there an advantage to being an American? Let me ask you again, when it comes to salvation, is there an advantage tp being an American? The answer, Yes, there is. There are many advantages, when it comes to salvation, to being an American.

For one, God is mentioned in our very founding documents. In the Declaration of Independence, it says, “WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.?          We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-

Nature’ God. Endowed by their Creator. We have to learn that in school.

In our country, there is preaching on many TV stations, and on many radio stations. At Christmas, many of our neighbors have nativities displayed in their yards, and at Easter, many display 3 crosses.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, a tradition in many homes, Charlie Brown asks, “Doesn’t anybody know the meaning of Christmas? And Linus answers, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not:" "for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

In our country, in the south, there are churches on nearly every street corner, and right now there are vacation Bible schools going on all over the place.

Our capital buildings in Washington DC, are covered with biblical quotes. When our president takes the oath of office, he does so with his hand on the Bible. When a person is sworn in to give testimony in court, he is asked, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God”.

Oh, when it comes to being saved and having a relationship with God, there are many advantages to being an American. The hints, the clues about the importance of being saed are all around us.

That, in essence, is what Paul is asking in verse 1 of this passage in Romans 3. When it comes to salvation, is there an advantage to being a Jew? And again, the answer is yes!

- Read Romans 3:1-2

Paul says, “The advantages are considerable.”

1. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.

What other nation, what other people can say, “Our nation, our people, were there when the law was written by the very finger of God? What other people can say, “The Founder of our nation met with God and was personally given God’s 10 commandments?”

- Read Romans 3:1

2. Second, they have circumcision. Now, circumcision is common in our country and in our culture, but for the Jews it meant more than it does in our culture. When, or if we choose to have our sons circumcised, it is done in another room, by a doctor, before he leaves the hospital. We don’t even see it. All we hear is our screaming child.

For the Jewish people, one of the first peoples to practice circumcision, it was an act of obedience to God. In Genesis 17, when God called Abraham, God told him, you and all of the males of your dependents are to be circumcised. It is a mark of the covenant between you and Me.

In a world where almost no males were circumcised, it set them apart.

And again, if our males are circumcised, it happens behind closed doors. For the Jews, the males were circumcised on the 8th day. There was a ceremony. It marked the boy as being one of God’s people. It was an act of dedication, and each time it happened it was a reminder of the long cultural ties between God, and His chosen people.