All Under Sin

Romans 2 - All Under Sin - 1/18/09

Turn with me this morning to Romans 1. Romans comes in the NT after the four gospels, M,M,L,J, and after the book of the Acts of the Apostles. So, we have the history of the gospel, the record of how the gospel brought change to the world, and then in Romans, we have the explanation of the gospel. The word “gospel” literally means “good news.” The essence of Paul’s letter to the Romans is that there is good news that is truly good. He proclaimed the good news that in Christ Jesus sin can be forgiven, selfishness can be overcome, guilt can be removed, anxiety can be alleviated, and life can indeed have meaning and hope that will last throughout all eternity! That IS good news!

As we go through the book of Romans in the next several weeks, we are going to learn more and more about the good news of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. We are going to learn about a lot of big words: in chapters 1-3 condemnation; 3-5 justification; 6-8 sanctification; 9-11 dispensation; 12-16 glorification. And as we go through the book, we’ll understand why each of these big terms means “good news” for us. As we get started this morning, let’s start with prayer. PRAY.

Let’s review what we saw last week:

Romans is a real letter to real people about a real question - the key question of life:

How can a sinful man be made right with a holy God?

Paul is the author. He says he is

• a slave by choice - he is a man who knew his master

• sent by command - he is a man who knew his mission

• separated by calling - he is a man who knew his message

Paul’s message is the good news that we can be made right with God.

Paul goes on to tell us in chapter 1 & 2, who needs salvation? And this is the topic under the $5 word condemnation. Who is condemned by God? Would a loving God condemn anybody to hell? The answer is yes. Even though there are many who think a loving God would never send anyone there. Paul goes on to share that there are some who are such ungodly sinners that they will face God’s condemnation. Let’s see what they are like starting at verse 18. Read 1:18-32

Who needs salvation? The ungodly sinners! If there is anyone we would expect to be under the wrath of God, it would be those who care nothing for God, who reject the truth. Paul tells us

• they knew God - they are without excuse because they knew the truth and rejected it. Man did not begin in ignorance, but with revelation, and man has turned his back on the truth. Sinners are without excuse because of creation -- vs. 20 - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. When you look at creation, you see the handiwork of God. Throughout history God has revealed himself to man, but,

• they ignored God - they refused to glorify God. When you come to the point of considering God, you always need to make a choice: to either come to Him and worship and follow Him, or to turn away. You can never come to God and go away unchanged. Either you will bow in worship or stand in defiance. Either you will obey or reject. And that is just what happened to mankind. We see it in verse 21 - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. We ended here last week.

There are untold millions of fools all across the world today who have heard the truth, they know the good news of God’s salvation, but they have refused to follow God. Just like Cain who knew the right thing to do, but he chose to ignore God and do things his own way. I’m sure you know people like this, who know the truth about God, but choose to live like they will never have to give an account to God.

And that is the epitome of foolishness. It’s sort of like someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal disease, but chooses to ignore it. It will kill them in the end, but they live like nothing is wrong.

Next, verse 23 tells us,

• they replaced God - they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.