In Need of Something – Pt 2
Romans 3:9-20
* (Please turn with me to Romans 3). In his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly effective people, Dr. Stephen Covey give us habit #2, “Begin with the end in mind.” This habit is built around the twice created principle. Everything is created mentally and then physically.
* To build a house you first conceive it, have an architect draw it, and even give a “rendering of it”. All of this is done before even a shovel of dirt is moved. Then based on the mental work that has been completed, you prepare the ground, buy the materials, and begin to build “based” on those written plans. Not one of us would think of beginning a project like this without having thought it through, planned it out, and having a mental picture of what we desired our house to look like upon completion. To do so would be ludicrous & expensive.
* If we take so much care and planning on building a house, is it a fair question to ask, “why is it that we spend such little time and care on building a life?” For the average person, we get this reversed & physical before we do the mental. The result is life becomes more expensive and doesn’t turn out like we hoped it would.
* For a while this morning, I want you to think about your life. Consider this, when the end of your life on earth comes, what do you desire to be next? Do you want to look back over your earthly life and sense you have lived a full and complete life? When you stand before God, do you wish to hear the words “Well done?” Do you desire to spend an eternity with God in a place called the New Jerusalem? If so, what is it that you need to make that a reality? Our need is driven by our desired destination.
* The more I read scripture and seek intimacy with God, the more I come to believe that today’s message is fundamental and foundational to what we truly desire.
* Let’s Read our text. Today we have read what I would describe as “God’s message to man.” It is not pretty, politically correct, or even palatable, but it is His. He says that we are lacking and need something.
* To understand our need requires some understanding of that which Paul says? We began at verse 1 with:
1) The Exposure of My Sin – We said exposure is painful but necessary for being healed. Then we visited the truths which revealed us as deceived, depraved, & deserving.
2) The Evidence of My Sin – Paul is just getting started. Like a veteran attorney he is building His cause, the indictment is clear. Now he lays out the evidence. And what does he use but sacred documents honored and accepted by his readers. It is the Old Testament. Notice that, in verse 9, he puts all of humanity in the same boat. (Read verse 9) It doesn’t matter who you are.
a) My Attitudes (verses 10-12) When I read verses 10-12 I am struck by Paul’s use of words; no one, not even one, all, and together. There is no one who is righteous, they don’t even understand HOW to be righteous, there’s no one good, and they have become useless. Basically he is communicating that they don’t know and really don’t care how bad they are because they simply don’t understand. Why is this true? Because we have turned away, gone our own way, and the results are devastating; the Bible uses the word “useless or unprofitable.” The Greek word literally means, “spoil.” Have you ever taken a big drink of sour milk? Have you ever been around or started cooking spoiled meat? Can you make this parallel?
b) My Articulations (speech) (verses 13-14). Of all the things which give evidence to our sinful nature, our tongues lead the way. The open grave waits to receive its dead, so the throat waits to see who it can bury. And the tongue will use many devices to accomplish this. It will use deception; it will use poison, profane language, and bitterness. Never forget what James tells us; “no MAN can tame the tongue.” He doesn’t say if you work on it you will tame it, if you mature you will tame it, he doesn’t even say if you’re saved you can tame it. By the way, it’s schizophrenic. James asks, “How can blessings and cursing come out of the same place?” Let me give you a secret; you want to know what is in someone’s heart? Listen to what they say. The words of one’s mouth will give away their heart, EVERY TIME!!
c) My Actions (verses 15-17). Think about these verses. Left to my own, I do the wrong things & have no peace. Why is this? Because the Old Testament repeatedly teaches this principle, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is destruction.” Think about this; with the tongue, we shed blood. It’s just who we are. The reason is; sin destroys peace and if I have no peace inside then I’ll be sure no one will enjoy any.
* Paul has now laid the evidence out for us. He knows that we need something in our lives. The reason he knows this is because he remembers his days as a persecutor. He remembers the sickness of sin & what it did to him & now he is using every means possible to bring to light what I really need. Paul’s purpose is not to condemn us, but through these truths to make a path for the Holy Spirit to convict us and convert us. It is in that mindset, he concludes with;
3) The Essence of My Sin – Let’s get to the root of our sin.
a) Reveals my greatest problem – (verses 18). Our greatest problem today is listed here, “no fear of God.” In the last 25 years or so, this teaching of what it means to fear God watered down until there is an unholy familiarity with God. In Old Testament days, God’s power & holiness were so well understood that Rabbi’s feared to even pronounce Jehovah’s name. A lack of fear for God is at the heart of our society today. Let me offer us a couple of thoughts;
==> In the Exodus, the children of Israel saw the power of God at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:31).
==> Next, in Acts 5 there was an incident in the church building where a married couple dropped dead because of sin. Act 5:11 says, “Fear came on the church and all who heard it.”
==> Next, after the stoning of Steven and the salvation of Paul, we read an interesting verse in Acts 9:31.
==> Finally, for those who have no deep “fear of God” (not just a healthy respect, awe, or honor) please be prepared, it will take less than 10 seconds in eternity to change your mind. However, I don’t believe any of us want to wait until then.
b) Reveals my guilt problem – (Verse 19). The truth is that we all are guilty. As we walked through those verses from the Old Testament which gave evidence to my sinful nature, I was guilty and I know it.
==> Let me simplify this concept of guilt for our understanding. How can you tell when I accept & admit my guilt? It is when I offer no excuse. Verse 19 gives the picture of standing before a judge with nothing to say. This is the essence where we are today. Years ago, Gordon Jensen wrote these words, “I was guilty with nothing to say.”
==> Standing before the King, knowing I’m guilty, and know that He knows I’m guilty is a very humbling experience. At this point that I plead “no contest” and fall on the mercy of the judge.
c) Reveals my growing problem – (Verse 20) In your spiritual life, you are either growing or dying. There is no middle ground. My sin problem grows when I start depending on the wrong things to be made right in God’s sight. Be reminded no one will ever be saved by keeping rules, principles, and laws. You and I cannot live good enough to be made right, we need help. And if we don’t ge the divine help we need, we will end this life and live out our existence after death in a place we do not want to be. This is why we must begin with the end in mind.
==> Have you ever lived where you didn’t care to? For most of our ministry, Deb and I have spent time around military bases and have many military friends. I recall one youngster who signed up to serve in the military to “see the world.” He got stationed at Maxwell AFB. He wasn’t where He wanted to be.
==> I submit to you that if you want to end up at a desired destination, you, like me, need something.
* Last week I said it and it bears repeating; “that something is someone, and that someone is Jesus.”
* Perhaps in the past, these has not been clearly conveyed, but listen; You cannot learn your way to God nor can you earn your way to God. Here is the Bible truth; God comes to YOU, He convicts you of your sin, and invites you into a relationship with Him. What do you do? Respond. He’ll give you what you need.
