The Importance of Recognizing Sin
Romans 3:1–20
INTRODUCTION
Illustration
Today it seems that all you have to do to sell a product is include some natural herb or mineral with it. Products ranging from shampoo to diet pills have all jumped on the “all natural” bandwagon. Just because something is all natural does not make it better or safe. There is one word in our vocabulary today that immediately connotes fear, disease and death, yet it is “all natural.” Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for thousands of years. Everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to the Romans used asbestos for various products. From the early 1920’s until just recently, asbestos was the insulation of choice in America. Asbestos has been used in things such as pipe wrapping, roofing, insulation, brake pads, roofing shingles and many others. Unfortunately, asbestos can break down into microscopic fibers and if inhaled or ingested, can remain in the body for many years and cause serious disease.
For a long time people were ignorant of the danger that this naturally occurring mineral posed. It seemed like a miracle fiber, heat and flame resistant and virtually resistant to wear and tear. Yet the more we learn about Asbestos the more we realize the danger it presents to man. Even with all the information we have about Asbestos today some people seem to be indifferent towards this harmful material. It is expensive to clean up and it is hard to replace with a comparable product. As a result of some people’s reluctance to abandon its use, more and more people have come into contact with Asbestos and become sick and died.
It seems strange to normal thinking people to allow themselves or others to come into contact with such a dangerous material, yet we do it every day. Sin is much more dangerous than asbestos and the consequences are much more severe but people still insist on indulging in the pleasure of sin despite the risk.
MAIN BODY
I. Recognizing the Need to Understand Romans 3:11a
A. “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” Hosea 6:4
1. Those who have not heard
a. Ignorance is no excuse. Acts 17:30
b. Romans 1:19–20
2. Those who choose not to believe.
a. Heb. 2:1–3
b. 1 Cor. 15:33–34
B. Christianity is a taught way of life.
1. 2 Peter 1:3–11 The key to keep one from falling; knowledge of Christ
2. Matt. 28:19–20
II. Recognizing the Need to Seek Romans 3:11b
A. Why are people reluctant to seek God’s righteousness?
1. Ignorance of their condition–Illustration. A preacher was talking to a man one day about becoming a Christian. This man was trying to convince the preacher that he wasn’t really a bad person and that he didn’t really sin all that much. Seeing that this man was failing to see his lost condition he gave him this illustration. He said, “Imagine you were helping me repair the roof of my house on a hot August afternoon and I offered you an ice cold glass of Pepsi, would you drink it?” “Of course,” the man replied. Then the preacher asked him to imagine that he had poured that ice cold Pepsi with it’s bubbles floating to the top and the condensation from the ice cascading down the glass into a dirty glass. “Would you drink it then? Even if it had only a ring of old milk at the bottom of it,” the preacher asked? “Of course not,” the man replied. The preacher then explained that when we sin, even just a little, and presume that God will accept us without His cleansing of our glass (or soul) then we are, in essence, asking God to accept any good deeds we might do in a dirty glass.
Illustration taken from Jeff Strite at sermoncentral.com
2. The pleasure of sin.
3. Love of material things, Idolatry. Mark 10:17–22
B. God has promised reward for those who seek after Him.
1. Matt. 6:33
2. Acts 17:24–28
III. Recognizing the Need to Turn Again (Repentance) Romans 3:12
A. When one disobeys God he turns away from God.
1. 1 John 1:4 “Sin is lawlessness” NIV or “Sin is transgression of the law” KJV
2. 2 Chron. 15:2
B. Those who turn to God and away from the world are blessed.
1. 2 Chron. 7:14
2. Acts 26:20–“repent and turn to God and prove your repentance by your deeds.”
3. 2 Cor. 7:10–“Godly sorrow brings repentance”
CONCLUSION
Paraphrase of Romans 3:10–19 for those who Understand, Seek and Turn Again
“There are those who are righteous, though they be few; there are some who understand and seek after God. The few have turned again and together become righteous, these are they who prove their repentance by their deeds. Their throats are full of Christ and their tongues proclaim His resurrection the fruit of righteousness is on their lips. Their mouths are full of blessing and praise. Their feet are swift to share Christ’s blood; justification and salvation mark their ways, and they know the way of peace. The love of God is always before their eyes.”
Mark 10:22–27 With man it is impossible, but all things are possible with God.
