The Gospel of Grace for the World
Book of Romans Chapter 3
One of the biggest problems we have as humans is that we just assume that we are better than those we meet.
We think we are reborn as "judges" when the Lord intends for us to be "witnesses"!
As Christians our differences come by the "Grace" of God.
We are no better and no different than anyone else, saved or lost, except by the "Grace" of God!
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
The "lost" need someone to tell them just how wonderful our Savior is!
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Rom 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
It is our Creator who remains their one and only "Judge" and the only Judge of all mankind!
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The Christian has been delivered from the power of darkness but the "Lost" have not been delivered and we need to try to explain to them the difference, the first thing being that Jesus Christ died for every human but there is a need for "Faith".
The "lost", those who do not have "faith" in our "Redeemer" are already "Judged" so we have no need to judge them!
We all have been "judged" guilty of sin!
In reality, before we come to know the truth of the Messiah, we are all bound for that place called Hell!
*****Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
We should understand the Apostle Paul here. The Jews had in their possession the written Word of God preserved from the time of Adam.
The Gentiles had a view of all the wonders of God's creation and should understand that life did not come by accident but by a Supreme Creator.
In the end there is no differences between them, both are bound for hell already under the "judgment" of God, because of the sin of "disobedience of Adam".
When we should be seeking our Creator, we all seek after sin from the day we are born.
Yes, even a pure innocent child is a sinner though our Lord will not hold this against them until they are mentally capable of knowing the truth.
Every child and all those who never develop mentally are not help accountable but "Judged" as innocent!
Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Notice the color of their skin, the location in which they live, the language they speak, the beliefs of their parents, have absolutely nothing to do with the plan of God and the truth of God!
We have already established that being religious does not make us acceptable to our Holy God!
So, are Christians any better than those who are lost? That answer is NO!
"We are better off" because we know where our true home is located and our final resting place, but a resting place of "LIFE" and not "DEATH".
Jews and Gentiles, religionists, and non-religionist, are all under sin and "Judged" for that sin as guilty!
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The sinful nature is intentionally ignorant of the truth of God!
Psa 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God". They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
And what happens in a world that has become a place of fools?
We should be able to figure this one out, we see it in the news everyday!
*****Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
One man wrote: The Way
The earliest disciples were called followers of "The Way", which is important because Christianity was never meant to be just another religion, but a "Way".
It is both a journey and the path you walk on!
It is not static but in constant motion.
It is not just one choice but a lifetime of choices.
We have not yet reached our destination!
Our best life, our God-given potential are always on "the way" and we are called to make "a way" for others to join us.
We are called to follow not formulate!
Follow the way of the One who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Jesus Christ.
In Matt 4:19 Jesus said: “Come, follow me,” to his first disciples, and He says the same to us today.
It is a walk with Him, and we are all just on "the way".
It is not always easy, but it is always that simple.
Since the time of Adam and Eve, the Almighty God has shown us "The Way" that pleases Him, and it is by obedience to His Word!
What is "the way"?
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
What is "the way"?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
A sinful nature is useless to our Creator!
Those who are useless are those who continuously reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!
The Holy Spirit begins to describe them here.
*****Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
The sepulcher is a grave.
I suffer from PTSD and to stand in sight of an empty grave is not pleasant for me. It reminds me of death.
The mouths of those who reject the Lord Jesus are much worse!
I also cannot stand to be around those whose mouths are so full of filth.
How can such foulness come out of people?
Filthiness causes more corruption, and more corruption causes more filthiness, and it is a continuous cycle until there are no pleasant things spoken by anyone.
We can see this truth outside the Church.
The language used in Hollywood is so foul it is intolerable, and it is the same language of the world!
No matter how pleasant we may appear, once that foul mouth begins, it erases any sign of a good personality.
What else does the Bible say?
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
The world is so full of deceit today, that it has nothing good to say about anyone who disagrees with it!
The word deceit is continuous, so the world is not only guilty of deceiving, but it is a continuous process and all we need to do is take a good look at our world today and we can see the truth of this statement!
The sinful tongue is verbal poison!
The sinful tongue is full of cursing.
The sinful tongue is full of bitterness.
The sinful tongue not only curses God, not only curses the Christian, but curses each other.
What is the reality of the sinful tongue?
Psa 109:17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
Psa 109:18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Psa 109:19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
They are swift to bring Spiritual death to all they meet!
*****Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Why is there so much murder, and mayhem in our world today?
Remember God has given them over to a reprobate mind, and it continues including these things also!
Why is there so much destruction done in the name of protesting?
It is because of the cruelty and hatred that has taken over the souls of those that God has rejected!
If we, in any form or fashion, contribute to the downfall of these who are so lost we have become Spiritual murderers ourselves!
Those who are reprobates destroy and cause misery wherever they go, even within their own families and neighborhoods and cities where they live!
They do not want peace because they are uncomfortable with any peace.
They are not at peace with themselves, and they do not want anyone else to be at peace!
The reprobate soul will not allow any peace within that lost person!
Sinful acts are disrespectful of all others!
They ignore God though they believe He does exist.
They do not want Him to have any part in their corrupt minds, so they live as if there is no God!
They stay focused on their own misery.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
They do not fear the wrath of God because they can think of only those things that affect this life.
Psa 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Psa 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity
It is only by the Word of God that anyone can find the answers, the solutions to their dilemma!
*****Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Law:
We speak of laws in our world today which is in fact becoming more lawless.
We do need some laws in our life so we can keep our freedoms.
We should clearly understand that salvation cannot come by the keeping of laws!
There is no manufactured commandment that can open the doors of Heaven for you!
Jesus preached:
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
There is no manufactured law that can save you!
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
We are instructed to be obedient to manufactured laws so we can live in peace in this world.
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
The true law is the voice of God written down for us in what we call the Bible.
In reality the Bible is a "Library of Divine Revelation"!
God has taken the time to reveal who He is and His plan for us to join Him.
It is then the plan of salvation! Being saved from the wrath that is coming to this ever-darkening world.
The Scriptures from which we get our English translation are 100% the truth!
Every translation is capable of containing mistakes, but the "Received Text" is the accurate precise Word of God!
The truth of the Law is that since no human could keep those laws, we are then all guilty before the eyes of God!
The Bible as the Word of God then, is a book of "Good News" that God reveals to us how to overcome this guiltiness.
We can only overcome this guiltiness by a "Pardon" from the only One capable of true "Judgment" the One who gave us this amazing Book of Knowledge, from our Divine Creator!
It is only He who can judge our righteousness and or our guiltiness and we are therefore all guilty. We have no goodness at all!
As we are all guilty, we are in no place to speak for our own redemption!
All the world is guilty before God!
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
We all fall short when compared to our Savior!
The Law can only show us that we are sinful.
God the Father gave us His Son to give us an example of perfection!
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Anytime we think we have reached perfection then we need to take another look at our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will see where we still fall short!
The Law makes us aware of our sin, it has no other Heavenly purpose!
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
The Law proves we are sinners!
God's Grace proves His Mercy!
Amen
