Romans chapter three. Alright, few weeks ago, see you, John. Few weeks ago, we we started in the book of Romans and Paul introduced himself to the people there in Rome. He introduced himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. He introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ who had sent him to preach the gospel.

This was his mission was to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world particularly to the Gentile world but to the Jews as well to share with them the good news. The good news that Jesus Christ had died on the cross for their sins. That Jesus Christ had risen again from the dead and that he is in heaven where he intercedes in behalf of all those who come to him by faith. He ever live it to make intercession for us. Why was Paul so excited about the gospel?

Why did the people in Rome need to hear the gospel? Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way for us to be saved. Paul says in Romans one sixteen, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek or the Gentile. G Paul was clear. He was coming to them with the gospel and the gospel was important because it was powerful and because the good news that Jesus Christ had come and died and rose again.

Was God's message to them. God's demonstration of his love and the only way that God made for them to be forgiven of their sins and to become a child of God. They were all lost in sin and they all needed a what? They all need a savior. All people need a savior.

All men and women, boys, and girls are sinners who need a savior and therefore, Paul was not ashamed to tell them about the savior and to tell them of the way that God had provided. But he continues on and he explains further why it is that they need a savior. Why it is that the gospel is so necessary. He explains first of all that group we've labeled the hidden or pagans, those who have turned their back completely on God and have turned to idols and other things to worship that they are sinners who need a savior and that Jesus is their only remedy from sin. He then turns in chapter two to the moral or the religious person.

Those who think, hey, well, you know, I'm better than somebody else. You know, I'm going to make it because well, I'm better than they and I'm better than they are and and I must be okay with God but they're comparing themselves to the wrong person. They should be comparing themselves to who? Jesus Christ. But instead, they're comparing themselves to sinners, sinners with sinners, and Paul says that is very unwise because we get a false feeling of security by comparing ourselves to other people rather than God's perfect standard.

They too need a savior and then the Jews at the latter half of chapter two and going into chapter three, the Jews thought, well, we have the law and we are God's what? Chosen people and therefore, we're okay. And Paul says, no, you're not. No, you're not. How how are you okay?

Because you have the law? Because you don't what? You don't keep the law. What good is it to have the law if you don't keep the law? You are in no wise, any better off as far as eternity goes than others.

You too are a sinner who needs a savior. And that's why God told the Jews way back in the Old Testament that he would send a what? A savior, a messiah to save them from their sin. That's why Jesus's name means Jehovah saves. The Lord saves because he came to save his what?

People, the Jews, from their what? From their sins because they needed a savior too. It wasn't just enough to be born a Jew. You needed to be a child of God where? In your heart by faith.

So, that brings us to chapter three and God's verdict this morning. God's verdict concerning all of mankind, their need, and will close with his solution but let's pray. Lord, thank you for your word today and thank you for the opportunity to share it with others, to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our savior, to be reminded of our need, and how that, it wasn't by our good works or our worthiness that we came into this beautiful, wonderful relationship with God. It was by the sacrifice of our perfect savior who has made us one in Christ Jesus, who has broken down the the wall, the barrier between us and God and between one another who has taken upon himself our sins on the cross, taken our punishment in our place, who is risen again, and who invites us to come boldly in faith to him. Lord, we pray if there's one here today that's not yet to receive Christ as savior, that they would realize today what a wonderful savior you are and their desperate need that they might come and be saved.

We pray in Jesus name. Amen. So, back to chapter three Paul has spent the first two chapters showing how that each group who believes that somehow they're okay are not okay. They need a savior and he's kind of put them in a what? In a corner.

How do people often react when they're in a corner? Do they react well? Do they react sensibly? No, often times they act the other way and Paul sensing this senses some questions that they might have. What often happens when somebody finds themselves in a indefensible position is they make unreasonable and rash arguments or we call them excuses, okay?

So, when the police officer pulls you over for speeding and you are in an indefensible position because you were speeding, Do police officers ever hear excuses like this? Well, my speedometer must be my speedometer. No, it my cruise control. Well, the people around me were this is a different vehicle. I've never driven this one before.

I got distracted. You don't want to say that today. That'll get you a higher ticket by the way. The sign, I just, it was too hard to see. There was a tree branch in the way and I didn't see the speed limit.

I'm sure policemen have heard every excuse in the book as to why they shouldn't give a ticket to someone who was obviously going over the speed limit but often when people feel cornered, they come up with lousy and rash excuses to try to excuse themselves when they know they're what? When they know they're wrong. Sometimes, they attack the character of their accuser or judge. Well, your radar detector, it must be what? Broken.

And I'm sure police have heard a lot of that and taken a lot of abuse as well. Politicians are famous for this. If you can't win the argument, just attack the character of your opponent. Destroy the messenger. So, they won't be believable.

This is used a lot in politics today. Hence, the following anticipated questions from Paul. Question number one. Look, if you would in chapter three again, verse one, what advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?

Much every way is his answer. Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Question number one, Paul had just spent the last chapter explaining how the Jews were not any better off in eternity in their relationship with God than the heathen Gentiles which the Jews found very repulsive. And they said, well, if if we're all sinners and and we've all failed, then what advantage was there of being a Jew? That was their their question.

Why did God separate us out? Why did he heap on us all these laws and commandments? Why have we sought to follow them and be true to him if there's no advantage to being a Jew? Paul responds with, well, of course, there's advantage of being a Jew. Among other things to the children of Israel, God gave the Old Testament what?

Scriptures. The law. The writings of Moses the prophets. They were all what? Jews and their message was to the Jews.

His direct revelation was given to them. His expectations, his person was demonstrated to them by his miraculous deliverance and in many other ways. His love, his holiness, his power, his coming Messiah was prophesied to them. His covenant, his promises to them. Paul certainly could have continued but he wrapped it up in this statement here when he says, that unto them were committed the oracles of the word of God.

They had great advantage. There was great advantage to being a Jew but their salvation and deliverance was still dependent upon their what? On their response. To him. It was still dependent upon their faith in him.

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for what? For righteousness. Was it an advantageous thing? Was it wonderful? Was it good?

For Abraham that God called him out of the year of the Chaldees and chose him to be the father of a great nation, great many nations? Yes. But he had to put his what? His faith. He had to respond in faith.

Their failed attempts of keeping the law would not suffice to God. There's great advantage to being born to Christian parents. There's great advantage to being born in a land where the gospel is more easily accessible than it has been in pretty much anywhere at any time in all of human history. Yet, if you should reject the gospel, then your advantage only serves to condemn you further. You see, that you were born in a Christian home means that you probably heard the gospel as a young person, that you were born in a Christian homes means you were probably taken to church where you saw other Christians.

Being born a Christian home hopefully means that your parents were good examples of what a Christian was and they taught you from the word of God but that is not enough. You must still what? Respond in faith. It must be a personal decision. A personal choice.

Sad to say there's a lot of kids that grow up in Christian homes that never trust in the Lord and savior of their parents. You see this often when they leave home. When they get away from home, and they start making a lot of choices that are contrary. To what they were taught. Train up a child the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it but that training includes his response to what he's taught.

And not every kid brought up in a Christian home becomes a Christian. So, yes, there's advantage in being a Jew and yes, there's advantage in being brought up in a Christian home but that's not the whole ball game. No, the most important thing is whether you have faith and faith in Jesus Christ. Whether you choose him personally as your Lord and savior. Question number two, we find in verse three, for what if some did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

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. Question number two, Paul assumed they might ask this question. Well, it sounds like you were saying that because of the unbelief or disobedience of some that God would turn his back on his people and void the promises he made to them. So, you're saying because of the disobedience of some of the Jews that God has abandoned his promises to the Jews altogether.

Was that what Paul was teaching? It's not what he was teaching at all. Paul says, that's not what I am saying. God will always be faithful even when men are what? Unfaithful.

God is always faithful even when men are unfaithful. God's word is sure. Though every man's word be a lie, God's word is the truth and God always keeps his what? God always keeps his promises. Has God abandoned Israel?

No. Has Israel abandoned God? For the most part, yes. But has God abandoned them? The answer is no.

He's made promises. I believe those promises will come to fruition once again. When he returns to establish his kingdom, where? In Jerusalem. You see, the covenant between God and Israel will stand despite the folly of his people.

As we were reminded in chapter two, not all who are Jews by birth, who are Jews at what? In heart. It is for those who are Jews in heart that God promise God's promises are kept and will one day be what? Fulfilled. You see, the most important thing is not your lineage.

The most important thing is your heart. Your relationship with God, your faith, and yes, God will keep his promises to the Jews. No, God has not abandoned them nor his promises. But it is only to those who put their faith in their Messiah. It is not for those who reject him and choose another way.

And then verses five through eight, we have the third question, he surmises they might ask, but if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? I speak as a man. God forbid. For then, how shall God judge the world?

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner and not rather as we be slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say, let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just. In other words, some backed in the corner lashes out and say, Paul, your message of grace and that God forgives sin and that keeping the law is not necessary for salvation only encourages people to what? To sin. And nullifies the judgment of God and Paul says, no, you're wrong. That is not the case at all.

That's not the case. I have here, well, if then the righteous faithfulness and mercy of God are magnified like as in David's case by our failures and sin, then, is it not unfair for God to condemn us for that which magnifies his glory? Does not your gospel teach men to sin that grace may abound? He addresses this further in Romans six. We don't have time to go there.

This morning but we'll get there as we go through Romans. What is his answer? His answer is, you speak as a man. His answer is, whose damnation is what? Just.

Man's damnation is just. Because men choose the what? To sin. And God's judgment is righteous and that he has made a way through grace, through faith in Christ, to redeem man unto himself. You see, the grace of God does not cancel out his justice.

It only confirms his holiness and his mercy and his love. God is magnified regardless. Whether by the grace he bestows on the repentant or the punishment, he meets out upon the unrepentant and it is not God's will for us to sin neither does my gospel teach men so. No, the grace of God does not teach us to sin. We already have that problem.

It teaches and enables us to be what? Holy, grateful, loving, obedient, trusting, hopeful. Titus two eleven through 13, Paul explains, for the grace of God that bringeth to salvation, bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our savior Jesus Christ. What does grace do?

The grace of God teaches us to love God. It teaches us to serve God. It teaches us to trust God. It enables us to be more like God. It enables us to get victory over sin.

The grace of God does not excuse sin. The grace of God gives us victory over sin. The grace of God does not nullify the law. It confirms the law. In that we have we have are condemned by it and we can only be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Thus, his answer to attack number three. And as he finishes up, he draws to a conclusion here with the verdict of God. Verse nine, he says, what then are we better than they? No and no wise, for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under what? All under sin.

He sums it up and he gives God's verdict. No one is better. No one but who? No one but Christ is better. We are all condemned under sin.

And then he explains, Verse 10, that is as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They're all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Paul is quoting from this passage in Psalm 14 and others. The fool has said in his heart, there is no god.

If you have a King James version, you'll notice there is as in italics. The fool and is said in his heart, no god. No to God is what the fool says. No to his law. No to his judgment, no to his love, no to his mercy, no to his lordship.

The fool has said in his heart, no god And they are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside.

They're all together become filthy. There's none that doeth good, no not. One. God's verdict, humanity is what? Lost in sin.

There are none that measure up to God's what? To God's standard. There are none who are worthy. Of him, of heaven, of being his children, all men are sinners. And thus all men need a savior.

He expresses it in three categories here. It can be divided up in this passage in three categories. Number one, human conscience. Man is condemned in his conscience. It is totally depraved.

They have no capacity to comprehend God. They do not what? Understand. Without God's help, in sin, we do not have the capacity to truly comprehend. We need God's help.

They have no desire to know God. As you walk around in this world today, take note of how many people seem to be interested in eternity or the things of God. They're interested in everything but who? But God and they are working very hard, many of them to erase God from the public square altogether. They'd have no desire to know God.

Why? Because then they must be accountable to him. They have gone their own way. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.

The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah fifty three six. They are completely worthless to God. They have become spoiled, unprofitable, have some peaches sitting on the table at our house and I like peaches. They're Georgia peaches.

They actually, I looked at the label. They're Fort Valley peaches. For twelve years, I lived just outside of Fort Valley and I know some of the people that grow those peaches. So, when I buy peaches, I look to see where they're from. But you know what happens to peaches if you leave them sitting there long enough?

What happens to them? They rot. And then these wonderful tasting sweet peaches are absolutely worthless. And all you can do is throw them out. And that's what has happened to mankind.

We are corrupt in sin. We have spoiled. And we are not useful in our sin to God who created us and how sad that is. God made us to be useful to him, to bring glory to him, to serve and to love him but humanity chose instead what? Sin.

And they chose therefore the corruption and rot that results. And we have become unuseful to God. In verse 18, he concludes with, they have no fear of God before their eyes. They don't even fear God anymore. And how sad to say that is becoming more and more evident in our society day by day.

So, we see man is condemned in his conscience. Man is condemned by his conversation. Look if you would in verse 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre with tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. In their conversation, the the idea here was open sepulchre.

What's a sepulchre? Tomb, grave, a tomb. Do you leave graves and tombs open for everybody to see? Is it a pretty sight? The answer is no, it isn't.

But God says, their throat is like an open tomb and you can see all of the corruption that comes forth from it. Out of the heart, man what? Speaketh. Their tongue is full of what? Lying and deceit.

Their lips are like venomous snakes. They spew forth poison that poisons others around them. They are hurtful and destructive. Their mouth is full, swelled up overflowing with cursing and bitterness. You know, I would love to say that these were not an apt description of humanity But really they are.

And even we who are Christians and know Christ as savior. When we're not walking in the spirit, we are apt to fulfill the what? The lust of the flesh. And some of that of our old nature gets the best of us and things come out of our mouth that are not fitting to a child of God. We have been saved by grace.

We have a new spirit. We still drag around this flesh. It is defeated but it is still present. And sometimes, when we're weak, we see it come out, do we not? A reminder that we're not saved by our works or we're not saved because we are worthy in ourselves.

It is only our savior who is worthy and who makes us worthy as we are clothed in his righteousness. And then he finishes with human conduct. The conscience, the conversation, and the conduct. Look if you would in verse 15, their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace, they have not known.

When you study history, what do you study in history? What's one of the primary things that sticks out in history? When you think back to the past hundred years, wars. Yeah. That's what marks history for humanity, for the most part, is wars.

You study this war, and you study that war, and you study this war, and that war, and World War one, and World War two, and the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and and on and on and on. Why? Because no matter how loudly man cries for peace, he still makes what? War. You would think, well, we've we've gone beyond that in this day and age.

Don't think that. Don't let your guard down. Humanity is still a bloodthirsty race. And while we sit here secure for the most part still in The United States Of America, there are people that are being slaughtered in other countries around the world by bloodthirsty humans. It happens again and again and again.

It happens in our major cities by the dozens of people that are shot. And several that are killed every week of the year. In Chicago, in New York, in LA. What's the problem? Politics?

No. What's the problem? Guns? No. What's the problem?

Sinful man is the problem. It's the people wielding the guns. It's the people who are violent in their nature because they are sinners that need a savior. Humanity condemns itself and it doesn't matter whether it's the Jews or the Gentiles. It doesn't matter whether it's the East or the West or the North or the South.

We are all sinners in need of a savior. To save us from ourselves and our just condemnation. Paul's conclusion. Look, if you would in verse 18, verse 19. Now, we know that what things so ever 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. Why did God give the Jews the law? We gave the Jews the law so they might know him through the law and his holiness and his goodness and his nature but he also gave them the law that they would recognize that while God is holy, they are what? Unholy. While God is righteous, they are what?

Unrighteous. They fall short again and again. Look all through the Old Testament. The Jews over and try. God give them many chances to start over and get it right and every time what happened?

They failed. They failed. Why? There's only one who didn't fail and that's Jesus Christ. The seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, the Messiah, and savior, not just of the Jews.

But of the world. The law can't save us. The law only what? Condemns us and shows us of our need. Verse 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. So, lest you think that you're going to get to heaven because you were born in a Christian home. You might want to rethink that. Lest you think you're going to get to heaven because you're a member of a baptist church, you better rethink that.

Lest you think you're going to heaven because you put money in the offering plate. You better rethink that. Lest you think you're going to heaven because you are better than somebody else, you better rethink that. Lest you think you're going to heaven because you have a list of laws that are higher and better than other peoples, you better rethink that. Because it's not just having the laws, it's why?

Keeping the laws. And if you're honest, you'll have to admit. You don't keep them. So, do they justify you? Or do they condemn you?

They condemn you. So, what is the solution? And we'll look at this more next week but 2122, but now is the righteousness of God without the law, is manifested. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of who?

Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe. For there is no difference. What is God's solution? God's solution is who? Jesus Christ.

He is the only way to heaven. He says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father but by me. Recognizing man's sinful condition leads us to Romans five eight where it says, but God commended his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus came to be the way to heaven but only through those who put their faith and trust in him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. It is my hope and prayer that everyone here this morning have or will today put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to be your only Lord and savior. For he is the only way to heaven. I would love for you to join my church. I would love for you to get involved.

I would love for you to contribute. But none of those things will save your soul. Only faith in Jesus Christ and if you're here today and you've never repented and put your faith in Christ, I plead with you. I ask you and I invite you to come in just a moment as we sing a hymn of invitation and I'll meet you down here and show you how you can know you have eternal life in Jesus. Let's pray.

Dear God, thank you Lord. For all that you've done for us. Lord, I pray if there's one here today or more that need Christ that they would come. I pray Lord that you'd help them to see that in themselves, none of us are worthy. Christ, your worthy son, and our savior died in our place.

That through him we might be saved and Lord, if there's one here today, I pray that they would be willing to receive you as their Lord and savior. That they would call upon your name as you're calling them at this moment in their heart. To make that decision of faith. And receive you today as their Lord and savior. In Jesus name, we do pray.

Amen.