The Problem of Sin - Part 1

"As it is written, 'THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING, THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS;
THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.
THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." -Romans 3:10-18

Okay, so now we're getting into some of the really tasty stuff!

So here is where we learn that there is no good in us! This is a key concept to grasp for those of us who would be called children of God. You see, what these verses show us is that there is no merit by which we come to the cross of Christ. We are completely devoid of any deservance of the mercy and grace which has been shown us. Not only that, but we cannot seek God!

Jesus tells us in John 6:44-45, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." Jesus tells us in these verses that it is by the will and prompting of God that we even begin to desire Him! He calls us to Himself, reveals Himself to us, and we respond according to His grace and kindness towards us. This is such an incredible concept to try and grasp. I don't want to delve too deeply into this issue today, but if you have any questions about this whole concept please feel free to e-mail me.

The major issue in Romans 3 is the fact that we are all sinners... Paul lays an incredible foundation for the following chapters with this concept that we all have this problem called "sin." It's a defect of character that is found in every human being who has ever lived. The understanding of the weight of our sin is, as I said earlier, crucial to the concept of Christ's death on our behalf. If there was a way, apart from Christ, by which we could atone for our sins, then His death would have been pointless. There is, however, only Law apart from Christ... The Law, as we will look at later, reveals the problem of sin in us. It is a standard to which no man can ever fully measure up. Thus, it is the glass by which we see ourselves in our broken state... by which we see our sin. The Law is the background against which our sins are held in order to be examined. The Law is the light to which we hold up the bill of our righteous deeds in order to test for falsity. And, sadly, we are all found as frauds...

"There is no one who does good, not even one." Psalm 53:3b

Apart from the grace of God, we are depraved and subject to the destructive power of our own selfish desires and sins. I cannot find a smidgen of light in Romans 3:10-18... As I have already mentioned, if there was hope for us apart from Christ, then the cross looses it's power. But there is no other way. All we have is sin and unrighteousness when Jesus isn't a part of the picture.

Paul says, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not." (Romans 7:18)

So, a little something we can take away from this (since I have to end this so suddenly and abruptly, this morning)... If Jesus is the Lord of your life, then this is what you have been saved out of! This lifestyle... the one that serves and pleases only "self" should no longer be a part of who you are. The fear and love of God should be apparent in our lives. These things are evidence that Christ does indeed dwell in us and that He is doing a restoring work in us! This is great news! Especially since we've just read that, apart from God, we cannot even desire to do good!

So, hopefully this has been as equally encouraging as it has been sobering. A basic re-cap would be... "We have no good in us, that comes from ourselves. Any and every bit of good which we have comes from the redemptive work of Christ, in us!" So, there you have it! Once again I apologize for the abrupt end I must put to this entry... However, I'm about to be late for work!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .