Romans 3:9-20 Response

Like much of the book of Romans, Romans 3:9-20 is a rather blunt instrument of truth.

It just says it, and we have to deal with it!

However, without confronting the truth of our sin, our personal rebellion against God’s standards and God Himself, there is no reconciliation with Him. We would like to avoid our culpability with God, and deny what we do and who we are; but to use a horrible cliché, it is what it is.

Derek’s three R’s say it well: it’s not rehab, or re-education we need. It’s resurrection.
Sin is not a popular topic, but the acknowledging of it is absolutely essential for forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ.

Calvin Coolidge, the president of few words, was asked after a church service what the message had been, and he said “Sin”’; when asked what the preacher had said about it, he said simply, “He was against it.”

We will be looking forward to this Sunday’s sermon reflecting the second half of the Puritan’s ethic: man’s ruin and God’s remedy.

~Glenn Smith

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When I was in junior high my Sunday School teacher challenged us to memorize Romans 3, and I took him up on it. I knew I was a sinner, but did I think that truly meant that my lips were coated with the poison of vipers, my throat was an open grave, that I didn’t want the way of peace?

Hardly.

I was the goody oldest child, at church three or more times a week; my dad was so faithful in reading the Bible to us each night, how could this possibly have anything to do with me? I probably knew three non-Christian people, and they certainly didn’t look like ruin and misery. One time I had heard someone swear.

So this academic memorization exercise went right over me.

Later in life, the reality of Romans 3 came into full focus: not like snowbanks and rainshowers of sin all around piling up and spoiling people, but the fountainhead of deceit, anger, envy, and bitterness gushing from every human heart. Without exception.

Scanning the audience on Sunday, as Derek painted the grim and ugly Romans 3 picture, no one in that room could escape the truth: we’re all ruined. Septic. Under the tyranny of sin. It’s in us. All of us. And if we haven’t yet been in a position to act out on the really bad stuff, he pointed out that the parasite of pride is attached to us, giving the false idea that we’re up a notch from others. No cesspool smell on us!

Not true. All turned out of the way. All become worthless.

Good that Derek painted in a few scenes at the beginning of his sermon before delving into the blackness.  Sheer grace. Unmerited favor. God’s righteousness. And the practical take-away he gave us, to not be judging others, to rush to forgive, to avoid even a smudge of smugness. We are all in this together.

~Jacki Smith