Human Guilt ld2

Romans 3:19-31

Where do you learn of your sin and its wretched consequences?

From the Law of God.

What does the Law of God require of us?

Jesus Christ teaches this in a summary in Matthew 22:37‑40: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (cf. Luke 10:27)

Can you keep all this perfectly?

No, for by nature I am prone to hate God and my neighbor.

I. The Bible Exposes the Human Heart

A. The Law of God teaches people about sin. 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. (Romans 3:20)

B. The Law reveals our proper relationship with God. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

+ Because Love and Law are part of the same expression of God's interest and expectation, setting them in opposition to each other is heresy.

C. The Law also reveals God's plan for dealing with others. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18)

II. People Hate God and Other People

A. No one is righteous. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)

+ Schemes to get around reality compound the problem generating false hopes which inevitably disappoint.

B. Everyone comes up short. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)

+ If the parachute doesn't open, does it matter how much cord plays from the pack?

C. Failure to see the magnitude of the problem is self‑deception. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

+ Shorter Catechism 14: What is sin? Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

D. The corrupt heart cannot come to terms with God's expectations. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)

+ It is not in the nature of a squirrel to ignore an acorn.

E. Death is the only adequate term for sin. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:1‑3)

F. Righteous behavior is abnormal. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)

III. The Problem Is the Sinner ‑ Not the Law

A. Attacking God's system is not the solution to the human problem. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Romans 7:7)

B. The law reveals the true nature of our inner life and provokes rebellion. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:8‑9)

C. Resources become defects. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (Romans 7:10‑11)

D. The struggle with law and sin clarifies the human rebellion and the magnitude of our need for God's intervention. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (Romans 7:12‑13)

E. The believer suffers from the inner struggle of incompatible forces. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:15‑17)

F. Wanting to do good isn't enough. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:20‑23)

G. The knowledge of sin shatters delusions of self‑control and personal adequacy to do what is in one's best interest. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)

D. The revelation of sin removes all excuses and throws people entirely on God's grace. 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. 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. But now 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 Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:19‑23)