“Christ in me, my hope my song, the life I live to you belong – all for you, Christ in me.”
” I accept your worship and dedication. My desire is that that worship should be welded together into the love which I have cast over you and all who I have called. It pleases Me when you set aside your own agenda and give all your attention and love to Me. That is why I have created and am working towards a kingdom where everyone will have that attitude – from that will come total unity of spirit and mind. It is a huge task since I have given everyone freedom to choose and there are so many ways that that freedom works its way out. Yet ultimately the kingdom will look like I want it to and the good news for you and your readers is that you will all be there – part of it”.
Today we wrap up Paul’s argument which he started in 1:18 -“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness….” He has come from different angles to show that ultimately everyone falls under that description. Every person is “under God’s wrath”.
In today’s section, Romans 3:9-20, he drives this home with a number of quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures. Firstly in v9, a reminder that Jews and Gentiles are equally culpable.
He then takes 7 quotes from various parts of the OT, combining some. Read them. The list is all encompassing and frightening in its reality: no one righteous, or who understands. No one who seeks God, but all have rather turned away from Him, becoming worthless.
No one who does good – NOT EVEN ONE. Friends even the “good works” with the best intentions are as filthy rags in winning God’s approval.. Every word we speak is evil, coming – as it were- from an open grave with the aim of practicing deceit. Our words are like a viper’s poison, full of cursing and bitterness.
Our aim is to destroy, to harm, to bring misery and ruin, the opposite of peace and the bottom line is that there is no fear of God.
As I contemplated all these I thought, “No wonder the world is in the state it is in and things like divorce so common.” What hope is there? Then I realised that our need is perhaps far greater than I have ever perceived. I think that is what Paul wants us to see. We are all totally unrighteous, the law has shown that up but not changed it. The conclusion – we all need a righteousness that only God can give.
It is absolutely basic to the gospel that one has to understand the need, the desperate situation each person is under. Against that background the gospel offer is like a shining light, drawing all to it. Against that background the opening statement in next week’s study 3:21, “a righteousness from God has been known” draws us into desperately wanting to know about this righteousness.
Although we may feel so frustrated with people, especially our loved ones who don’t “get it” that we may feel like hitting them over the head that they may listen and understand this. However the reality is we cannot make someone grasp this frightening truth. This is the work of God, through His Spirit and His word and we are merely witnesses. Bur we do have God’s ear in prayer. It is the Spirit’s work to convict. To apply these truths to the heart
Any “gospel” that does not have this reality placed centrally in it, is no gospel at all. Jesus is portrayed in so many ways, as Healer”, “Friend”, “Peacemaker, “Reconciler”, “The Answer”,etc without addressing the basic problem everyone has of being totally separated from God and under His wrath is presenting a false Messiah. It is the most difficul thing of all for man to accept our sinfulness and the reality of God’s wrath on us.
God bless you all as we move to the exciting part next week as the Christmas season starts.