Gospel Hope for Defiled Hearts

Manuscript Notes

Outline Notes

Reflection Questions

How Guilty Silence Gives Hope To Condemned Sinners

Text: Romans 3:9-20

Two significant things are happening this morning as we return to our study through the book of Romans.

A. We are wrapping up the first major section of Romans, where Paul has been helping his readers understand why the entire world is under the just, righteous, and fierce anger of God (1:18-3:20).

Romans Outline – Five Major Sections/Five Helpful Words 

1. ________________ /Introduction (1:1-17)
2. ________________ (1:18-3:20)
3. ________________ (3:21-8:39)
4. ________________ /Consummation (9-11)
5. ________________ (12-16)

B. We are finishing our Summer Series on Spiritual Heart Health taken from Romans 1:18-3:20.

• Pagan Heart (1:18-32)
• Presumptuous Heart (2:1-11)
• Hypocritical Heart (2:12-29)
• Defiant Heart (3:1-8)
• Defiled Heart (3:9-20)

This section opens with a question Paul must have faced in almost every synagogue throughout the Roman Empire:  “What are we to conclude by all of this?  Are we Jews any better off than the Gentiles?”  And Paul’s answer was shocking – “No, not at all!”

I. The ________________ (3:9)
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

Paul’s opponent might have objected – “Paul, how can you say that? Given the promises God has made to us, the Scriptures we possess, the temple and the sacrificial system in which we have been instructed, and the status we enjoy as His chosen people, how is it possible that we are no better off than the pagan gentiles who worship idols and have none of these spiritual privileges and benefits?” 

Paul’s response to that objection – “As I have already charged (made the accusation) that everyone, both Jew and Greek, is under sin!” 

Paul explains the concept of “being under sin” in chapter 6, where he describes three major realities about sin!

• Sin _____________over the whole realm in which we live! (5:21; 6:12)
  Romans 5:20-21 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 

• Sin has _______________over all Sinners who live in this realm! (6:14)
  Rom 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
  Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 

• Sin has ________________ every one of us to its desires. (6:6, 16-18, 20)
  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

II. The ________________ (3:10-18)
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

• Paul quotes from seven OT passages to prove two major points:
  • The Universality of Sin (everyone is under sin’s power) – “No one is righteous; all have gone astray.”
  • The Pervasiveness of Sin  (total depravity means sin has pervaded every part of humanity and infected every aspect of our lives) – “They have become worthless; no one does good, not even one!”

• And he proves these two points in three ways:
  • Their ___________ – hearts that turn away from God (3:10-12)
    10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
  • Their ____________ – mouths that speak defilement, deception, death, and bitterness (3:13-14)
    13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
  • Their ___________– actions that bring destruction, ruin, and misery to human relationships in utter defiance of God (3:15-18)
    15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

• Malicious in intent – “swift to shed blood”
• Violent in Effect – “ruin and misery”
• Chaotic in Consequence – “the way of peace they do not know”
• Defiant in retrospect – “no fear of God before their eyes” (Ps. 36:1)

III. The ________________ (3:19)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 

• Guilty ________________ before God
• Just ________________ from God

IV. The ________________ (3:20)
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 

• The ________________ of the Law
  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight,
• The ________________ of the Law
  . . . since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Conclusion: Gospel Hope for Guilty, Silent Sinners

The law (OT Scripture) that forced me to recognize and admit my sinfulness and guilt before a perfectly righteous God now directs me to the mercy offered by a profoundly gracious God who justifies ungodly people like Abraham and David, not based on their works but on their faith in Jesus Christ! (Romans 3:26; 4:5)

After two chapters that lead all of humanity to the judgment bar of God and place everyone under condemnation, a word of hope breaks in and changes everything! “BUT NOW!” Instead of condemnation, there is another word from God: “the righteousness of God has been made manifest from heaven and is available to anyone who will come by faith (not works) in Jesus Christ! (3:21-22)