Paul begins this segment with a question: Are we better than they? Whom is he referencing? Paul just dealt some issues dealing with hypocrisy. He addressed the fact the bodily circumcision, a custom of the Jews, does not make a person closer to God. One point for the Gentiles! Then he argues that the Jews have a special place as the ordained mouth pieces of God. One point for the Jews! So here he asks, "Are we [who are circumcised of the heart] better than they [who are circumcised only of tradition of the body]?" Heavens no! Paul says that Jews and Gentiles are ALL under sin. That clears the scoreboard!
Take a look at the all-inclusive and all-exclusive indefinite pronouns in verses 9-12. (An indefinite pronoun replaces a noun but gives no definite reference to what noun is being replaces. Because they are so indefinite, we can assume that anyone and everyone's names could go in place of these particular pronouns. One point for grammar! :) )Verse 9 says ALL are under sin. That is an all-encompassing, all-inclusive pronoun! Verse 10 mentions that there is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE. What does righteous mean? Righteous means morally right or just. It means being RIGHT with God. 'There is not a single person on earth who is moral enough to reach God on his/her own. NOT ONE! Verse 11 states There is NONE that understandeth; there is NONE that seeketh after God. No man on his own can understand how much he needs God's help. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit must draw man to God; otherwise, we would not go to Him on our own. Verse 12 says they are ALL gone out of the way and become unprofitable. Now, that would shoot down anyone's feeling of self-worth. We have all walked away from God, our of His plan, and far from His purpose. This act turned us into a load of mess! We became unprofitable, useless. There is NONE that doeth good, NOT ONE. Just in case you think you're the exclusion to the mess, Paul echoes "NO, NOT ONE!" There is not a single person who meets God's standards. There is not a soul who can reach Him on her own merit. NOT ONE.
Paul gives some characteristics of these lost sheep. Try to remember your life before Christ if you're saved and identify with these markings. Their throat is an open sepulcher. Paul says that their mouths are places of death and decay. Their feet are swift to shed innocent blood. Their actions prove that they care for no one but themselves. They'll step all over people to obtain what they want. Destruction and misery are their ways, and they don't know the way of peace. There is no respect of God before their eyes. Hopefully, these characteristics NO LONGER define your life!
In this passage, Paul also references the standard we all miss. Wait! If none of us can reach the standard, the law, why does Paul reference it? He says that the law shows us where we all come short. Jesus said whoever breaks one law is guilty of breaking all the law. The law shows us just how guilty we truly are. Because of the law, no flesh shall be justifies in His sight. No one can make it to God on his/her own.
Read I Corinthians 1:29. How does this verse relate to the passage in Romans?
No comments:
Post a Comment