My 8^th grade algebra teacher, Mr. Lanza, had the illustrious reputation of being Blairsville Junior High’s strictest educator. His stringent rules and hot-temper evoked terror in students, faculty, and even the principal. Stories of his ballistic outbursts got passed down from year to year and were collated in an oral tradition called “Lanza Legends.”

            On the first day of school ever year, Mr. Lanza began class with a question, “How many of you have heard stories about me?” With trepidation, everyone raised their hand. Then, in a stern tone he said, “They’re all true!” and we felt cold chills run down our spines.

            After this, he took the whole class period to introduce us to a list of rules that he called “Lanza’s Laws.” He began with the preamble, “It is my job to teach you algebra! I expect your undivided attention for 45 minutes every day!”  Then he went on to the list: “In my class, thou shalt not speak unless I call on you! Though shalt not leave class to use the bathroom. Do that on your own time! Thou shalt not get up to sharpen your pencil! Don’t even ask!” After walking us through his whole list of laws, he concluded, “If you respect the rules, you will have a good year. If you break the laws, 8^th grade is going to be a living hell for you.” When he uttered these words, even non-religious students like myself, were forced to grapple with the doctrine of a literal hell. And I immediately became a believer!

            Despite the inaugural pep-talk about behavior, there was always one class clown who tested Mr. Lanza’s seriousness during the first week of school—and in my class sat the notorious smart-aleck, Paul Lowman. Paul had a chip on both of his shoulders and he didn’t know how to keep his mouth shut. I don’t remember his exact remark, but he made some snide comment in class—and I witnessed the nuclear explosion that led to the latest chapter of “Lanza Legends.” He sprinted over to Paul, raised both of his fists, and crashed them down on Paul’s desk with the thunder of Thor’s hammer. He shouted, “Mr. Lowman, you got something to say to me? You got something to say?” His face was cherry-red and rage burned in his eyes. I could have sworn I saw a little puff of smoke shoot out his nose as he commanded Paul to stand up. And in a dramatic display of disapproval, he grabbed Paul’s desk, flipped it over his head, and power-bombed it onto the floor. After the brash “Boom!” echoed down the hallway, a hallowing silence ensued. No one said another word that day or the rest of the year!

            Now I must admit that “Lanza’s Laws” maintained an orderly educational environment, but we all dreaded going to his class. His oppressive rules created such a culture of fear that it stripped away all the joy of learning algebra (as if there was much to begin with!)    

When school or work or church is reduced to obeying a list of rules and regulations, it isn’t much fun, is it? Now I don’t think anyone would disagree with the need for laws to govern society, but when life becomes all about obeying the rules, it is difficult to find pleasure in it. When we are consumed by the fear of doing something wrong, it takes all the joy out of doing what is right!  

Such was the case for the ancient Israelites who lived under the Mosaic Law. After God delivered the Israelites from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, he gave them the Mosaic Law (Law of Moses), a collection of 613 individual laws to govern their new society as they entered the Promised Land. This collection contained everything from the 10 Commandments to kosher food laws to worship practices in the temple. It dealt with everyday issues ranging from how to celebrate holidays to forbidden sexual relations to when it was time to change bedsheets—indeed, the Mosaic Law was all-encompassing. Although the Law was intended to produce a holy society, it often felt like a heavy burden on the Israelite’s backs. This was especially true for the Israelites in the first century A.D., when religious groups like the Pharisees and Sadducees interpreted the Mosaic Law even more strictly than it was originally intended.

Obedience to the Mosaic Law was a big issue in the early church. Since so many of the early Christians were Jews, they needed clarification on their relationship to the law. Were they still obligated to obey the Law or not? And what about gentile Christians—what was their relationship to the law?

The Apostle Paul already began to address these issues in the early chapters of Romans and he picks it up again here in Romans 7:1-6. He uses these verses to further explain the point that he made back in 6:15 when he asked, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?” In this passage, Paul teaches us how Jesus Christ has liberated us from the Mosaic Law!

Dead to the Law: An Illustration from Marriage (1-3)

Paul begins this section by directly addressing his readers in the Roman church. The fact that he calls them “brothers and sisters” identifies them as Christians. The “speaking to those who know the law” suggests that the members of the church were familiar with the Mosaic Law. The church was composed of Jewish Christians and gentiles who were synagogue worshippers before coming to Christ.

He introduces his main point at the end of verse 1—“that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives.” It seems obvious that a person would no longer be bound to a law after they are dead.

For instance, we know that while we are alive in America, we are all subject to our nation’s tax laws, but after we die, we don’t have to pay taxes anymore. Well, wait, what about the death tax? Never mind, that’s a bad example! How about traffic laws instead? After we die, we don’t have to obey the speed limit anymore!

Paul uses an illustration or analogy about marriage to make his point. The law requires a wife to be bound to her husband for as long as they live, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage and is free to marry another man. But if she sleeps with another man while her husband is still alive, she has broken the law of marriage and is considered an adulteress. Therefore, marriage vows still use the language of “til death do us part.” The marriage law, as with all other laws, only applies to a person while they are still alive. Death always severs a person’s relationship with the law.

This passage is primarily about the Christian’s relationship to the Mosaic Law, but Paul’s illustration serves as a good reminder that marriage is designed to last until death. Although there are a couple of biblical justifications for divorce, let us remember the vows that we made on our wedding day. Unfortunately, adultery and divorce have become common in American culture. Even worse, they are rampant in the Christian church! “My husband is dead” is a good justification for getting remarried! “My husband isn’t romantic anymore…My wife doesn’t look good anymore…I don’t love him anymore…I can’t trust her anymore…or we don’t get along anymore…are not good reasons.

Marriage is difficult! Sometimes it is really difficult! So, let me ask: Do you promise to love him, comfort her, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

Dead to the Law: Life in the Spirit (4-6)

Now that Paul has stated and illustrated that the law is only binding on a person while they are alive, he applies this truth to the Christian’s relationship with the Mosaic Law. In verse 4, he states that Christians have died to the law when they put their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether from Jewish or gentile background, when people become Christians their marriage to the Mosaic Law is severed. Like the woman in verse 3 who is free to marry another, Christians can now be united with Christ. This theologically dense verse ends on a practical note that is basic to Paul’s concern in this section: “in order that we might bear fruit for God.” Our new relationship with Christ enables us—and requires us—to produce those character traits, thoughts, and actions that will be for God’s glory. (Moo 418)

In verse 5, Paul makes a contrast between the pre-Christian and Christian situations. He describes a person outside of Christ as “living in the flesh.” By this, Paul means that the non-Christian is enveloped and controlled by worldly principles and values. This old way of life was dominated by sinful passions, which are aroused by the law by stimulating rebellion against God. These sinful actions produced spiritual death. Thus, we can see why a person must be released from the law if he or she is to serve God. (Moo 220)

But now that Christians have been released from the old written code of the law through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they can serve the new way of the Spirit. Written on stone tablets, the law of God cannot change the human heart; only God’s Spirit can do that!

Now some of you might be thinking, “Whoa! Wait a second! Are you saying that Christians don’t have to obey God’s law? Are you really saying that Christians don’t have to obey the 10 Commandments? Yes, that is exactly what I am saying because that is exactly what Paul is saying here in Romans 7! We have been liberated from the law; we are not obligated to obey it; none of it!

            But don’t misunderstand what I am saying! I am not saying that we don’t have to obey God! Even though we are not bound by the 613 statutes of the Mosaic Law, we must certainly honor God in every aspect of our lives. Many of the laws we find in the Old Testament are re-instituted for Christians in the New Testament. Therefore, we should still abstain from sins such as lying, stealing, and adultery because they are given directly to Christians in the New Testament. But we don’t have to bear the heavy burden of the law.

            Perhaps the best way for me to explain this is to use the illustration of training wheels. My youngest son had been hounding me for months to take the training wheels off his bicycle. Well, a couple of weeks ago, the weather finally improved, so I got a wrench and removed his training wheels. Within 15 minutes, he was whipping around the driveway on two wheels—all by himself. He could go much faster, make sharper turns, and most importantly, it was more fun! Even though he was liberated from the restrictions of training wheels, he was still required to follow the laws of balance.  

            And so it is with our relationship with the law—we have been liberated from the Mosaic Law so that we are free to follow Christ and serve the new way of the Spirit. Instead of obeying the law to earn God’s favor, we now obey God as a gesture of gratitude for his grace. He has already given us his favor by sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross!

            Later that afternoon, I asked him, “Hey Matthias, do you want me to put those training wheels back on your bike? He just looked at me like I was crazy! He used his 5-year-old logic to set me straight when he said, “Dad, why would I want to put training wheels back on my bike? I want to ride free!”

            Likewise, let us leave the training wheels of the law behind! And may we live free for Christ!

            We are all slaves to something!

            The Oxford English Dictionary defines a slave as “a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something.” Some people are slaves to chocolate—they simply cannot resist! These self-professed chocoholics keep secret stashes of Hershey’s Kisses in their cupboards to satisfy their cocoa-cravings. And now that the Creemee stands have reopened after a long cold winter, you can see them twisting their tongues around those cones of creamy chocolate goodness. Other people are slaves to more destructive behaviors. Alcohol, sex, and drugs are three obvious ones. How many people do we know who have been shackled by addiction, adultery, and overdose?  

            Others are enslaved by their work. Do you know anyone who is chained to their job? Still others are fettered by their spending habits. They see something and just have to have it! Did you know that the average American household now carries over $16,000 in credit-card debt?

            And I have done enough pastoral counseling to be convinced that the need for “approval” is one of the most pervasive and insidious forms of slavery in modern times. This is a form of servitude that can dominate a person mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. It can diminish the prospects for self-respect and contentment. It can compress a life into a relentless cycle of anxiety and depression. If you look close enough under the surface, this excessive need for approval is one of the primary drivers behind unnecessary cosmetic procedures, anorexia, and cutting.

            Yes, we are all slaves to something! What is it that has captivated you? 

            In Romans 6:15-23, the Apostle Paul affirms this truth that all human beings are slaves to something. As he continues to show how God’s grace overcomes sin through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is ever concerned about the church abusing God’s grace by using it as justification to continue in sin. He wanted the church in Rome and Christians everywhere to avoid the attitude where we would say, “Oh well, I know it’s wrong…but God will forgive me anyway.” To use God’s grace as an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not really “under grace” at all.

Paul already addressed this issue in 6:1-14, but now he reinforces it again in 6:15-23. In verse 15, he asks a similar question to verse 1, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?” And he gives the same unequivocal answer, “By no means!”

Now he digs deeper into the imagery of slavery to reiterate his point. This metaphor was familiar to his original audience; it is estimated that the population of Rome in the first century was about one-third slaves. So vast was the populace that proposed legislation to force slaves to wear a distinctive color of clothing was voted down because it would reveal their numerical strength. Likewise, many free men had once been slaves. There was not a member of the church in Rome who was not keenly aware of the implications of what Paul was saying in this passage. (Hughes 124)

Therefore, Paul drives home the idea that all humans are slaves to something. And he breaks it into two spiritual categories: Everyone is either a slave to sin or a slave to Christ.

Slaves to Sin (16)

Paul begins this section with a general description of slavery. In verse 16, he says that a person is a slave to whatever or whoever they obey. Then he quickly lays out the choice of only two masters to serve: sin or obedience. We would expect sin to be directly contrasted with righteousness or God, but obviously he wants to hammer home the importance of obedience, so he uses the word in a positive sense to denote the Christian moral demand. Both choices have consequences: Serving sin leads to death but serving obedience (to Christ) leads to righteousness. The “death” referenced here is certainly spiritual death (i.e. separation from God) but it also carries overtones of physical death. I could give dozens of examples of how sinful behavior directly led to physical death. (Moo 210) Sin, by its very nature, leads to death.

Radio personality Paul Harvey used to tell the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. Next, the hunter sticks his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night.

            So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more–until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!” It is a fearful thing that people can be consumed by their own lusts.  

Sin isolates us from God and destroys lives! It destroys marriages, families, and friendships. It wipes away emotional and financial security. It causes stress, anxiety, and depression. Sin is a harsh taskmaster! And it holds millions of people in bondage. It is no wonder our world is so screwed up!  

Slaves to Christ (17-23)

But thanks be to God that slavery to sin does not have to be a death sentence. In verses 17-18 Paul goes on to praise God again for the fundamental change that happens when people become Christians. When they genuinely put our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are no longer slaves to sin or its consequences. Positionally, Jesus sets people free from bondage and they can now resist sin and pursue righteousness.

In verse 19, Paul explains why he is using this image of slavery: “because of your natural limitations” or “fleshly weaknesses”—as a contrast from the former way of life to the new way. We will always be slaves to something, so just as we used to be obedient to our sinful desires (impurity and lawlessness), now we should present our members (abilities and capacities) as slaves to righteousness. Our practice should match out position. As we become more and more obedient to Christ, we become more and more righteous in our living. This is a beautiful description of sanctification—the process whereby be become more holy and Christlike. Paul is essentially saying this: We gain freedom from sin by becoming slaves to Christ!

            Can you imagine how our lives would be different if we were actually obedient to Christ in our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions? We would have fewer rifts in our relationships and less stress, less anxiety, and less depression. We would experience a higher level of peace, joy, and contentment.

            When we actively obey Christ in every aspect of our lives, it frees us from sin’s grip over our lives, which leads to even greater freedom. If we pursued obedience to Christ with the same single-minded passion that other people seek fame, money, or power, our lives would be completely transformed.

When I think about Paul’s teaching in this passage, the image of a Border Collie comes to mind. Over the years Jennifer and I have attended several Scottish Highland festivals. We love listening to the bag pipe bands, eating Scottish meat pies, watching sheep herding demonstrations. It was always amazing to watch how Border Collies would obey their masters perfectly. With a simple voice command or a hand motion, a master can command a collie to corral whole flocks of sheep or to sit still in one location all day.

            This is a picture of the type of obedience to which Paul is calling us. If we would just obey Christ’s commands as a Border Collie obeys its master, we would be spared so much pain and grief. We would live the life that Christ has called us to live and grow in godliness.

            Remember, we are all slaves to something! Let us be slaves to Christ. Let us give up our independence and depend on Christ! Let us stop trying to control everything and yield to Christ’s will! You see, there is great freedom in slavery. I know its a paradox, but it is true: We gain freedom from sin by becoming slaves to Christ! 

Wages of Sin or Gift of God (20-23)

Paul concludes chapter 6 with a summative comparison between slaves to sin and slaves to Christ. In verses 20-21, he returns to his initial question about continuing in sin because of grace. Here, he reminds Christians that when they were slaves to sin, they were free regarding righteousness. That is, before they put their faith in Christ it was impossible to live a righteous life. Now that they can live righteously, why in the world would they want to return to the shameful sins that enslaved us in the first place? These things led to death. So, he urges them to take advantage of the opportunity Christ has given them to grow in sanctification and freedom!

Verse 23, in my opinion, is the clearest encapsulation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the whole Bible. If I could only use one verse of scripture to share the gospel with someone, this would be it. Most people would choose John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is a good one! It’s no wonder you see big signs bearing this reference at sporting events.

But Romans 6:23 shows an even clearer contrast between life with and without Christ. “Wages” is the opposite of a “gift.” With wages, people get what they work for. With a gift, they get what they don’t work for. “Sin” is the opposite of “God” and “death” is the opposite of “eternal life.” And people can receive God’s gift of eternal life through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This “eternal life” is not only a future destination in heaven; it is also a present quality of life here on earth!

So, the next time you find yourself heading to Gillette Stadium to watch a Patriots game, get some magic markers and make yourself a big sign that reads: ROMANS 6:23. I guarantee this will create an opportunity to talk to someone about the gospel.

            As we conclude our study of Romans 6, I hope we will all take Paul’s primary point to heart! I hope that we all realize what Jesus has done for us by dying on the cross and rising on the third day! I hope that none of us will ever take advantage of God’s grace by having a flippant attitude toward sin! And I hope that we will all grow in godliness—We gain freedom from sin by becoming slaves to Christ!

            We are all slaves to something!

Greta was a bright and beautiful girl. Although she grew up in a Christian family and attended church regularly, she became more and more rebellious as she progressed through high school. It started with a bad attitude toward her parents and then led to a life of lies, promiscuity, and experimentation with various drugs. As soon as she graduated, she ran off to New York City. At only 18 years-old, she shook off the dust of her small-town and sought her fortune in the Big Apple. But she would soon learn that some apples aren’t meant to be eaten!

            After getting rejected by several modeling agencies, Greta met a fast-talking photographer, who invited her to a private shoot at his studio. It all seemed innocent at first—he promised to help her build her portfolio and break into the modeling industry. But before long, she was mixed up in the middle of an underground pornography network. She genuinely felt guilty about what she was doing, but sometimes guilt isn’t strong enough to guarantee change. Without any other means of supporting herself, she continued to walk down that dark path.

            Greta eventually discovered that her photographer was also a pimp who ran a large prostitution ring. He told her that he “managed” many girls throughout the city and that he helped them make a lot of money. Soon Greta found herself doing things that she never could have imagined, but the promise of prosperity never panned out. He barely gave her enough money to survive. He kept a psychological grip over the girls with steady stream of empty promises and terrifying threats—he treated them like slaves. Greta sunk into a deep depression and even began contemplating suicide. She felt ashamed and trapped by what she had become.  

            But finally, one night, instead of overdosing on pills like she had planned, Greta got up enough courage to call her parents. Her mom and dad immediately ran to New York to rescue their little girl. Although they were heartbroken to hear what she had done, they passed no judgment. They just loved her and cared for her. They got her into counseling and talked about sending her to college after she got back on her feet. The light returned to Greta’s eyes and everything seemed to be looking up.

            That is, until one morning, when Greta was gone again. She went back to New York City and her life on the streets.

            When we hear stories like this, we just want to scream: “No!!! Don’t do it!! Why would you do this? It doesn’t make any sense!” Perhaps you know someone like Greta. Maybe you’ve had a friend who left an abusive relationship and then turned around and went back? Maybe you know someone who overcame an alcohol or drug addiction and then returned to it when life got difficult? Tragic tales like this beg the question: Why would anyone go back to a life of slavery after they’ve been set free?”

This is precisely the question the Apostle Paul asks in Romans 6:1-14. Not about Greta specifically, but about Christians in general—”Why would Christians return to a life of slavery to sin after they’ve been set free by Jesus?” I imagine that most of us have pondered this question about our own lives! Even after Jesus has delivered us from sin, we have felt temptation to return to our former ways of life. In this passage, Paul helps us understand that we are slaves no more!

Slaves No More: Freedom from Sin through Christ’s Sacrifice (1-11)

Throughout the book of Romans, Paul often anticipates the questions his audience will ask in response to a point he makes. He does it again here in verse 1 when he asks, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” To make sense of this question, we must remember what Paul said back in 5:20—“But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” He did not want the Christians in Rome to misunderstand him. He was not saying that God’s grace condones sin; to the contrary, he wanted them to know that God’s grace should compel them to live in obedience to God.

The fact that Paul answers his own question in verse 2 with one of the strongest negative responses in the Greek language shows that God’s amazing grace does not issue a license to sin. The Greek phrase (me-ge-noi-ta) can be translated “By no means!” or “God forbid!” or “May it never be!” The idea of Christians returning to the very sin that Jesus delivered them from is tantamount to a man jumping back into a raging surf of shark infested waters after being rescued from them. It betrays common sense—it is illogical lunacy!

In verses 3-11, Paul goes on to explain how Jesus’ death and resurrection frees us from sin. To help us, he employs the metaphor of baptism. When people put our faith in Jesus Christ, they undergo a spiritual transformation. This transformation from death to life is symbolized in the act of water baptism: Falling back into the water represents dying with Christ—being immersed under the water signifies being buried with Christ—and rising out of the water depicts resurrection to new life. Baptism is an outward physical expression of the inward spiritual transformation that happens when we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We are slaves to sin no more—we are set free and are given the ability to “walk in newness of life.” (4)

When we are united with Christ through faith and baptism, we not only receive forgiveness for their sins and the assurance of eternal life, but as Paul clarifies in verse 6, our “old self” is crucified with Christ so that our body of sin might be done away with and that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. The old self is the kind of person that we were before we were united with Christ. Since sin’s power over us have been broken, we should reflect that new freedom in the way we live. Sin should no longer characterize us! (Moo 198) Just as Jesus died to sin and was raised to new life, so we should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (10-11)

Slaves No More: Living in our New Identity (12-14)

After Paul clarifies how Christ’s sacrifice has set us free from slavery to sin, he goes on to command us to live out our new identity in Christ. In verses 12-14, he shifts from the indicative mood to the imperative mood, he moves from explanation to exhortation, he changes from an emphasis on what we should believe to how we should behave! He begins with the negative: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Jesus won the victory over sin on the cross, but we must put this victory into action. Putting away those sins that plague us does not happen automatically. No, Paul insists, a determination of our own will is called for to overcome sin.

When we experience the spiritual transformation that comes through conversion, sin no longer our master—it has no dominion over us. Like a slave that has been set free, we now have the power to say no to sin and run away from it. We now have the power to resist temptation. We can now choose to use our minds, our words, and our bodies to pursue righteousness rather than promoting unrighteousness.  

            Therefore, let us exchange our old postures of pride and attitudes of arrogance for manners of meekness and humility! Let us trade in our unwholesome talk and degrading language for words that bring life, hope, and peace. Let us swap the vices of greed and gluttony for the virtues of charity and generosity. Let us put away lifestyles of sexual impropriety and pursue sexual purity. Let us let go of our bitter grudges and extend the same grace and forgiveness that God has extended to us through Jesus Christ! Since we have been freed from sin, let us never abuse God’s grace by returning to behaviors that enslaved us in the first place! Let us act like slaves no more!

As I conclude, let me tell you a story about a freed slave who never turned back to slavery. Freddie was born in Maryland somewhere around the year 1818. Like many slave babies in those days, he was taken away from his mother while he was an infant. He was raised by his grandmother until he was six, when he was then sold to the Wye House Plantation.

            Freddie grew up on various plantations until he wound up serving the Auld family in Baltimore. At age 12, Mrs. Auld began teaching Freddie the alphabet. He made great progress until Mr. Auld put a stop to it. He disapproved of the tutoring, feeling that literacy would only encourage slaves to desire freedom. But Freddie continued, secretly, to teach himself how to read and write. As Freddie began to read newspapers, pamphlets, political materials, and books of every description, this new realm led him to question and condemn the institution of slavery. He later often said, “knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.”

            As Freddie got older, he taught other slaves on the plantation to read the New Testament at a weekly Sunday school. As word spread, the interest among slaves in learning to read was so great that in any week, more than 40 slaves would attend his lessons.

            But when Freddie was sixteen, the Auld family sent him to work for Edward Covey, a poor farmer who had a reputation as a “slave-breaker”. He whipped Freddie regularly, and nearly broke him psychologically.

            Finally, in 1838, when Freddie was twenty, through a sequence of fortunate events, he was able to escape the harsh realities of southern slavery by boarding a series of trains and steamships that took him to the “Quaker City” of Philadelphia and then New York City. His entire journey took less than 24 hours.

            Freddie went on to become a preacher, abolitionist, orator, author, social reformer, and statesman. In 1872, Freddie became the first African American nominated for Vice President of the United States. At this point, you may have guessed that “Freddie” is none other than Fredrick Douglas, the man who lived as a slave no more!

            In one of his autobiographies, Douglas wrote:

I have often been asked, how I felt when first I found myself on free soil. And my readers may share the same curiosity. There is scarcely anything in my experience about which I could not give a more satisfactory answer. A new world had opened upon me. If life is more than breath, and the ‘quick round of blood,’ I lived more in one day than in a year of my slave life. It was a time of joyous excitement which words can but tamely describe. In a letter written to a friend soon after reaching New York, I said: ‘I felt as one might feel upon escape from a den of hungry lions.’ Anguish and grief, like darkness and rain, may be depicted; but gladness and joy, like the rainbow, defy the skill of pen or pencil.

Friends, Jesus Christ has set our feet on free soil. He has liberated us from sin through his death and resurrection. A new world has opened upon us. It is a time of joyous excitement that which words can but tamely describe—when gladness and joy, like a rainbow, defy the skill of pen or pencil.

            Now that we have been freed from slavery to sin, let us act like slaves no more!

So, I’m not exactly a “health and fitness guy”. And really anyone who’s ever put a piece of pie in front of me could tell you that. But I’ve recently started to try and work out a little more. I’m lucky enough to work a place that has an on-site gym, and not only that, but also offers fitness classes for free.

There are three that I’ve started to take on a semi-regular basis. (And by semi-regular I mean that I try to take them regularly, but you know, things get in the way, like using my lunch break to go get a burrito instead.)

I’ve started taking a rowing class on Mondays at 2:00. (So if you ever find yourself lost at sea, I’m your guy.)

I’ve also started taking a spinning class on Tuesdays at noon. (Now, last Sunday while Pastor Vawn was preaching, I was listening to his sermon and reading ahead to today’s passage knowing that I was preaching the next sermon. And I thought to myself, “Maybe I should talk about my spinning class.” Not 15 seconds later, Pastor Vawn says, “One time, I was roped into taking a spinning class.” The first thing I thought was, “What are the odds that spinning will be mentioned two weeks in a row at the East Franklin and Franklin churches.” And my second thought was, “Maybe I should talk about a different class.”)

The third class that I’ve started taking is TRX, which is a suspension weight training class. What that means is that adjustable straps with handles on them are suspended from the ceiling, and you basically use your own bodyweight against yourself in the weight training. So we do things like plant our feet, and then lean back while holding onto the handles, and then lift ourselves up to do like a pull up, or barbell curls. We also put our feet in the handles, and try to do “atomic pushups” with our feet suspended. Or the worst: side planks.

The thing about this particular class is that after I take it… I can’t move for the next three days. Every single muscle in my body hurts, I discover different muscles and parts of my body that I didn’t even know I had because absolutely everything is stiff and aches. And we all know it’s never the day after that hurts the most. It’s the day after the day after, right?

The first time I took this class was on a Friday, and I had heard how much you hurt after, so I tried to be really good about stretching frequently thinking that maybe I’d be spared. Nope. Before going to bed the next night, I got down on the floor of our bedroom to stretch, and I couldn’t get back up. Lissy walked out of the room to check on Colin, came back in to find me just lying motionless on the floor.

The second time I took the class was on a Wednesday, and it was a bit better. I could get off the floor under my own power, but this time it just totally destroyed my arms, especially the muscles on the inside of my elbow. So I couldn’t stretch my arms out straight for the next three days. I have a standing desk at work, and every time I hopped off my chair to walk to the bathroom, I’d walk with a slight bend in my arms. I looked like C-3P0.

Why do muscles hurt after you work out? When you work out or lift weights, it tears the fiber of your muscles, and they grow back stronger. That’s the pain, your muscles regenerating stronger.

But how do we know we need to work out or lift weights? How do we know that our muscles aren’t strong enough? Usually it’s when we have something to compare ourselves to. I’m not talking about the super chiseled and totally unrealistic people out there. I’m talking about you see a dumbbell that you have a lot of trouble lifting. Or a box full of junk you have trouble carrying down the stairs, and you think “This would be way easier if I worked out.”

In verses 1-11 of Romans 5, the passage Pastor Vawn covered last week, just before our passage now, Paul writes about the justification we now have in Jesus’ death and resurrection. But it begs the question: Why do we need justification? From what are we being justified? That’s what Paul writes about in our passage today, vv.12-21. He does so by setting up a contrast between sin and grace, death and life, condemnation and righteousness, Adam and Christ.

He starts in vv.12-13: “¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.”

What is sin? We often think about sin as: God gave us a list of rules to follow, and when we don’t, we sin. And to a certain extent, yes. I mean, “Thou shalt not kill” seems straightforward. But I think that understanding of sin doesn’t actually do it justice.

Sin is much, much heavier. Sin is separation from God. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden in the presence of God. When they disobeyed God by eating the apple, God removed them from the Garden, and removed them from his presence.

But if, as Paul notes in v. 13, sin was in the world before the law was given, how would they know? “The law” meaning the law God gave to Moses when the Israelites were still wandering in the desert after coming out of Egypt. If you want to read it, it’s in Leviticus. Be prepared, it’s a doozy. But if there wasn’t anything to measure actions up against before the law, how do we know that sin was still in the world? It’s like the question I asked before, how do you know you need to work out if there’s no weight to compare your strength to?

We know sin was still in the world because death was present.

If God is the creator and sustainer of all things, God is life. And if God is life, and sin is the separation from God, then sin is death. Paul’s readers would have understood this because the Jewish view at the time, and still a common belief even in today’s church, is that physical death didn’t exist until sin entered the world through Adam. Of course, we understand this to also mean spiritual death. Just because you haven’t lifted a weight to know that your muscles could use some work, doesn’t mean your muscles don’t need some work. Like, just because there wasn’t a law given yet, doesn’t mean sin didn’t reign.

So Paul says, “¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” What does it mean that Adam was a type of the one to come? Simply, Paul is pointing to Jesus. Adam was the firstborn of man into death. Jesus was the firstborn of man into death and resurrection. Jesus is the Second Adam come to make all things right.

“¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” And here’s where Paul sets up this contrast, this juxtaposition. We have Adam on one end, Jesus on the other. We had been and should still be living under the trespass of Adam, but instead we are living under the free gift of Jesus Christ.

And this free gift is not like the trespass. The trespass of one man on one side only brought death to many. Physical. Spiritual. Separation from God. Death. But instead, this free gift on the other side has brought grace to many through Jesus Christ. And this grace doesn’t just replace the trespass. This grace overcomes the trespass. God’s grace is infinitely greater for good than is Adam’s sin for evil. And that is good news for us who are desperately in need of grace.

“¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.” Condemnation and justification are at odds with each other. Condemnation and justification can’t inhabit the same space. We’re either one or the other. We’re either condemned or we’re justified. And so the question is simply, which one is stronger?

And here’s where my weight lifting analogy starts to break down. (Most pastors would generally tell you that if you’re going to pick an analogy, make sure it’ll make it through the whole sermon. But we’ll ignore that common sense for this morning and run with it together.) But here’s where it breaks down because if we have a hard time lifting a weight, it means we need to get stronger. And the only way for you to get stronger is for you to work out, and eventually the weights you lift start to feel lighter. (At least, that’s what I’m counting on if I’m going to keep going back to my TRX class.)

The law was a heavy enough burden on its own. But the more the people of God tried to earn their justification, the heavier the burden became. The Pharisees were the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They weren’t the only religious leaders, but a major party. They somewhat get a bad rap because Jesus was constantly challenging them (and the whole trying to kill our Lord and Savior thing), but what they were trying to do was preserve their faith. They were so concerned that the people of God would break the law, that they instituted additional rules and requirements to try and ensure that the Jews wouldn’t break the law and sin against God. That’s like lifting weights and working out, and instead of it getting easier, it just gets harder day by day, by day. (At that point, I would say, “I’m done.”)

But this burden doesn’t get lighter because of anything we have done or can do. It’s a free gift! And the one trespass is strong because it brought condemnation. But the free gift is stronger because it brings justification following many trespasses. The free gift is stronger than the judgment.

And here’s the verse for which I’m incredibly thankful: “¹⁷ For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man. But because of the abundance of grace, those who receive the free gift of righteousness reign in life through Jesus Christ. Death reigned for death’s sake. But instead Jesus turns that on its head so that we, the recipients of His free gift of grace and righteousness, reign in life, in communion with God.

There’s the difference between the two: the reign of death is completely self-serving. The reign of Jesus, on the other hand, is completely self-giving. And death has to be self-serving to protect itself because it’s weaker. But Jesus doesn’t need to be self-serving because He already holds all authority in heaven, earth and hell! He is completely self-giving because, between He and death, He’s already the stronger one, He’s already won the battle, and we taste the victory.

Let’s look at v.12 again really quickly: “¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” Paul sets up its contrast in v.18: “¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Now, we’ve read repeatedly about righteousness in this passage. What is righteousness? It’s a lot more than simply being a good person, or going to church on a weekly basis, or sharing those posts on Facebook that say, “If you believe, type ‘amen’ and share”. Jesus really defines righteousness for us here through his actions of obeying God. And that’s how we are made righteous. It’s through Jesus’ obedience to God, and it’s through our continual obedience to Jesus. Don’t get this confused: we are justified by faith. But the evidence of our faith is in our obedience to Jesus in our actions.

And I’m also not just talking about obeying a list of rules that God hands down. Because he did that. And it didn’t exactly go well. “²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…” The law was not meant to save. It was not the way that God would bring about redemption. It was the way we were shown our need for redemption. The way of Jesus, though, brings us redemption. And the more we become aware of our sin, the more we become aware of our need for redemption and the way of Jesus.

The way of Jesus is one of righteousness because it is one of obedience to God, and as followers of Jesus, we are called to this way. Verse 21 says, “²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I love how the New Living Translation puts it, “²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“…now God’s wonderful grace rules instead…” And the way this wonderful grace is shown is the way of Jesus, and it’s this way of peace in which we are called to live instead.

And it looks confusing to the powers and authorities and the ways of this world, because it looks so different!

It’s this way of Jesus that calls us to love our enemies, not to degrade or dehumanize them; to tear them down, to keep them out, to alienate them, or to commit violence against them!

It’s this way of Jesus that calls us to turn the other cheek, not to stand our ground, puff ourselves up, and get ready for a fight!

It’s this way of Jesus that when Jesus was being arrested and the disciples had every right to defend Him and themselves, Jesus said, “Put away your sword!”

And it’s so confusing and looks weak to the powers and authorities, because this world tells us to beat our chests, and to say “Look how much power I have! Look how much influence I have! Look how much money I have! Look how successful I am! Look at the size of my house and the car I drive! Look how many people serve me! Look how strong I am! Look at how many guns I have! Look how big my bombs are! I will win, I will crush my enemies and anyone who gets in my way!” This is sin. This is the way of death.

But instead.

            Not in addition to, but instead. We put that way aside, instead.

We are called to the way of Jesus that can look weak to the world, but is so much stronger because Jesus is stronger and God is good. We are called to love in this way, to think in this way, and to live in this way, because Jesus has shown us how. It is hard, and it doesn’t come through our own power, but we rest in the truth that God’s wonderful grace rules instead, and that through this grace we are being eternally transformed.

Friends, we are playing the long game. We are not in a short yardage situation. Julien Edelman running a crossing route will not bail us out over the middle. If you don’t know what that sentence means, just watch one Patriots game this season and you’ll get it.

Jesus Christ has done an eternal work in justifying us in the face of condemnation. And we join this work by taking part in His free gift of grace and righteousness “giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

            Do you believe the unbelievable?

            The Guinness Book of World Records contains many unbelievable facts. For instance, did you know that the heaviest man in the world weighed 1,235 pounds? It’s hard to believe, but it’s true! A Mexican man named Manuel Uribe reportedly hit this staggering weight before he died in 2014. He slimmed down to 840 pounds in 2007, but gained some of it back, reportedly weighing 980 pounds by March 2012.  

             Did you know that the tallest man in the world was 8’11” and wore a size 37 shoe? It’s hard to believe, but it’s true! Robert Pershing Wadlow, from Alton, Illinois, recorded this height when last measured on June 27, 1940.

            Did you know that Feodor Vassilyev and his first wife, a peasant from Shuya, Russia, hold the record for the most children a couple has parented? She gave birth to a total of 69 children – sixteen pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets – between 1725 and 1765, in a total of 27 births. 67 of the 69 children born were said to have survived infancy. Vassilyev also had six sets of twins and two sets of triplets with a second wife, for another 18 children in eight births; he fathered a total of 87 children. This is really hard to believe, but it is true! The case was reported to Moscow by the Monastery of Nikolsk on Feb. 27, 1782, which had recorded every birth. (Now fellas, allow me to take a quick time out from my sermon to give you a bit of pastoral advice: Whatever you do, don’t ask your wife if she wants to get into the Guinness Book of World Records!)  

And finally, did you know that a British woman who gave birth at the age of 59 is believed to be the world’s oldest natural mother? On August 20, 1997, Dawn Brooke gave birth without the aid of fertility treatment, breaking the previous world record for a natural pregnancy by two years. Mr. Brooke, who was age 74 at the time, said the pregnancy was unplanned and had come as a shock to him and his wife. (No kidding!) Like the other examples, this report is hard to believe, but it is true. However, the Guinness Book of World Records got this one wrong! This record actually belongs to another! (Hughs 91)

            The final portion of Romans 4 focuses on the events surrounding the true world record for the oldest mother and the world-changing implications of that birth! Do you remember the story of Abraham and Sarah from the Book of Genesis? It’s almost unbelievable!

Abraham Believes God’s Unbelievable Promise

Somewhere around 2000 B.C., Abraham was born and raised in Ur of the Chaldeans, a city in ancient Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). He married a local girl named Sarah and they began their lives together with a bright future. Like most young couples, they had high hopes of starting their own family. In those days, a full quiver was not only source of pride and joy, but it was also a sign of God’s blessing. So, as soon as Sarah tossed her bouquet to her bridesmaids, she and Abraham went to work!

But after a few months, Sarah wasn’t pregnant. But this was no reason to overreact, at least not yet. Thankfully, their friends and family kept their awkward comments to themselves. However, after six months and a year went by and Sarah still wasn’t pregnant, they were bombarded with a barrage of blundering remarks, inappropriate questions, and unsolicited advice, including: “Maybe you’re not doing it right!”, “What’s wrong with you guys?”, “Perhaps you should go away on a romantic vacation!” These “helpful” attempts were actually quite hurtful!

Before they knew it, one year turned into two and then the years passed into decades, and they still didn’t have any kids. Even though they were successful in other areas of their life, the lack of children left a sadness in their souls. By the time Abraham and Sarah reached their retirement years and began drawing social security, they had given up hope. They had long concluded that Sarah was barren—her womb was dead and unable to produce life. Ah! But God has a way of bringing life out of death!

When the patriarchal couple reached the ages of 75 and 65 respectively, God appeared to Abraham and said, “Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) This would have been hard to believe, wouldn’t it?

Even though Abraham and Sarah didn’t understand how God was going to use an old barren couple like them to produce a great nation, they believed God’s unbelievable promise! So, they packed up all their belongings and headed west toward the Promised Land.

If Sarah had gotten pregnant at age 65, it would have been enough to make the neighbors talk. But God had another plan! A few more years went by and her biological clock kept tick, tick, ticking away. As Abraham entered his eighties, he became more confused about God’s plan. Although he never lost faith in the promise, he couldn’t figure out how God was going to keep it. So, one-night God reassured him: He took him outside and told him to look up and count the stars. Then God said, “So shall your offspring be!” This too, must have been hard to believe!

When Abraham was eighty-six, he wound up fathering a child with his wife’s servant Hagar. (This episode shows us shows us that when we take matters into our own hands rather than trusting in the Lord, we make life so much more complicated than it needs to be.) But this child was not the son God had promised! Abraham and Sarah would have to wait another 14 years until God would fulfill his promise.

It wasn’t until Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 that she finally gave birth to a bouncing baby boy named Isaac. And regardless of what the Guinness Book of World Records says, Sarah still holds the record for the oldest woman to give birth!

God’s promise was unbelievable, but Abraham believed the unbelievable. And because of his faith in God’s ability to bring life from death, Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness and his soul was saved! This story is still hard to believe, but it is true! Do you believe the unbelievable?

But you may still be wondering how God kept his promise to use Abraham to bless all the families of the earth? He took a long time to fulfill this promise too, but it came through another unbelievable birth.

Jesus Raised to Life

Abraham and Sarah wound up having many grandchildren, and their family line produced the nation of Israel. About 2000 years after Sarah delivered her son, there was another unbelievable birth in Israel. But this time it wasn’t to a 90-year-old woman; it was a young virgin mother named Mary. This son was Abraham’s heir, his far-off great-grandson. This baby boy eventually grew into a man—he changed water into wine—he healed the sick—he cured the lame—he gave sight to the blind—he walked on water—and although he lived a sinless life, the religious leaders falsely accused him, the political leaders unjustly punished him, and the bloodthirsty crowd relentlessly shouted, “Crucify! Crucify! Crucify him!”

They dressed him in royal robes—they mocked and made fun of him—they beat his body and spit in his face—they twisted a crown of thorns and pressed it into his head—they nailed his hands and feet to a wooden cross and they hung him up to die. After he committed his Spirit to the Father and breathed his final breath, the women wept—the earth quaked—the soldiers trembled—the graves burst—and the curtain was torn in two. His clothing was gambled—his body was buried—and his tomb was sealed!

But three days later, on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women who prepared spices to anoint his body, went to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away! The two angels asked that wonderful question, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” The women then knew that Jesus, who was crucified, had been raised from the dead!

This is the great Easter story! It’s hard to believe, but it is true! Through Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, he offers forgiveness of sins and the hope of everlasting life. He offers his righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness! He offers to heal our wounded spirits and restore our broken relationships with God! He offers all of this to those who believe in God’s ability to bring life from death!

Salvation is through Faith Alone (Romans 4:13-25)

            So, why would I share the Abraham story and the Easter story together? Because that is exactly what the Apostle Paul does in Romans 4:13-25. Throughout Romans 3-4, Paul has been trying to convince the Christians at Rome that salvation comes through faith alone, not from obedience to God’s law. Abraham received God’s righteousness through his faith; it had nothing to do with the law. The purpose of the law is to show people that they don’t have any righteousness of their own. This is what Paul is saying in verses 13-15.

Paul goes on to explain that Abraham is not only the father of the Jewish race, but he is the father of everyone who puts their faith in God’s promise, whether Jew or Gentile. Salvation does not depend on national/ethnic identity or obedience, it depends on faith in the one who can give life to the dead and create something out of nothing. This is what he is saying in verses 16-17.

And in verses 18-25, Paul links Abraham’s justification through faith in God’s promise to the justification through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Allow me to read these words again! Just as Abraham was justified by believing an unbelievable promise, we can be justified by believing in an unbelievable resurrection from the dead!

Friends, this is the gospel of Jesus Christ! As we have gathered together on this Easter morning to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we must remember that we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory! We must remember that we cannot save ourselves by being “good people” or doing “good deeds.” We must remember that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins! We must remember that Jesus rose on the third day to conquer death and offer eternal life. And we must remember that the only way to receive salvation from God’s wrath is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ!

            Abraham was justified because he believed the unbelievable promise of God! We can be justified by believing in the unbelievable resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the great Easter hope. So, let me ask: Do you believe the unbelievable?

A preacher, long-departed from the truth of the gospel, told the following story to summarize the faith he taught. It seems that a frog one day fell into a pail of milk, and though he tried every conceivable way to jump out, he always failed. The sides were too high, and because he was floating in the milk, he could not get enough leverage for the needed leap. So, he did the only thing he could do. He paddled and paddled and paddled some more. And voila! His relentless paddling churched the milk into butter from which he was able to launch himself to freedom. The preacher’s message was: “Just keep on paddling, keep on working, keep doing your best, and you will make it”

            We may smile at this simplistic exaggeration, but this actually describes the predominant American religious belief quite well. Even though Amazing Grace is our favorite hymn, most people believe that if you just do your best you will somehow make it to Heaven. Americans are addicted to the idea that if you’re “a good person,” “work hard,” and “pull yourself up by the boot-straps” that you will earn a seat in God’s kingdom. Most people in our world, if you press them on the issue, are deeply hostile to the concept of justification by faith alone through God’s grace. We are much more comfortable with the motto: “We get salvation the old-fashioned way. We earn it!” (Hughs 83)

            Such thinking is, of course, not new. This position has been prevalent from ancient times. It was the common view—the conventional thinking—of the Jews throughout the Old Testament era and during the time of Jesus and Paul. For those folks, Abraham was a prime example of a man who was justified by works. They believed that Abraham lived out God’s law before it was written, he was perfect in all his deeds, and he had no need of repentance.

So, Paul addresses this issue in Romans 4. He picks up where he left in Romans 3 when he asserted that sinful human beings are justified by grace alone through faith alone. Contrary to the prevailing belief of the time, Paul asserts that, Abraham too, received God’s righteousness through faith alone, rather than by obeying God’s law.

In Romans 4, Paul continues to correct the false notion that salvation can be earned through works, and he uses the example of Abraham to verify that justification is by faith alone. In verses 1-12, he draws out three implications of this important doctrine: If justification is by faith alone, we have no reason to boast, no sin is beyond forgiveness, and family heritage and religious rituals cannot make us righteous. Let’s take a closer look!

1.) If justification is by faith alone, we have no reason to boast. (1-5)

As Paul so often does in Romans, he introduces the next stage of his argument with a question. In 4:1, he asks about “what Abraham gained” in this regard, which relates back to 3:27-31, when Paul asserted the idea that there should be no boasting because justification comes by faith alone. Paul brings Abraham into this argument for two reasons: First, the Jews revered Abraham as both the ancestor of God’s people and as a model of faithfulness to the law. Second, Abraham is a key figure in God’s plan of salvation as revealed in the Old Testament. If Paul was going to convince the Christians in Rome, who were mostly Jewish, to endorse justification by faith alone, he must prove to them that Abraham is on his side. (Moo 143)

From there, Paul makes the point that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have something to brag about, but in fact, he wasn’t justified by works, so he has nothing to brag about. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, where is says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This verse describes Abraham’s response to God’s promise that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Even the Scriptures testify to the fact that Abraham was justified by faith rather than works. But what kind of faith was this? It was the type of faith where an old man with a barren wife would believe God’s promise that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky.

Paul clarifies his point by using an analogy from the working world. In verse 4, he asserts that when we work, an employer pays us wages not “as a gift” but “as an obligation.” Wages are what people deserve for their work; a gift is something freely given without obligation. Paul is saying that God is a God of grace, who offers his righteousness to sinners as a gift. It cannot be earned! It can only be received through faith.

If Abraham received God’s righteousness as a gift, he had no right to boast about anything he did. Likewise, if justification is by faith alone and not by human works, then we don’t have any reason to boast either!

            Even though Paul makes it perfectly clear that justification is by faith alone, it is staggering to think about how many people believe that they can receive salvation by being “good people.” It is shocking to consider how many people still believe they can get to heaven by doing “good” deeds! It is tragic to ponder how many Christian churches still teach the false doctrine that salvation can be earned. It is no wonder there is so much boasting in our society today!

            Earlier this week, a friend of mine posted a poignant sign. It said, “Satan doesn’t whisper ‘Believe in me.’ He whispers, ‘Believe in yourself.’”

“Believe in yourself” is the mantra of our modern American society. It highlights the frog in the milk pail gospel—that “if you just work hard enough…if you just work smart enough…if you just set your mind on it…you can accomplish anything.” But these are the devil’s lies! “Believing in yourself” may jack up your self-esteem, but it will lead you straight to hell!

            If you want to go heaven: Believe in God’s promises! Believe that Jesus died for your sins on the cross! Believe that Jesus rose from the dead and has offered you eternal life as a gift! Whatever you do, don’t boast about how good you are!    

2.) If justification is by faith alone, no sin is beyond forgiveness. (6-8)

After Paul reaffirms that justification is by faith alone and there is no reason for humans to boast, he addresses another implication of this important doctrine: No sin is beyond forgiveness. To make this point, he looks to the Old Testament again. This time he quotes King David, another Jewish hero. In Psalm 32, David says that the people who are blessed are not those who have earned something from God; they are the ones who have received something from him. Their transgressions are forgiven, their sins “covered,” and God does not hold their sins against them. Regardless of how many sins they have committed or how awful, God does not hold it against them. He declares guilty people as innocent. He grants them a status they have not earned and do not deserve. (Moo 146)

David understood the depths of God’s forgiveness as well as anyone in the Old Testament. Do you remember David? He was the shepherd boy who defeated the giant Goliath! He was the mighty warrior who became the King of Israel. He was a “man after God’s own heart” and the one who composed half of the Psalms. But he was also the one who, when saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing on her roof, he summoned her to his bedchamber. He is the one who committed adultery, impregnated his mistress, and then murdered her husband to cover it all up. David slide down the slippery slope of sin and experienced its consequences. His sin cost him his family and his kingdom, but when he repented, he also experienced God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Have you ever wondered about the limits of God’s love? Have you doubted the depth of God’s mercy in your own life? Is there a sin so terrible that God cannot or will not forgive? For just a moment, can you think about the worst sin you have ever committed? 

            Does God forgive lies? Does he forgive betrayal? Does he forgive adultery? Does he forgive murder? Yes, he does! If he forgave King David, he will forgive us!

            Take another moment and think about the worst person you’ve ever heard about? Consider these names: The cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, the sinister Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, the evil international terrorist Osama bin Laden. Can God forgive wickedness of this scale? Yes, he can! This is precisely why Jesus suffered on the cross—to offer atonement for every sin, no matter how large or small! Friends, if justification is by faith alone, there is no sin beyond forgiveness.

3.) If justification is by faith alone, family heritage and religious symbols cannot save us.

     (9-12)

Before Paul concludes this section, he draws out one more implication of justification by faith alone: that family heritage and religious symbols cannot save us. This implication would have flown in the face of the Jews to whom Paul was writing. Many of the ancient Jews based their salvation on the mere fact that they had been born into the Jewish race and were God’s “chosen people.” They also trusted in the outward religious symbol of circumcision, which was a distinguishing mark of Jewish people in the ancient world.

Once again, Paul asks a question, “Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also the uncircumcised?” (9) He goes on to reiterate that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness and reminds them that this happened before the sign of circumcision was established. Therefore, even Gentiles who express faith can call Abraham their father. Justification is by faith alone, not from family heritage or outward religious symbols.

There are many people today who have fallen into the same trap of false security as the ancient Jews. Some people today base their salvation on their national identity—“God will save me because I’m an American!” Other people base their salvation on their family heritage—“God will save me because I grew up in a Christian family and my parents go to church.” Still others base their salvation on external religious symbols—“I’m a Christian because I wear this gold cross around my neck.” I have actually heard people say all of these things!

            Don’t be deceived! None of these things can save our souls. Justification is by faith alone!

Do you understand what Paul is teaching us in this passage? We are all like frogs who have fallen into the milk pail. The difference for us is that sin cannot be churned into butter! We can paddle and paddle and paddle, but our relentless paddling cannot save us from our predicament. We cannot save ourselves from the penalty of our sin! We cannot earn forgiveness! We cannot work our way into heaven! We can only receive God’s righteousness as a gift! Justification is by faith alone!

            So, even though I have asked you this question a million times, let me ask it again: Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? 

The world was covered in snow! The white witch, posing as the queen, had ruled for 100 years, and she used her magic to keep the kingdom frozen in a perpetual winter. And in her castle, she kept a chilling collection of creatures which she had turned into stone. Aslan, the majestic lion and rightful King of Narnia, was nowhere to be found and the all the inhabitants suffered under the oppressive darkness that hung over the kingdom.

            This was the bleak world that Lucy stumbled into when she walked through the wardrobe. To make matters worse, her brother Edmund fell under the witch’s spell when he gave into his carnal desires and ate the Witch’s Turkish Delight. She promised him more sweets and to make him her heir if he would bring his siblings to her.

            Later, in a private audience with Aslan, the Witch pointed out that it was her right to kill Edmund as punishment for his treachery. This right was enshrined in the Deep Magic, an ancient law written on the Stone Table. When Aslan returned from his meeting with the Witch, he was sad, but told his followers that the Witch had agreed to spare Edmund’s life.

            That evening, after Aslan shared a somber meal with his followers, he went to the Stone Table, where the Witch and her followers were gathered. There, Aslan was mocked, shorn of his mane, tied to the Table, and executed by the Witch. During the sacrifice, she revealed that Aslan exchanged his life for Edmund’s. Lucy and her sister Susan, who witnessed the ritual from afar, stayed with Aslan’s body all night.

            But in the morning, the Stone Table broke in two, and Aslan rose from the dead—the result of an even deeper magic than that inscribed on the Table. As Aslan’s army battled against the Witch and her forces, he went to her castle to rescue the creatures she had turned to stone. Then Aslan killed the Witch, won the battle, and restored the world!

            C.S. Lewis’ classic children’s book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an allegory of how Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for the sins of humanity and redeemed a world suffering under the curse of sin. As is alluded in Lewis’ fantastical tale, the story of Jesus’ death is foreshadowed in the Old Testament, told in the four Gospels, and explained in the New Testament Epistles, especially here in the Book of Romans.

            So far, the Apostle Paul has gone to great lengths to show us the depths of human depravity. From Romans 1:16-3:20, he has argued that we all, whether Jew or Gentile, have proved our unrighteousness by breaking God’s law. He has covered the full range of our idolatrous decadence: sexual sins, sins of speech, sins of violence, judgmentalism, and attitudes of arrogance.

            Now that he has shown us the sinfulness of our sin…now that he has convinced us of our great spiritual need…now that he has broken the bad news of the gospel…now he is ready declare the good news of the gospel: the gift of God’s grace through the death of Jesus Christ!

“But now” (21a)

Notice the first two words in verse 21—“But now.”

Martin Lloyd Jones, the great British preacher and expositor of Romans, once said that “there are no more wonderful words in the whole of Scripture than just these two words, “But now.” This is quite a claim!

Likewise, the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, claimed that this section was “the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible.” (Moo 125) This, too, is quite a claim!

How could these men make such bold assertions? Because the words “but now” showcase the ultimate transition from bad news to good news! They express the stark contrast from the hopelessness of sin to the hope of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. (Moo 133)

The Gift of God’s Grace through the Death of Jesus Christ (21b-26)

Therefore, after the dramatic “But now,” transition, Paul goes right to the heart of the good news of the gospel when he says: “the righteousness of God is manifested apart from the law.” This means that God has created another way for sinful humanity to receive his righteousness other than obeying his law perfectly—“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” This is what the Old Testament has been pointing to all along—that the Messiah would come and rescue God’s people from the curse of sin. Starting in the Book of Genesis and ending with the prophet Malachi, there is a myriad of messianic allusions to a suffering servant who would deliver God’s people from bondage. All these prophecies and foreshadows are fulfilled by the person and work of Jesus Christ!

But why, then, does God’s righteousness need to be available for “all who believe?” Because “all have sinned.” Paul inserts, here in verse 23, a brief reminder of his teaching in Romans 1:16-3:20, that humans, whether Jew or Gentile, are depraved by their very nature, and it is, consequently, impossible for them to save themselves. The penalty for their sin is condemnation in hell—but for the grace of God that offers justification and redemption through God’s Son Jesus Christ.

Verses 24-25 contains a wealth of technical theological terms. Let me explain them for you. “Justified” means “to make something right.” Here it refers to humans to be brought back into a right relationship with God.

“Grace” means “unmerited favor.” Here it refers to getting what we do not deserve rather than what we do deserve. Because of our sin, we deserve God’s wrath, but he offers his grace freely as a gift. Nothing we do requires God to restore us to a right relationship to him. “Redemption” means to “liberate by paying a price.” This redemption does not refer to cashing in your bottles and cans at the local liquor store—it carries the connotation of someone purchasing freedom for a slave, which is an apt description of our human predicament. “Propitiation” means “sacrifice of atonement.” It alludes to the Old Testament sacrificial system where animals were slaughtered on the altar as a means of appeasing God’s wrath. Here, Paul is saying that Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate and final propitiation for the forgiveness of sins. For those who truly believe in Christ, his blood washes all their sins away.

When all these words are understood in Paul’s flow of thought, we see that he is making a simple but profound point: All human beings are sinful and are therefore in need of a Savior. God, because of his grace, offers forgiveness for sins and a right relationship with himself through the sacrifice of his own Son Jesus Christ. This grace cannot be earned; it can only be received as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament period, God did not punish sins with the full severity he should have. People who sinned should have suffered spiritual death, because they did not yet have an adequate sacrifice to atone for their sins. But because of his divine forbearance, he put off his full punishment of sin until the coming of Christ. Jesus suffered the punishment that sinful humans deserve (God’s wrath) when he died in their place on the cross. Thus, Christ paid the price for the sins of all people—both before his time and after it. Thus, justification through faith was available to those who came before Christ and those who came after Christ! And God’s grace is still available to sinners today! (Moo )

            This one paragraph contains so many wonderful words to explain and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These power-packed terms have inspired some of the greatest hymn lines throughout the history of the church. Let me share a few:

• Amazing grace! How sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was bling but now I see.
• Dark is the stain that we cannot hide—What can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide—Whiter than snow you may be today…Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.
• There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day—And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
• And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died he for me who caused his pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
• Not the labors of my hands, can fulfill thy laws demands; Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow; All for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone…Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.

             The gift of God’s grace through the death of Jesus Christ is good news for sinners like us! Even though our sin has separated us from God, he has given us a gift we don’t deserve and can never repay! Just as Aslan exchanged his life for Edmund on the Stone Table, Jesus gave up his life on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness and redemption.

            The only question that remains is: Have you received God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ? Have you received forgiveness and redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ? Have you exchanged your sin for the righteousness of Jesus Christ? We live in a time and culture where most people still self-identify as Christians—but do you really believe? Do you believe enough to surrender your life to Christ?

Boast No More (27-31)

Paul ends chapter 3 by drawing out the logical conclusion to God’s gift of grace—no more boasting! There is only one God; he is the creator of the Jews and Gentiles alike. And he has developed the same plan of redemption for everyone: Faith in Jesus Christ! Since salvation comes from God’s grace, not from obedience to God’s law, then nobody has the right to boast about what they have done. Obedience to God’s law does not earn salvation; it is a response of gratitude for salvation.

            God extends his gift of grace to all of us, regardless of whether we are Jew or Gentile, male or female, black or white, or poor or rich! We are all in need of God’s grace—whether we have lived pretty good lives or really bad lives.

            Therefore, if you are one of those people who thinks you are going to heaven because you’re a good person, stop it! If you’re one of those people who thinks you can earn God’s favor by obeying his law, stop it! If you’re one of those people who brag about all the good deeds you do, stop it! None of these things will get you any closer to God. Only God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ can get us to heaven. If you have received God’s grace, show your gratitude by living a life of humble obedience to him who died for you! 

There once was a majestic Lion
who died for the mistakes of a child
He suffered the shame of the Stone Table
to ransom a race and tame what was wild.

 Shed first his mane and then his blood
To appease the Witch’s thirst
But in the morning the stone was cracked
And he rose to conquer the dreadful curse.

Many decades ago when Britain was ravished by war, the government called for citizens to evacuate the country as quickly as possible. In the midst of the mayhem, a pilot was able to board a small group of school boys onto an airplane and escape. Tragically, the plane crashed, killing the pilot and stranding the boys on an uninhabited tropical island. Left alone, far from modern civilization, the boys initially reveled in their new-found freedom: No rules, no laws, and no adult supervision! But they soon realized that life on their own had challenges.

            Can you imagine a bunch of adolescent boys forced to figure out how to survive on their own? What do you think happened to them? Perhaps this sounds like a plot you’ve heard before. Well, let me continue the story!

            Despite their recent adversity, all of the boys were well-mannered, came from good homes, and naturally sought order and peace in all they did. After a brief meeting, they all agreed that it was in their best interest to form three labor divisions: one group to build shelters, one to hunt and gather food, and one to maintain a fire signal in hopes that a passing ship would find and rescue them.

            As it turned out, all three groups fulfilled their responsibilities dutifully. In no time at all, they were living in plush shelters, enjoying an abundance of tropical fruit and barbequed wild pig meat, and the thick grey smoke signal constantly wafted into the sky. The boys all worked hard, shared their resources equally, and they got along with one another admirably. They practiced the virtues of kindness, compassion, and generosity. By the time a rescue ship showed up, the boys had constructed such a beautiful utopian society that they decided to stay on the island where they lived happily ever after.

            This doesn’t sound right, does it?  Do you want to know what really happened?  

Actually, the group of boys split into two factions because they could not agree on priorities. One group, led by a boy named Ralph, thought that they should all focus on making the smoke signal, so they could be rescued quickly. The other group, led by a boy named Piggy, thought they should focus on survival. As both boys attempted to set up a system of rule, the whole group of well-educated students regressed into a primitive state. Soon, these “normal” children showed their depravity by descending into petty conflict, war, and even murder.

            By the time a British naval officer arrives with a rescue ship, he thinks the boys have only been playing games, and he scolds them for not behaving in a more organized and responsible manner according to British custom. As the boys prepare to leave the island for home, Ralph weeps for the death of Piggy and for the end of the boys’ innocence.     

            Now that sounds more familiar, doesn’t it? Many of you recognize the story as William Golding’s 1954 novel “Lord of the Flies.” The underlining premise of the book is that depravity is part of humankind’s composition, manifesting itself even in children. Some critics have suggested that the story is a response to other works of the time in which authors showed belief in the inherent goodness of human nature. Golding’s book is a dismantling of the Marxist utopian dream that was so pervasive throughout the previous century. The novel actually depicts a similar image of human depravity that the we find in Romans 3:9-20.

Romans Recap (Romans 1:18-3:8)

Before we jump into today’s text, allow me to recap what we have learned from the Book of Romans so far. As Paul shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Christians in Rome, he began by sharing the bad news of the gospel. As we saw in Romans 1-2, Paul described the sinfulness of the Gentiles. He explained that, even though the Gentiles did not have God’s law, they still suppressed God’s natural law and their own consciences by engaging in sinful sexual behavior and a plethora of other immoral and unethical practices.

Then in Romans 2-3, Paul took the Jews to task for their sin. Even though the Jews had God’s law, they took it for granted and became proud and arrogant. They thought were morally superior to everyone else in the world, but in fact, they engaged in the same idolatrous and hypocritical behavior as the Gentiles.

Now, in Romans 3:9-20, Paul comes to the climax of this showcase on sin. He brings the Jews and Gentiles back together to paint a grim picture of universal nature of human depravity.

            Now I realize that these sermons on sin beat us up a little bit. I doubt if any of you have left church over the past few weeks saying, “Wow, what an inspiring message! I feel so much better about myself! Pastor Jason fills my tank with self-esteem; I should take him out to breakfast today to thank him!” No! No! My goal has been the same as the Apostle Paul’s: to help us understand the bad news of the gospel so that we can truly appreciate the good news. If we don’t understand how sinful we are in God’s sight, we will never recognize our need for a Savior—and we will face the penalty of our perversion on Judgment Day! So, for one more week, let’s delve into Paul’s description of the depths of human depravity!

The Depths of Depravity (9-20)

            In verse 9, Paul begins with a question of comparison, “What then? Are we Jews any better off?” He is asking if the Jews are any better than the Gentiles when it comes to breaking God’s law. Then he offers the emphatic answer, “No, not at all!” He has already stated that Jews and Greeks are all under sin. But notice that Paul doesn’t just say that all people commit sins or that all are sinners, but he says that “all are under sin.” This term suggests that sin is far more than just a problem that people deal with—it speaks to a situation of dominance or even slavery. For Paul, the human plight is not that people commit sins or even that they are in the habit of committing sins; the central problem is that people are helpless prisoners of sin. Their nature is not good; it is depraved. (Moo 121-122)

Paul, then, substantiates this truth with a mashup of Old Testament texts. He begins with clear statements about the universality of human depravity. No one is righteous…no one fully understands God…no one naturally wants to know God or his ways…all have turned their backs on their Creator…no one does good, not even one. (10-12)

Then Paul uses graphic images to single out sins of speech—their throats are like gaping graves, tongues of deception, the venom of vipers under their lips, mouths full of curses and bitterness. (13-14) Has anyone ever wounded you with their words? Has anyone ever lied to your face or spread rumors behind your back? Are you guilty of gossiping, cursing, or assassinating someone’s character?

Paul then moves on to sins of violence—their feet are swift to shed blood, their paths are ruin and misery, and they don’t know the way of peace. (15-17) Do we need to look any further than our recent epidemic of school shootings to verify the violence in our culture? Probably not, but you might find this statistic interesting. Will Durant, in his book Lessons from History, writes: “In the last 3,421 years of recorded history, only 268 have not seen war.” During World War II, it was estimated that it took $225,000 to kill one enemy soldier. I wonder how much is spent by nations today? Man loves violence!

In verse 18, Paul sums up the cause of all of this sin and shame in one line: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Paul’s charge still stands today. The entire human race—Jews or Gentiles, religious or irreligious, pious or pagan—is utterly depraved! (Hughs 73)

            Why does Paul go to such great length to this explain the depths of human depravity? Mainly because our understanding of a problem dictates the answer to the problem. For example, Marxists believes that the basic human problem is unequal distribution of wealth. Their solution, then, is to exert state control over the economy so that there will be no rich or poor. Likewise, many of the great philosophers and moral teachers throughout history have been convinced that the basic problems of human beings is that they are ignorant. The solution? Knowledge! If you just educate people better, the problems of the world will disappear.   

            But the problem with these solutions is that they misunderstand the problem! Ignorance and inequality are only symptoms of a deeper human problem: sin! Think about it! Communism is a great idea; it just doesn’t work. We have witnessed this in the U.S.S.R., Cuba, and China. Everyone sharing their possessions equally sounds wonderful, that is, until you have to sacrifice for someone else. Communism it does not account for human greed! The same is true for knowledge. Education is great, and I personally advocate for it, but we are sadly mistaken if we think it will fix all of society’s problems. Let me prove by asking you one simple question: Do you know any highly educated degenerates? 

This is why I always snicker when I see some starry-eyed hippie singing John Lennon’s song “Imagine” with conviction:

 Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… You…

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

 You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

            The song is really catchy, and it sounds so right, but it’s rubbish! It describes a communistic utopian pipedream that doesn’t account for human depravity. Paul tells us that all people, by nature, are addicted to sin. They are imprisoned under it, unable to free themselves by anything they can do.

            This is the reason why there are so many shootings in our schools! This is the reason why racism is still rampant in our streets! This is the reason why sexual harassment is widespread in the workplaces! This is the reason why political corruption is so common in our capital! This is the reason why fighting is so familiar in our families. This is the reason why so many of our youth get hooked on heroin and other substances! This is the reason why communism always fails, and capitalism has winners and losers. And this is precisely the reason why we are in such a need of a Savior!

            Friends, the fundamental human problem is that we have a depraved nature that is addicted to sin! This is why God did not send us a political problem-solver, an economic advisor, or an educational consultant. Instead, he sent a spiritual liberator—one who could set us free from sin. Paul is going to unpack it for us next week but let me jump ahead of him for just a moment: Jesus Christ is the only answer to human sin. He is the only one who has lived a sinless life! He is the only one who could atone for our sins! He is the only one who can deliver us from our depravity and offer us life beyond the grave! He is our only hope for a utopian existence—it’s a place called heaven!

When I was a kid, I spent many weekends driving around town with my dad in his white 1976 Ford Pinto. Whether we were heading to Begman’s hardware store to pick up supplies or to the Dairy Queen for a banana split on a warm summer evening, you could bet that the windows were rolled down (yes, manually rolled down) and there would be music blaring from the speakers in our subcompact muscle car. These were the days before digital car radios and you had turn a finicky dial to sift through the static to tune in a station. For my dad, this wasn’t a problem because he only ever played one station: 94.5 3WS—“All oldies all the time.”

            Thanks to my dad, I grew up wasting time with Otis Redding just “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and singing along with the Tommy James and the Shondell’s “My Baby Does the Hanky Panky” and “Crimson and Clover” over and over and over! But one of my favorite oldies was the catchy hit by the Bobby Fuller Four titled “I Fought the Law (And the Law Won.)” The song’s popularity has been carried through the decades by the likes of country music star Hank Williams Jr. and the modern rock band Green Day.  

            This little chorus shaped my early expectations and experiences with the law. It is true: The law is the law! And if you pick a fight with the law, the law usually wins! As I got a little older, I discovered that this truth applies to many areas of life. I remember changing the song lyrics to: “I fought my mom and my mom won!” In my younger days, I fought the laws of my family, my junior high principal, the Pennsylvania State police, and God Almighty himself. And the law won every single time!

Have you ever fought the law? If so, you probably recognize the truth in Bobby Fuller’s ballad. This is especially true when it comes to God’s law!

In Romans 2:12-29, the Apostle Paul continues to proclaim the bad news of the gospel by introducing the subject of God’s law. The term “law” is very tricky when used in the Bible. Sometimes it refers to the Ten Commandments, which was a summary of the legal code God gave to Israel. Sometimes “law” refers to the actual legal code with its 613 individual statutes found in the biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. And sometimes it refers to the first five books of the Bible or Mosaic Law, which the Jews call “Torah.”  Here in Romans, Paul is using the term in the latter sense to refer to God’s standards of ethical behavior and right living as laid out in the Torah.

As the Roman church was composed of Jewish and Gentile Christians, there was some tension over how God’s law applied to each category of people. Although Jews and Gentiles had a different relationship with God’s law, Paul explains how both groups have broken God’s law and are therefore subject to God’s righteous judgment. Hence, the main theme is stated in verse 12 when he says, “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” The first statement is about the Gentiles, who although they did not have full knowledge of God’s law, would still perish because they sinned against God’s law. The second statement is about the Jews, who although they had complete knowledge of God’s law, broke it anyway and therefore were judged by it. Verse 13 clarifies this by arguing that more or less knowledge of the law doesn’t make anyone righteous before God, but only those who actually obey the law are justified before God.

            Although our church is primarily composed of Gentiles, we have all had different access to God’s law throughout our lives. As we gain a better understanding of God’s law and how it applies to our lives today, this passage will help us see the ramifications of our sin and our great need for a Savior! Let’s take a closer look!

The Gentile’s Relationship with the Law: Breaking the Law Unknowingly (14-16)

After Paul announces that both Gentiles and Jews will face judgment for breaking God’s law in verses 12-13, he focuses on how this applies specifically to the Gentiles in verse 14-16. He affirms that the Gentiles did not have access or exposure to God’s law. In the Old Testament we read how God gave his law to Moses to be the governing documents for his people Israel. The other nations and peoples around Israel had their own law codes, but the Gentiles were simply ignorant of the specific laws that God gave his people. Paul also acknowledges that in some cases the Gentile’s law codes overlapped with God’s law and therefore they may have obeyed God’s law without even knowing it. This frequent conformity to many of the requirements of God’s law (i.e. do not murder, steal, commit adultery) shows that the Gentiles did have a basic understanding of God’s moral requirements.

Paul’s use of the word conscience in verse 15 helps explain this. God has built into all people a basic sense of right and wrong. Only the Jews had the law in complete form, but all people have the requirements of God’s law written on their hearts. The Gentile’s innate knowledge of God’s law leads them often to do what is right. When this happens, their consciences, along with their thoughts, “defend” them, convincing them that they are doing what God requires. But they will not always obey, and when they do not, the conscience has the opposite effect: It “accuses” them. This is why people naturally feel guilty when they do something wrong. (Moo 86)

The conscience is not always a reliable moral compass. Although Paul doesn’t discuss it here, he mentions in his first letter to Timothy that sin can “sear the conscience as with a hot iron.” (I Tim. 4:2). In other words, over time habitual sin can erode, suppress, and warp our consciences to the point of utter dysfunction. Have you heard someone say, “He lies so much that he actually believes his lies?” When the conscience is seared, this can actually happen!

Paul concludes this section with a vivid reminder in verse 16, that according to his gospel, God will judge all the secrets of men when Jesus returns. All people will be judged on the basis of God’s law. Even though the conscience is not always dependable, God will hold everyone accountable for how they used it.

            Have you ever broken a law unknowingly? Last summer when our family was driving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, we were surprised to see red and blue lights flashing behind our vehicle on a state highway in Maryland. Jennifer was driving so I knew we weren’t speeding. So, we wondered why we were being stopped. When the officer came to the window, he informed us that there was a law that required all drivers to turn on their headlights on this particular stretch of state highway. Since it was a bright sunny afternoon and I could see no good reason to turn our headlights on, I almost launched into a diatribe about dumb Maryland laws. But thankfully, I thought better of it. I knew if wasn’t worth fighting the law, because the law always wins! The officer took pity on us and left us go with just a warning. Even though we were not aware of the Maryland headlight law, we were still held accountable for breaking it.

            This is exactly what Paul is getting at in these verses. We may not know, understand, or like all of God’s laws, but we are still held accountable for breaking them. Some of us grew up in Christian homes, were taught God’s Word from an early age, and have had a clear understanding of what God says is right and wrong. Others, like myself, did not grow up with access to God’s Word or know his ethical standards. But God has given all of us a conscience. And when we do something against our conscience, we break God’s law and are subject to his righteous judgment.   

The Jews Relationship with the Law: Breaking the Law Willfully (17-29)

Whereas the Gentiles have sinned without a clear knowledge of God’s law, the Jews would be judged for their willful breaking of God’s law. Paul begins his indictment of the Jews in verse 17 with a series of “if” clauses that enumerates many of the privileges enjoyed by the Jews. Paul uses a bit of sarcasm because he knew that the Jews prided themselves in possessing the name “Jew” (17), relying on the law (17), boasting about their relationship with God (17), know God’s will (18), approve what God considers excellent (18), instructed in the law (18), consider themselves a guide for the blind and a light for those in the dark (19), instructors of the foolish (20), and teachers of children (20). Generally speaking, the Jews thought of themselves as morally and spiritualy superior to the Gentiles because they had the embodiment of God’s law and truth. They knew God’s law, but they just willfully broke it.

But notice Paul’s cynicism when he addresses the Jews hypocrisy with a series of rhetorical questions in verses 21-24. The Jews were quick to preach against stealing, committing adultery, and robbing temples, but they did not practice what they preached. Yes, the Jews bragged about having God’s law, but they consistently dishonored him by breaking it.

Notice the consequence of the Jews hypocrisy when he quotes from the prophet Isaiah (52:5) in verse 24: “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” The pagan Gentiles mocked God because of his people’s moral hypocrisy.

            I hope we all hear what Paul is saying here! Even though these words were addressed to the ancient church in Rome, they have deep significance for us today. As modern Christians, may we be careful to avoid the pathway of pride and the highway of hypocrisy. May we never consider ourselves morally superior because we grew up in a Christian home, go to church, read the Bible, listen to Christian music, or abstain form certain “secular” practices. Instead, may we be humble and grateful that God has revealed himself and his Word to us. And let us show our love for him by actually obeying his law!

When I think about the hypocrisy Paul highlights here, my mind always drifts back to a penetrating quote I heard from the Hindu civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi. When a Christian missionary once asked him: “Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is it that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming a Christian?” His reply was clear: “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It is just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

            May we ask Christ to forgive us for hindering people’s faith because of our hypocrisy!

As I conclude this morning’s message, let’s go back to verse 13 for a moment. Paul makes it clear that just hearing God’s law won’t make anyone righteous. Whether someone is like the Gentiles that had little access to God’s law or the Jews who had a full knowledge of God’s law, only doers of the law will be justified.

            How does that make you feel? Does it make you feel good? Does it get you all pumped up to be a doer of God’s Word? Well, I have some bad news…you’re gonna fail! That is the whole point Paul is trying to make. None of us will be justified before God by obeying his law because we can’t do it! And this is precisely why we need Jesus Christ!

            Paul doesn’t explicitly say this yet, but he is going to! As we walk through the Book of Romans, you will see how he is setting us up to understand that we are all lawbreakers and sinners—and our only hope of salvation from God’s righteous judgment is to put our faith in the crucified and risen Christ!

            If you fight the law, the law will win every time! Let Jesus do it for you!

I am going to tell you a story and I would like for you all to play along. When I give a line of good news, you shout, “Alright!” But when I share a line of bad news, you say, “Oh no!”

            A man went up in an airplane (Alright!)
But the airplane didn’t have an engine (Oh no!)
But the man had a parachute (Alright!)
But the parachute wouldn’t open (Oh no!)
But there was a haystack under him (Alright!)
But there was a pitchfork in the haystack (Oh no!)
But he missed the pitchfork (Alright!)
But he missed the haystack too (Oh no!)
The End!

            “The Airplane Ride” by Dr. John Feierabend is a humorous story that alternates back and forth between good news and bad news. Has anyone ever come to you and said, “I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like first?” How many of you are bad news first people? How many of you are good news first people?

The Book of Romans is a bit like the airplane ride—it alternates back and forth between good news and bad news. You probably know that the term “gospel” literally means good news. But you may not know that the gospel also implies some bad news. As Paul expounds the gospel throughout the epistle, we will see how he highlights the good and bad news.

Paul ended the previous portion of the letter with a climatic statement of the good news of the gospel, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (1:16-17)

This next section of Paul’s letter (1:18-32), he emphasizes the bad news of the gospel. Here, he gives the counterpoint to the salvation that God offers through the gospel. Those who believe in Christ receive salvation, what about those who don’t believe? Only by fully understanding the bad news can we fully appreciate the good news! Let’s take a look at this sobering text!

God’s Wrath to those who Suppress the Truth

Just as Paul announces that the “righteousness of God” is revealed from faith for faith in verse 17, he warns that the “wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” in verse 18. This is not only a reference to the final destiny of unbelievers in hell, but it refers to God’s ongoing activity of holding people accountable for their sin. This is consistent with God’s character in the Old Testament. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, God punished them by evicting them from the Garden of Eden. When Cain murdered his brother Abel, God banished him to be a restless wanderer on the earth. When Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock, God prohibited him from entering the promised land. When the Israelites habitually broke God’s law by worshiping idols, God repeatedly sent them into exile to serve as slaves to foreign powers.

Yes, God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love, but he is also a God of wrath, which is an extension of his attribute of justice. If God did not punish sin, he could not be just. And if he was not just, he could not be God!

Especially important for Paul is his insistence that God’s wrath falls on people who “suppress the truth,” which refers to people who are aware of God’s truth but actively seek to twist it, cover it up, and shut it up. Every human being has some knowledge of God. He has revealed himself to all of us through what theologians call “general revelation” which encompasses the created world and human conscience. Everyone has enough knowledge of God through creation to be held accountable for their sin.

Isn’t it fascinating to think about how God reveals himself through the created world? Have you ever laid on your back and gazed up at the stars on a clear summer night? Those stars came from somewhere. Have you ever stood on top of a tall mountain and looked out over the fields and forests, hills and hollows, and rocks and rivers? They all came from somewhere. Have you ever pondered the intricacies of the human body? How our eyes adjust to different shades of light and the instruments in our inner ears keep our bodies balanced! Those abilities come from somewhere—they point us to God. 

            Isn’t it also interesting to consider how God reveals himself through the human conscience—our innate ability to recognize right from wrong? This is why children feel guilty when they lie or steel before they have been taught that these behaviors are wrong.

Yes, God’s invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived by everyone in the world. Therefore, there is no excuse for not believing in God. And yet there are still so many who suppress God’s truth because of their sin. (20) The bad news of the gospel is that God’s wrath is against everyone who suppress God’s truth through their sin.

Three Categories and Consequences of Sin

After Paul announces God’s wrath on those who sin and suppress the truth in verses 18-20, he goes on to explain just how they do it in verses 21-32. The rest of the passage is dominated by a thrice repeated sequence “they…exchanged…so God gave them over…” In each case, people put their own “god” or sin in place of the truth God has revealed to them. And God responds by “handing them over” to the consequences of the choice they have made. Paul focuses on three categories and consequences of sin: darkened hearts (21-23), dishonored bodies (24-27), and debased minds (28-32). (Moo 60)

Darkened Hearts (21-23)

The first category and consequence of suppressing God’s truth is darkened hearts. Although people knew about God, they refused to acknowledge him as such. They refused to glorify him or thank him for anything he had done. They essentially ignored God and pretended like he did not exist. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for inanimate objects carved into images of humans and animals. They traded the worship of the one true God who created heaven and earth for a bag of cheap trinkets that can be purchased at a flea market! This shows how their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they were really just fools!

            Unfortunately, this type of idolatry is rampant in our culture today! It is astounding how superstition still abounds! People put their trust in all sorts of trinkets and charms: Statues of Buddha, angel figurines, dreamcatchers, rosery beads, tarot cards, or “positive energy.” There is no power in these things! They can’t hear us or help us!

            As a punishment for idolatry, God “gave them over” to the consequences of their choice. It never ceases to amaze me how unbelievers who refuse to worship God or want anything to do with him, still ask questions like “Why didn’t God save my job? Why did God let me get cancer? Why didn’t God protect my child?” The real question is, “Why would anyone expect God to offer his presence or power to someone who refuses to glorify him, thank him, or even acknowledge him?” Idolatry darkens people’s hearts, and this choice incurs its own consequences!  

Dishonored Bodies (24-27)

The second category and consequence of suppressing God’s truth is dishonored bodies. In verses 24-25, Paul shows how idolatry ultimately leads to immorality—the disruption of God’s intention for sexual relationships. His words “the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies with one another” refer to sexual sins in general (that is, any sexual encounter outside of a monogamist heterosexual marriage.) This includes such practices as pre-marital sex, polygamy, adultery, pornography, masturbation, bestiality, and all forms of sexual assault.

In verses 26-27, Paul focuses on to the specific sin of homosexuality, which represented the most graphic inversion of God’s intention for human sexual relationships. Homosexuality was rampant in the Roman Empire (fourteen of the first fifteen Roman Emperors practiced homosexuality) and represented the greatest offense to Jewish sexual sensibilities. As Jewish and Gentile believers in the church at Rome looked around their society, they would have seen homosexuality practiced and encouraged at every turn. (Boa and Kruidenier 55)

Paul calls homosexual practice “dishonorable passions” (26) and “shameful acts” (27) because it is a rebellious reversal of God’s natural order, and it, like idolatry in the preceding section, receives the due penalty for its error.

Now I know that it’s taboo to call any sexual practice sinful in our modern “sexually liberated” American society, but the Bible consistently affirms that all sexual activity should be limited to a monogamous heterosexual marital relationship! God established his model for sexual relationships in the Book of Genesis, it is reinforced in the Law of Moses, illustrated in the Old Testament narratives, affirmed by Jesus in the Gospels, and reiterated by Paul here in the Book of Romans and his other epistles. Any sexual activity outside the established biblical pattern is sinful against God.      

            As homosexuality has become a more pervasive and socially acceptable in American society, the Christian church has struggled in its response to this issue. On the one hand, some Christians and churches have responded with hostility and even hatred toward gay people. But God calls us to treat all people with dignity, respect, and love. On the other hand, some Christians and churches have abandoned the clear biblical teaching and have given their approval to sexual practices that God’s Word identifies as sin! 

            So, how should we respond? What do you if you, like me, have gay friends and family members? Here it is: Always love everyone, but never give approval to sin!

Debased Minds (28-32)

The third category and consequence of suppressing God’s truth is debased minds. Turning away from true knowledge of God means cutting ourselves off from an accurate understanding of the world and our place in it. No wonder that people don’t understand the moral stances that Christians take on the basis of God’s truth! After focusing on idolatry and sexual sins, Paul provides a broad list of vices so his readers would know that he was not picking on pet sins. His list covers the full gamut of sinful activity—from murder to disobeying one’s parents—including envy, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, and arrogance. Every person who reads this letter would be convicted of at least one of these sinful behaviors. No one is exempt from sin.

In verse 32, Paul concludes this section of his letter with a chilling remark about the bad news of the gospel: Sinners who suppress God’s truth deserve death! And he suggests it is worse for a person to “approve” those who practice sins than to do them oneself. (Moo 63) It is bad enough to practice sin, but it is even worse to bring damnation on other people’s souls by telling them that their sin is OK.

            Friends, this is indeed the bad news of the gospel—that even one sin against our eternal holy God deserves eternal punishment in hell. Furthermore, in all of my years of pastoral ministry, I have never met anyone with a perfect track record when it comes to idolatry, sexual sin, or one of the other sins on Paul’s list. Some of us are really honest and generous people, but maybe gossip or envy is our Achilles heel. Some of us are humble and compassionate, but maybe we struggle with sexual sin. We’re not all guilty of every sin, but we are all guilty of committing some of these sins.

            This is why we all desperately needs God’s grace and forgiveness. But to repent from our sin, we must first acknowledge that what the Bible calls sin is actually sin. Unfortunately, many people in our culture try to rationalize or redefine sin, which is a form of suppressing God’s truth. May we always be willing to submit ourselves to God’s definition of sin, so that we might repent and find redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.

            The good news of the gospel is that Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for all of our sins. If we put our faith in Jesus, he will save us from God’s wrath now and for eternity! If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please do it before it is too late!   Now that we have a better understanding of the bad news of the gospel, I hope we appreciate just how good the good news of the gospel is!