All have sinned

Romans 3:9-20; 12/1/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

The description of sin in the Bible is rich and three-dimensional, and the Book of Romans expresses more profoundly that “all have sinned.”  This gives us a better understanding of the nature of sin.  Let’s look at the first point: 

None is righteous

People often think of them as good or bad, noble or commoner, black or white, rich or poor, men or women, etc.  But the Bible’s standard for viewing people is whether they are sinners or righteous.  This is a topic that is not easy for us to think clearly about.  First of all, strong or weak in life.  In this world where the weak are bullied and annexed by the strong, everyone abides by the law of the jungle.  Maybe everyone makes comparisons consciously or unconsciously to see how they or their family, nation, or country ranks in the world.   For example, when choosing a university, you will check the ranking of the school.  I heard that if you don’t graduate from a school ranked among the top 100 in the world,  you can no longer find a job in China.  The same is true in the United States.  Employers will also rush to get graduates from private Ivy League schools, public Ivy League schools, or those who graduate within the top 50.  Not to mention economic and military strength, which also forms the basis for comparison, wrestling, competition, and war between countries.   Since the beginning of human history, competitiveness has been the basic background of human interaction.        

Secondly, everyone is guilty without exception.  Paul said: “For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin. (Romans 3:9)”   The word “charge” in the text is a verb used in debate in Greek, which means that through debate, it is possible to “charge in advance” that both Jews and Greeks are under sin.  Expressed in Chinese, there are some twists and turns.  But it is a debate term in Greek logic, not a proof of scientific rationality.  Paul preached to both Gentile believers who spoke Greek and to Jewish believers who spoke Hebrew (and perhaps Greek).  Paul meant, Isn’t it?  Ask your own hearts whether you are willing to accept the questioning of the Holy Spirit?  Who is not a sinner?        

Finally, the reason for the incarnation.  We might as well assume that some people in the world are born righteous, and some people are born sinners. Then, we don’t need the salvation of Jesus Christ!   Just like today, some people are trying to extend human life and even live forever through scientific methods.  Today’s AI, bionic robots, especially future humans who combine computers and neuroscience, are like the Tower of Babel back then.  People want to do ridiculous things that are higher and greater than what God has done!  I think that maybe one day God will confuse people’s accents again and restore people to the right path of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus alone. Let’s look at the second point: 

 Going one’s own way

In fact, God is also watching to see if it is necessary to send His only begotten Son to sacrifice his life on the cross.  After all, this is a difficult thing! Right?  First, there is not even a righteous person.  There is no righteous person in the world, it is the incarnation of Christ that is necessary for salvation!  Likewise, there is no righteous country in the world, not even one.  In this year’s U.S. election, the American people finally chose Trump as the 47th President of the United States.  Many people place the future of the United States on Trump, as if Trump has truly become the savior of the United States!  Because even Trump is a sinner, how can he save the American people?  If everyone is a sinner, how can there be a righteous nation?  In some places in the United States, children go to school in the morning and have their gender changed when they come back at night.  Elon Musk’s son came home from school and found his genitals missing!  It can be said that it’s difficult to write them all down!        

Secondly, there is not even one who does good.  Today’s era is already a post-Christian era.  People have long lost their good obedience to the Bible and Christ. Even among Christians in the church, not many truly understand God, know God, and seek God.  But everything that deviates from God’s will is full of interest and expectation.  People don’t pay attention to church worship, they rarely take notes when listening to sermons, they don’t ask questions or participate in Sunday school, they don’t sing hymns during worship, they don’t have the same heart when praying, and they even turn on their mobile phones while doing other things.  The most important thing is that over time, people may not be able to tell whether they still believe in Christ Jesus or not.        

Lastly, not even a word of kindness.  It is not only a habit but also a result of sin that people find it difficult to speak kind words.  We might as well ask ourselves, when was the last time we uttered words of grace?  On the contrary, the Bible says that our throats are open graves.  That is, not speaking words of encouragement and edification,  our mouths are full of complaints, deceitful tongues, gossips, baseless, and lies.  Not to mention this, Paul said that these people have the venom of asps which is under their lips. and their mouths are full of curses and bitterness.  It seems that in these people’s life dictionary, there is no word of grace at all.  Saying a word of grace is even harder than reaching heaven!   If you control your mouth and restrain your tongue, it will not be difficult to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at the third point: 

Without awe

The effects of a person’s life come from the heart.  Often a person’s words will inadvertently betray his own motives and behavior.  First, being quick to do evil.  Before making decisions, people can wait, pray, and seek God’s will.  Then, you won’t do things in a hurry.  Making decisions too quickly often results from not having time to seek God’s will first.  Before he even learned to walk, he started running very fast.  Most of the things we do without serious prayer are based on our flesh and our old self.  So, is there a right way to go?  Paul said: “In their paths are ruin and misery,”  How about we learn from now on to seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness first before doing things, and then act based on faith and according to biblical principles, and give all glory and praise to God.        

Secondly, knowingly committing a sin will be judged.  Are you saying you don’t know?  In fact, this is not the case. We cannot deny it before God!  It stands to reason that after we believe in the Lord, the Holy Spirit will live in our hearts and we will be able to experience inner peace.  It’s just when we stay away from God’s will and measure the pace of our lives by worldly values. You will gradually lose peace and become increasingly unfamiliar with the way to peace.  Once people do not have peace, they will lose awe.  He is even less and less afraid of God!  If you are not afraid of God, what are you afraid of?  Afraid of stocks falling, afraid of losing business, afraid of losing jobs, afraid of not having food to eat!   When people reach this point, they have actually fallen into the judgment of God!  Knowing that there is a God, yet not giving God the glory and praise!        

Finally, justification by faith and keeping the law.  But it also depends on why you keep the law, do you agree? Is it right to keep the law? Of course!  But it also depends on why you keep the law, do you agree?  If it is for justification by works, there is no need to talk about it.  Because no one can be justified by keeping the law, because the function of the law is to convict people of sin.  Every sinner knows that he is a sinner and that he cannot be saved on his own.  So, what to do?  Be justified by faith!  Without faith, one cannot please God!  For whoever comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.  What is faith?  Faith means placing your complete reliance on God unconditionally, continuing to believe with the courage inspired by the Holy Spirit, and carrying your faith to the end until the day when the Lord returns.

Conclusion

Okay, that’s it for today’s sermon.  Everyone has sinned because there is not even a righteous person in the world.  And everyone turns to his own way and does what is evil in the sight of God.  On the day of judgment, God will search our hearts!  May the Lord help us to come before God through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving in everything.  Come before God, confess our sins and pray, and become a person acceptable to God!

Let us pray ……   

 

9 What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 

10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.”  “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

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

20 For by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin