Romans 3:21-26

This passage is all about Rescue! It is the heart of the Gospel one of the key paragraphs of the Bible. Read Romans 3:21-26. The point of this passage is that God has rescued us from our sin!

The term righteousness used in verse 21 sometimes refers to God's righteous character and other times it refers to God's gift of righteousness, right standing with God, or being right with God. Read Romans 1:16-17, then read Romans 3:21 again. Righeousness is God's gift to be right with him. How do we get this right standing? Read Romans 3:22. It is given to all those who believe/faith. What is faith? It is trust, reliance, dependence, faith, believing in someone or something. The Bible mentions this "faith" as a key component, two times in verse 22, four times in 1:16-17, and twice more in 3:25-26. Bible is emphatic!

Read Romans 3:22 again, all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Sin is not about hurting people but about rebellion against God. If you don't live for the glory of God, if you dishonor him, if the glory of God is not supreme then you have rebelled against him. Our tendency, "I'm not as bad as those people." The standard is not bad people, the standard is Jesus Christ. Read Romans 3:24. There are four phrases to underscore:

• And are justified: It is passive tense, you don't justify yourself, God justifies you. It was done to you, not by you. You are declared right with God.
• By his grace: God's favor to those who don't deserve it. It is absolutely free and undeserved favor from God. It is not earning something but receiving something. Read Romans 11:6.
• As a gift: Underscores grace as a gift. We don't deserve it, don't work for it, can't earn it, can't pay for it, it is Free, it's a GIFT!
• Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: The idea that we were held ransom by sin and that the ransom price must be paid. Jesus paid that price to set us free with his own blood and our death. Read 1 Peter 1:18-19.

Read Romans 3:25-26. The cross was not just for us. It was for God too, to vindicate God. Why did he need vindicating? Because he had been so forgiving, he has been forgiving since Adam and Eve. Sin must be paid for or punished, and if we don't pay it someone else must step in and pay it for us. The wrath of God is a holy response to sin, a punishment of sin. Jesus took the wrath of God for us and the price was paid once and for all.

Discussion Questions
1. Where is your trust, in Jesus or yourself? If someone were asked that question about you, looking at the way you live your life, what do you think they would say?
2. Think and meditate on this phrase, then discuss your thoughts. "God justifies the believer - not because of the worthiness of his belief, but because of Christ's worthiness who is believed."
3. What is holding you back from obeying a God who paid the ransom for you to be right with him? In what area is God calling you to obey?

Romans 3:9-20

If you are tolerating sin, in any area, it is like sucking sewage. It's gonna hurt you sooner or later. If God is challenging you about some sin, it is for your liberation, protection, and life.
John Owen said, "He that has slight thoughts of sin never had great thoughts of God." Unless we recognize the severity of our sin problem, we will never be able to appreciate God's gift of forgiveness, our need for a Savior, the glory of the cross, and the grace of God.

Read Romans 3:9, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles we are all under sin, under the power of sin, all feel that burden. Then Paul quotes 7 passages from the old testament, underscoring the importance and authority of scripture. (Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Isaiah) Read Romans 3:10-18. All of us have sinned and are under it! Few comments:
1. No one seeks for God, unless God draws you. God alone is the seeker. Do Adam and Eve seek God? Read Genesis 3:8-9. They hid from him, he seeks them and asks where they are. Omniscience doesn't need information, he knew exactly where they were he was just seeking them.
2. No one does good, not even one. Even the best actions are riddled with self-centeredness and pride. Sin is not just what we do, its why we do it.
3. Such sin is expressed through our words. Our mouth is an open grave, we deceive people. Our tongue can be like the poison of vipers. Read Proverbs 18:21a.
4. There is no fear of God before their eyes. The summary behind all sin is the failure to fear God, to give God the reverence and honor due his name.

Now 3 general comments about the string of Old Testament quotes:
1. Sin is a universal problem. Read Romans 3:10-12. Not one single exception! Not Billy Graham or Mother Teresa, no one does.
2. Sin is a pervasive problem. It extends to every part of us: our throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes, every part. Nothing we do is untainted by sin.
3. Sin is a rebellion against God. Essence of sin is not wronging or harming someone, it is rebellion against God. It starts in vs. 11 "no one seeks God" and ends in vs. 18 "There is no fear of God before there eyes." David says in Psalms 51:4 "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." David has a good view of sin, it is not wronging someone it is rebellion or revolting against God.

Read Romans 3:19-20, lots of talk today about boasting, definance, giving excuses, or blaming others. One day, every mouth will be stopped and all will have to answer to God. No one has kept all the commandments, think of the greatest commandment. Has anyone kept those perfectly? The whole world will be accountable before God for the things they have done, everyone must own his own sin. Cannot blame circumstances, upbringing, parents, spouses, boss, or other problems. We are the ones who choose to rebel against God, we did it. The law was never given to save us from our sin, it was given to show us our sin, and our need for a Savior.

Our basic human problem is not financial, educational, political, judicial, or economic. Our basic human problem is spiritual and it is our own sin problem.

Discussion Questions
1. Are you hiding like Adam and Eve from your sin?
2. Do you tend to give excuses for your sin? In what ways do you make excuses, do you blame your circumstances, upbringing, things from the past, etc.
3. What does it mean to "fear the Lord?" Do you truly believe that you fear the Lord?

Romans 3:1-8

Romans 3 is a difficult passage. The Bible, however, is filled with difficult passages. Read 2 Peter 3:15-16. No surprise there, God's ways are not our ways. The hard passages though encourage faith (Proverbs 3:5-6), encourage prayer, encourage study, and highlight the body of Christ.

At the end of Romans 2, Paul says that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. That being Jewish, having the OT law, being circumcised won't save you. It is a matter of the heart, not what things look like from the outside. Read Romans 3:1-2, Paul asks the questions some might be asking "Aren't Jews God's chosen people? What's the advantage of being a Jew?" To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. So many people don't have the scripture or even one verse from the Bible so to have the word of God entrusted to you as a people is a special thing.

Read Romans 3:3-4, Paul asks more questions and gives a clear answer. Questioners are looking at people, who are flawed, and coming up with their own conclusion about God based on "his people." People today do the same thing. "Look at those Christians: unloving, arrogant, judgmental, grumpy people. If those are Christians, then Christianity must not be true, God is not real, Jesus Christ is not who he says he is." A couple of thoughts, just because someone says they are a Christian, or goes to church, does not mean they are a true follower of Christ. For those who are geniune Christians, all people are flawed. Though the entire world is flawed and unfaithful, God still remains faithful and true. Read Psalm 51. David confesses and says that "He was unfaithful and sinned." Our unfaithfulness has nothing to do with God's character.

Read Romans 3:5-6, simply put "If my sin underscores God's righteousness, then is God wrong to judge us?" Paul finds it embarrasing even to put into words so he says "I speak in human terms" at the end of the verse. Again, Paul addresses the question with a "No way! By no means! Of course not!" Of course God is righteous because God is judge. Read Genesis 18:25.

Read Romans 3:7-8, simply put "My sin shows God's perfection. That's a good thing. So why does God judge me for it? I should go out and sin, it shows God's holiness." Paul just says "Nonsense, their condemnation is just!" Again, twisted and distorted thinking.

We can distort things the way Paul was describing in this passage, the human mind is capable of enormous deception. We too hear the voice of the enemy, voice of other people, or our own depraved thoughts. The only protection against all of it is God's word. It is more precious than gold!

Discussion Questions
1. Are you still living by the Old Testament way of the life, the law? Is Christian life a regiment to you or is it an adventure filled with heart felt passion?
2. Do you believe God is faithful? How has he showed his faithfulness in your life?
3. Spend some time in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit in what areas have you been deceived, distorting something with your mind, or listened to the voice of the enemy. Write it down and share with the group.

Challenge Message

What is holiness? Not self-righteous and not rule keeping. It is obedience, surrender, Christlikeness. Above all, loving people because that's what we are called to. It is living a different kind of life than non-Christians. It is having a holy discontent with casual, comfortable, consumerist Christianity, wanting something more. God's call to us is to be holy.

Read Romans 1:1-7. Our calling is to "be saints" or holy, and the motivation for this is because we are loved by God. If you want to live a life of holiness, obedience, complete surrender, if Jesus Christ is first in your life then you need to show tangible expressions of that. Here are three practices:

1. Give Jesus the first hour of your day. Meet with God in the Bible, pray, sing, listen, cry out, draw close. Unhurried time. When God convicts, obey him. Read Mark 1:35. Don't concern yourself over the details, morning or night, just spend unhurried devoted time with him. It's not a duty, but a privelege that we get to meet with God. Enjoy it!
2. Give Jesus the first day of your week. Gather with God's people in worship. To meet with God you must fully engage, not just sit in the seats. This is not an occassional or sporadic thing, this is something we should be doing consistently. This is the way of God's people, in Old & New Testament; God's people gathered together to seek his kingdom. Read Matthew 6:33.
3. Give Jesus the first tenth of your income. He owns it all. Read Proverbs 3:9. Honor the Lord with your firstfruits, not your leftovers. You are worshipping God, not tipping him. Read Exodus 20:3. First commandment, there is nothing before God.

All in all don't get caught up in the details: hour? first hour? Saturdays or Sundays? 10%? It is a matter of the heart. If you are living a life of holiness, surrender, chasing after God then he will be first in your life.

Cannot stop here. Can do all three of these things, but if you walk alone, will not become what God has called you to be. We were made to live and walk with community. It is what God has for us and part of our mission statement: Journey Together. God always lived in community. You cannot perform or do the "one anothers" in the New Testament alone, you need community. The main problem with this is our own fear, not wanting to be hurt or had a bad experience and don't want to try it again. We are called to live with community, he never said it would be easy but it is needed. Don't walk this life alone!

Discussion Questions
1. How has the spirit moved in you or convicted you during this call to holiness Jeff has been emphasizing for the church?
2. What are some tangible things you will commit to in order to show God that he is first in your life?
3. Are you journeying together? If not, why not? If you are, are you being real with one another, or is God calling you and your group to go deeper?

Mark 2:1-12 (Brian Jenkins)

A man was sitting at a table of Christian leaders and the question was asked him, "How often do you lead someone to Christ?" and he responded "every time". The table of leaders couldn't believe it, they responded. "Every time you talk with somebody about Jesus they get saved?" He responded, "No, I said I lead them to Jesus, what He does after that has nothing to do with me. I only lead them to Jesus."

Evangelism is leading people to Jesus. Read Mark 2:1-2. This is a great picture of Jesus at home preaching the word. There were so many people that the house was overflowing out the front door. He was teaching THE WORD, with no powerpoint, no programming, just "packing the house" by speaking the Word of God.

Keep the picture of that scene in your mind and read Mark 2:3-4. These 4 men are carrying a friend of theirs to Jesus to be healed. They don't look at the crowd and think "Impossible, too many people, there is no opening in the roof, and no ladder to get him down." They didn't make excuses, they responded with a "we are going to get him to the feet of Jesus no matter what." They dug through the roof and lowered him down to Jesus amidst all the people, did not apologize.

Read Mark 2:5. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to they paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven." The man was healed because of the faith of his friends. Faith is critical to evangelism. If you lack faith, it is because you haven't trusted God completely. God is faithful, believe that!

In the midst of this we also see what the religious leaders were thinking. Read Mark 2:6-11. They just didn't know who Jesus was. He called himself the Son of Man, a reference from Daniel 7:13-14, which they would have been familiar with "He was given all authority, glory, and sovereign power." (vs. 14) But they did not believe.

Which is easier, to forgive sins or make the lame walk? Read Mark 2:10-11. So the paralyzed man walks out and his sins are forgiven. Read vs. 12, "This amazed everyone and they praised God." I wonder if they all missed the real miracle that occured. We do. We celebrate healings and God's miracles, as we should. But that is our earthly existence, not our heavenly eternity! Our sins are forgiven! God forgives you! Forgive yourself! Forgive others! If you don't, you can never be all Christ wants you to be in Him.

When you see people in pain/hurting/in need... take them to Jesus. Evangelism is taking people to Jesus.

Discussion Questions:
1. How well would you say you are doing at evangelism? What areas do you need help in?
2. Do you trust God completely? How strong is your faith? What are some growth areas?
3. What is one thing you will start to do this week to increase your faith and trust in God?