ARE WE BETTER THAN NON CHRISTIANS?
Romans 3:9-22
NOT RIGHTEOUS BUT
JUSTIFIED BY GOD
V:9-11. " What shall we conclude then? Are we any
better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles
alike are all under sin.
10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not
even one;
11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks
God. "
A. Are we better than those who say there is no God or those
who have no faith
in God?
1. Yes we are. But
not because we are more righteous or that we do more good
deeds.
2. We have the
advantage of having the commands of God.
3. We have the
advantage of the wisdom of God.
B. We have the advantage of being chosen by God before the
foundation of the world.
1 We have the
favor of God.
2. We have Grace
rather than justice.
C. God said that there is none righteous, NO not one.
1. We were born in
sin, shaped in iniquity.
2 .We are better
than non believers because our sin are covered by the blood of Jesus.
3. We are better than none believers because
we have the Holy Spirit to guide
our
understanding of the Word of God.
4. If we yield to
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will direct us in the application
of God's Word
to our lives.
TURNING TOWARD GOD
V:12 -16. " All have turned away, they have together
become worthless; there is no one
who does good,
not even one."
13. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice
deceit." "The poison of vipers
is
on their lips."
14. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16. Ruin and misery
mark their ways.
A. The unredeemed man is subject to the ways of the world.
1. The unredeemed
man cannot control his thoughts or actions because he is under
the influence
of Satan.
2. The unredeemed
may at time, do some good, but their flesh is in control of all
they do.
3. Out of the
heart of the unredeemed comes evil thoughts.
4. Evil thoughts
lead to evil activities.
5 . Their evil
activities eventually lead to their own destruction.
6. The unredeemed
man eventually destroys himself.
B. The redeemed man is a new creation in Christ.
1. His heart is
now subject to the conscience of his relationship with Christ.
2. The redeemed
man has the strength of God to restrict his thoughts to
the righteousness of God.
3. The redeemed
man has the strength of God to resist evil activities.
4. The unredeemed
has turned away from God, but the redeemed is drawn to
God.
5. Because we have
Christ in our lives, we are on the way to recovery from
our sins.
6. Thank God that
He gives us time to change from our sinful behavior.
FEAR THE LORD, FIND PEACE
V:17-18. " and the way of peace they do not know."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
A. Are we better than the those who reject God?
1. Yes we are.
2. Peace is an
aspect life that come only from God.
3. We are no
longer enemies of God because Jesus
settled our sin state
with His
death on the cross.
4. Our sins, past,
present and future have been covered by the blood of Jesus
on the cross.
5. Even though we
are still subject to sin from time to time it is no longer
our natural
desire.
6. We have the
Word of God to guide our way into His righteousness.
B. The unredeemed man has no peace with himself.
1. We the
redeemed, can have peace within ourselves.
2. We have the
assurance that God has forgiven our sins.
3. We have the
assurance that Christ is at our side at all times.
4. We have the
assurance that Christ will take care of our needs.
5. We have the
assurance that Christ will protect us from all harm and
danger.
6. We have the
assurance that even if we suffer, that it is going to
work out for
our good.
C. Are we better than
non believers? Yes we are.
1. We have the
mind set to fear God.
2. W have the mind
set to reverence God.
3. We have the mind
set to love God.
4. We have the
mind set to be conscience of God commands and to be obedient
to them.
5. We have the
mind set to love our neighbors as ourselves.
6. We have the
mind set to love our enemies and bless those who despitefully
use us.
7. We may not do
everything right all the time, but at least we have the mind set to
be righteous
before God and to ask for forgiveness.
D. We have the mind set not to fear the actions of man.
1. We have the
mind set not to fear our current circumstances.
a. Fear
implies that you think something dreaded is going to happen.
b. Fear
implies a lack of a control on your part.
2. God has not
given us the spirit of fear, but power, love and sound mind.
3. It is a sound
mind that does not break down or give up in troubling times.
4. When troubles
come, the sound mind calls on God and relies on Him.
NOT THE LAW, BUT GRACE
V:19-20. " Now we know that whatever the law says, it
says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and
the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight
by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. "
A. Are we better than unbelievers? Yes we are.
1. We are not
under the Law, but under grace.
2. We are not
subject to the penalties of law.
3. Jesus death on
the cross satisfied all the requirements of the Law.
4. The Law was
never designed to save, but to condemn man of his sins.
B. Without Jesus, man is subject to penalty of disobeying
God's commands.
1. Even though man
may claim no knowledge of God, he is still subject to
the penalty of
disobedience, which is eternal death.
2. We are better
than non believers because we know that there is a heaven and
a hell.
3. We are better
than non believers because we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
4. The Bible says
at the name of Jesus every knee shall
bow in heaven and on earth.
Phil 2:10
a. In other
words, it is not your choice, it is your predicament.
b. It is
better to bow before Jesus and be granted eternal life, than to bow before
Jesus and
be condemned to the eternal hell.
THE JUST LIVE BY FAITH
V:21-22" But now a righteousness from God, apart from
law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus
Christ to all who believe. There is no difference."
A. Are we better than non believers?. Yes we are.
1. God has given
each of us a measure of faith to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. We have a
measure of faith to believe in the Word of God as the only
truth to live
by.
B. We have a consciences to pursue the righteousness of God.
1. We have the
knowledge to know that the only way to heaven is through
faith in Jesus
Christ.
2. We have the
knowledge to know that obedience to God's commands is
profitable to
our living to day.
3. We have the power
of Word that tells we can enjoy heaven on earth to day.
4. We can have joy
in our lives every moment of every day if we believe God.
a. Joy is not
based on our circumstances, but it is the characteristic of a faithful
Christian.
b. Peace is not
based on our circumstances but it is the characteristic of a
faithful
Christian.
C. Tomorrow is not promised, but heaven is.
1. Tomorrow is
not promised, but joy is.
2. Tomorrow is
not promised, but peace is.
3. Tomorrow is
not promised, but God's comfort is.
4. Tomorrow is
not promised, but God's protection is.
5. Tomorrow is
not promised, but God's provisions are.
6. Tomorrow is
not promised, but God's love is.
7. Tomorrow is
not promised, but God's forgiveness is.
8. Tomorrow is not promised but God's glory
is.
9. Tomorrow is
not promised but heaven is.
ARE WE BETTER THAN NON CHRISTIAN? YES WE ARE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For a complete list of my lessons, visit my blog at
"goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com"
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