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Red Script = Main Point / Blue Script= Directive / Double underline= Important to remember / Boxed= Biblical Text & SDA Commentary Reference / Green Script: A Possible AnswerLesson 3October 14-20/21The Human Condition
Memory Text:“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Early in the book of Romans, Paul seeks to establish a crucial truth, one central to the gospel-the sad state ofthe human condition.This truth exists because, from the Fall onward, we have all been contaminated by sin. It’s wired in our genes as is the color of our eyes.
Martin Luther, in his commentary on Romans, wrote the following: “The expression ‘all are under sin’ must be taken in a spiritual sense; that is to say, not as men appear in their own eyes or in those of others, but as they stand before God. They are all under sin, those who are manifest transgressors in the eyes of men, as well as those who appear righteous in their own sight and before others. Those who perform outwardly good works do them from fear of punishment or love of gain and glory, or otherwise from pleasure in a certain object, but not from a willing and ready mind. In this way man exercises himself continually in good works outwardly, but inwardly he is totally immersed in sinful desires and evil lusts, which are opposed to good works.” - Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, p. 69.
SundayOctober 15The Power of God
“I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’” (Rom. 1:16, 17, RSV).
From faith to faith. Compare “from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18) and “from strength to strength” (Ps. 84:7). The righteousness of God is received by faith, and when received, results in ever-increasing faith. As faith is exercised we are able to receive more and still more of the righteousness of God until faith becomes a permanent attitude toward Him. As it is written. Here, as in v. 2 and in many other passages in the epistle, Paul seeks to prove that the gospel message is in agreement with the teachings of the OT.The just shall live by faith. Or, “He who by faith is righteous shall live.” The phrase “by faith” may be connected with “the just” or with “shall live.” The quotation is from Hab. 2:4. During the Chaldean invasion, Habakkuk was comforted by the assurance that the righteous person is kept safe by his trust and confidence in God (see on Hab. 2:4). A similar meaning may be seen in Paul’s use of the quotation in Rom. 1:17. The just man will not live by reliance on his own works and merit but by confidence and faith in God.[1]
What do Romans 1:16, 17 say to you? A Possible Answer: It says we that... A) We should not be ashamed of the gospel. B) That the gospel is the power of God to those who exercise faith. C) Those who exercise faith shall live. D) The gospel is for all men (1 Tim. 2:4), but it is “the power of God unto salvation” only to those who willingly accept it. E) That willing acceptance is faith (see John 3:16, 17).F) The gospel reveals the righteousness and perfection of God Ch. 3:26). G)The righteousness of God is a revelation from God. 5:20; Phil. 3:9; see on Rom. 4:3–5). How have you experienced the promises and hope found in them?A Possible Answer: Yes... on an ongoing basis.
Several key words occur in this passage:
1Gospel. This word is the translation of a Greek word that means literally “good message” or “good news.” Standing alone the word may refer to any good message; but modified as it is in this passage by the phrase “of Christ,” it means “the good news about the Messiah” (Christ is the transliteration of the Greek word that means “Messiah”). The good news is that the Messiah has come, and people can be saved by believing in Him. It is in Jesus and in His perfect righteousness-and not in ourselves, or even in God’s law-that one can find salvation.
2Righteousness. This word refers to the quality of being “right” with God. A specialized meaning of this word is developed in the book of Romans, which we shall bring out as our study of the book proceeds. It should be pointed out that in Romans 1:17 the word is qualified by the phrase “of God.” It is righteousness that comes from God, a righteousness that God Himself has provided. As we’ll see, this is the only righteousness good enough to bring us the promise of eternal life.
3Faith.In Greek the words that are translated as “believe” and “faith” (KJV) in this passage are the verb and noun forms of the same word: pisteuo(believe),pistis (belief or faith). The meaning of faith as related to salvation will unfold as we progress in the study of Romans.
Do you ever struggle with assurance? A Possible Answer: Yes and no. To some degree, especially when there are feelings of unworthiness. Do you have times when you truly question whether or not you are saved, or even if you can be saved? A Possible Answer: Yes...especially when there is a conscious choice takes us away form the path of righteousness and fellowship with Him. What brings these fears? A Possible Answer: Consciousness of our sinful nature and condition. When we have done something wrong or when we are aware of our imperfections. On what are they based? A Possible Answer: A merit or performance based ideology. A lack of understanding about how we are saved. Might they be grounded in reality? That is, could you be living a lifestyle that denies your profession of faith? A Possible Answer: Yes... especially when we veer of the heights that we are encouraged to attain. If so, what choices must you make in order to have the promises and assurances that are for you in Jesus?A Possible Answer: We mustchoose to accept Christ’s righteousness and live out that choice by faith. We must chose to avail ourselves of the power of the Holy Spirit who will empower and transform us.
MondayOctober 16All Have Sinned
ReadRomans 3:23. 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,23. All have sinned. Literally, “all sinned.” Adam’s sin marred the divine image in man (see on ch. 5:12; cf. GW 80), and ever since man’s fall, all of Adam’s descendants have continued to fall short and be destitute of the image and glory of God (see below under “glory”). Paul is urging Jews and Gentiles alike to recognize the vital fact that all the evidence of experience and history clearly proves that fallen man, with his depraved nature, is wholly incapable of fulfilling the requirements of God’s law and of establishing his own righteousness. The only possible way to obtain righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ. By this experience of faith men are once again brought into a right relation with God (ch. 3:24), new hearts are created within them, and they are thus enabled by faith to live once again in obedience to God’s law (see on ch. 5:1).
Come short. Gr. hustereō, used elsewhere with the meaning “to suffer need” (Phil. 4:12), “to be destitute” (Heb. 11:37), “to be in want” (Luke 15:14). In the account of the marriage feast at Cana, hustereo is used to report that the supply of wine had failed (John 2:3). The Greek indicates that sinners still continue to fall short. Moreover, the particular form of the verb may express not only the fact of falling short but also the awareness of the lack. If such is the case here, the verb could be translated “consciously continue to fall short.” This sense of loss has led men everywhere to attempt to establish their own righteousness by works of law.
Glory. Gr. doxa. In the Bible doxa seems to have two main and somewhat different usages, though both are based upon the original meaning, in classical Greek, of “opinion,” “notion,” “repute.” It is often used to signify “honor,” “fame,” “recognition” (John 5:44; 7:18; etc.). In this sense it is opposed to “dishonor” (1 Cor. 11:14, 15; 15:43; 2 Cor. 6:8). In this sense it is sought (John 5:44; 7:18; 1 Thess. 2:6), received (John 5:41, 44), given (Luke 17:18; John 9:24), ascribed to God (Luke 2:14; Rev. 1:6).
If this is Paul’s usage of the term here in Rom. 3:23, then “the glory of God” means the honor, praise, or approbation that God bestows and from which men have fallen short. Since Paul is dealing in this passage with man’s standing before God, and refers in the next verse to justification, the only means by which a man may be restored to the approval and approbation of God, this sense of the term “glory” may be appropriate in this context.
On the other hand, “glory” is also used in the Bible to signify “brightness” “glorious appearance which attracts the eye” (see Matt. 4:8; Luke 12:27; Acts 22:11). It is sometimes used in a sense parallel with “image,” “likeness,” “form,” “appearance” (see Rom. 1:23; cf. the LXX of Num. 12:8, which has doxa for “similitude”). The glory revealed to Moses (Ex. 33:18, 22) was the character of God—goodness, mercy, forgiveness (see GW 417). This glory may also be reflected in those of God’s creatures who are capable of knowing and loving and growing like their Maker. Thus Paul speaks of man as “the image and glory of God” (1 Cor. 11:7), doubtless because he is capable of receiving and reflecting God’s glory. The complete revelation of the glory and perfection of God is “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
As this glory of God revealed in Christ shines forth from the gospel into the heart and mind of the believer, it transforms him into “light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). Thus “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). The hope and aspiration of the Christian is more and more fully to participate in the glory of God (see Rom. 5:2; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14).
If “the glory of God” be understood more in this latter sense, to “come short of the glory of God” would mean to have come short of the perfection of God, to have lost His image, and to have become destitute of His likeness.
Perhaps these two interpretations are not mutually exclusive, and both make good sense in this verse.
Why is this message so easy for us as Christians to believe today? A Possible Answer: It is easy because we are very aware of our 'creatureliness' and failures. At the same time, what could cause some people to question the truthfulness of this text?A Possible Answer: A) their not seeing themselves in the light of the ‘holiness’ to be reached and the perfections of Jesus. B) Their concept of ‘original sin’ and the moral innocence of the human heart apart from choosing to sin. C) An over amplification of the ‘nature’ of man that sees mankind as essentially ‘good’.
Amazingly enough, some people actually challenge the idea of human sinfulness, arguing that people are basically good. The problem, however, stems from a lack of understanding of what true goodness is. People can compare themselves to someone else and feel good about themselves. After all, we can always find someone worse than ourselves to compare ourselves with. But that hardly makes us good. When we contrast ourselves to God, and to the holiness and righteousness of God, none of us would come away with anything other than an overwhelming sense of self-loathing and disgust.
Romans 3:23 also talks about “the glory of God.” The phrase has been variously interpreted. Perhaps the simplest interpretation is to give the phrase the meaning it has in 1 Corinthians 11:7 “He [man] is the image and glory of God” (RSV). In Greek the word for “glory” may be considered as loosely equivalent to the word for “image.” Sin has marred the image of God in humans. Sinful humans fall far short of reflecting the image or glory of God.
ReadRomans 3:10-18 10As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13“Their throatisan open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of aspsisunder their lips”; 14“Whose mouthisfull of cursing and bitterness.”
15“Their feetareswift to shed blood; 16Destruction and miseryarein their ways; 17And the way of peace they have not known.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Has anything changed today?A Possible Answer: No....not really. Which of those depictions best describes you, or what you would be like were it not for Christ in your life?A Possible Answer: Any of the following... “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.12l turned aside; have together become unprofitable; none who does good, no, not one.”... Tongues they have practiced deceit”;orno fear of God before their eyes.”
As bad as we are our situation is not hopeless. The first step is that we acknowledge our utter sinfulness and also our helplessness in and of ourselves to do anything about it. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring about such conviction. If the sinner does not resist Him, the Spirit will lead the sinner to tear away the mask of self-defense, pretense, and self-justification and to cast himself or herself upon Christ, pleading His mercy: “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”(Luke 18:13, NASB).
When was the last time you took a good, hard, cold look at yourself, your motives, your deeds, and your feelings? A Possible Answer: There is a need to do that more often. This can be a very distressing experience, can’t it? A Possible Answer: Yes, most definitely What’s your only hope?A Possible Answer: A deep living faith that moves us us to repent and turn to Jesusfor cleansing, pardon and transformation.
TuesdayOctober 17Progress?
At the turn of the twentieth century, people lived with the idea that humanity was improving, that morality would increase, and that science and technology would help usher in a utopia. Human beings, it was believed, were essentially on the path toward perfection. Through the right kind of education and moral training, it was thought that humans could greatly improve themselves and their society. All this was supposed to start happening, en masse, as we entered into the brave new world of the twentieth century.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite turn out that way, did they? The twentieth century was one of the most violent and barbaric in all history, thanks-ironically enough-in great part to the advances of science, which made it much more possible for people to kill others on a scale that the most depraved madmen of the past could only dream about. What was the problem?A Possible Answer: The human heart. Man’s inability to change himself.
... Read Romans 1:22-32. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, Gave them up. When the heathen willfully turned away from God and shut Him out of their minds and hearts, God left them to walk in their own ways of self-destruction (Ps. 81:12; Acts 7:42; 14:16). This is part of the price of our moral freedom. If men insist on following their own evil way, God will allow them to do so by withdrawing His gracious aid and restraint. Then they are left to reap the results of their rebellion in ever deeper enslavement to the power of sin (see Rom. 1:26, 28; cf. GC 431). Uncleanness. That is, impurity, moral defilement, such as is specified in vs. 26, 27. Gross immorality usually accompanies idolatry and was anciently consecrated as a part of religion. Through the lusts. Or, “in the lusts.” This refers to the moral condition in which they were already when God left them to the consequences of their depraved inclinations and desires. Dishonour their own bodies. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, but this dignity is lost through immorality (1 Cor. 6:15–19; 1 Thess. 4:3, 4). Heathenism leaves its mark on the bodies, as well as on the souls, of men and women. 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.More than. Better, “rather than.” They rejected the Creator to worship the thing created. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.Men with men. Paul here refers euphemistically to the depraved practices of sodomy and homosexuality.Was meet. That is, was due. The recompense for their error of idolatry was physical, mental, and spiritual degradation. This was the inevitable penalty for what they had done. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;Reprobate. Gr. adokimos, “disapproved.” A related word, dokimazō, “approve,” is translated “like” earlier in the verse. Since men did not “approve” to have the knowledge of God, God gave them up to a “disapproved” mind. As a consequence of their determination to forget Him, God left them to a state of mind that was evil, and which He therefore could not approve. 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, Wickedness. Gr. ponēria, a general term for baseness, malice, vileness, meanness. Covetousness. Gr. pleonexia, “the desire to have more.” Paul elsewhere describes this sin as idolatry (Col. 3:5). Maliciousness. Gr. kakia, in meaning somewhat similar to ponēria (see above under “wickedness”). Some suggest that ponēria represents active wickedness, in contrast with kakia, which stresses the inward state of wickedness. Envy. Gr. phthonos. Envyings are listed also among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19–21). Debate. Gr. eris, “strife.” Paul is not referring to debates in the modern sense of the term. The Greek word emphasizes primarily the elements of contention, quarreling, and anger (see also Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 1:11; 3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:9, where the same word is variously translated in the KJV as “strife,” “contention,” “debate,” or “variance”).30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,Inventors of evil things. That is, inventors of new forms of vice and self-indulgence, of which Nero was an example (see pp. 81–84; DA 37). 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,unmerciful;Without natural affection. Infanticide and divorce were common in Paul’s day. When, by their persistent rebellion against God, men grieve away the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30), their lives reveal the lack of love and natural affection. God does not force His Spirit of love upon men. When they persist in their opposition to God’s will, God gives them over to their own unnatural and selfish inclinations Rom. 1:24, 26, 28).32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.Have pleasure. Or, “heartily approve,” “applaud.” The word describes more than a passive assent to evil; it suggests an active consent and approval (see Acts 8:1; 22:20). The climax of Paul’s catalogue of sins is the depraved wickedness of deriving satisfaction from the evil practices of others. So far does man degenerate when he refuses to know and honor the true God.