one great problem

---

GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Draw members’ attention to the picture in

SESSION 3

ONE GREAT PROBLEM

Personal Study Guide (PSG) p. 36 as you discuss Question #1: If you had the power to fix one problem,

The Point

what would you fix?”

Without Christ, we are condemned forever. GUIDE: Tell the story from The Bible Meets Life (PSG,

The Bible Meets Life

p. 37) about the unfortunate

What went wrong? We want

incident with the Vancouver

trouble-free lives and we might

ambulance, and how it failed

wonder: “If God created all this, why

to fulfill the purpose for which

is the world in such a mess?” Life is

it was created.

full of problems—from the minor irritants like slow traffic to life-altering catastrophes, but what’s wrong with our lives does not arise from one of these external issues. Our greatest problem is

SAY: “God created us for a

internal; it’s a sin issue. God created us for something incredible, but we lost it

purpose: to live in a joyous

because of our sin.

relationship with Him and bring Him glory. However,

The Passages

we have not lived up to that

Romans 3:9-12,19-20,23

purpose. The Bible tells us

The Setting

clearly where the problem lies. And the Bible is also clear on the only answer.”

Paul wrote Romans to believers in Rome. He had not yet been to Rome, so was not involved in starting the church. He wrote this letter near the end of his third missionary journey. After distributing the collection he had been gathering for the famine-afflicted Christians in Judea, Paul intended to visit Rome on his way

GUIDE: Introduce The Point

to preaching in Spain. This book introduced him and spelled out his theology

(PSG, p. 37): Without Christ,

in preparation for that visit.

we are condemned forever.

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S e ss i o n 3

STUDY THE BIBLE

Romans 3:9-12 9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have

previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under

Romans 3:9-12 10 minutes

sin,

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

10 as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

Romans 3:9-12.

11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who

seeks God.

SUMMARIZE: Direct the

12 All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There

group to the first paragraph of

is no one who does what is good, not even one.”

PSG page 38. In the opening

We are all sinners.

identified those who have

chapters of Romans, Paul sinned and are under the

Verse 9. Paul apparently created an imaginary conversation in this part of his letter. The imaginary person asked two interrelated questions. First, What then? Second, Are we any better? The best way to make sense of this conversation is to recall Paul’s argument to this point in Romans. The point in the first three chapters, and the point in this week’s session, is that all people are sinners (3:23). Unless we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we remain condemned by God for our sins and guilt. First-century Jews thought of humanity being divided into two main types of people: Jews and Gentiles. Earlier Paul mentioned his sequence of taking the gospel message “first to the Jew, and also to the Greek” (1:16). Probably none of us would challenge Paul’s conclusion that all people are sinners. We know Jesus, God’s Son, was sinless (Heb. 4:15), but all other humans are sinners. Paul, however, was writing to a church he had not established, and he wanted to demonstrate as carefully as possible why his conclusion about the sinful condition of humanity was true. Paul had first addressed the situation of the Gentiles. They would experience the wrath of God because they had refused to acknowledge God (Rom. 1:18). Gentiles were “without excuse” because they had the opportunity to know the true God (v. 20). Instead, they made idols and worshiped them (v. 25). They didn’t have the Jewish law codes, but they had a natural sense of right and wrong “written on their hearts” (2:15). Since the Gentiles had suppressed the truth about God, they were sinners and deserved God’s judgment. Paul would grant that Jews had some advantage over Gentiles. They had the extra, fuller revelation God gave through His dealings with the Israelites over

wrath of God. 1. He included people we’d expect—blatant sinners and rebellious people. 2. He also included people whom most considered to be good and religious: the Jews. The Jews enjoyed privileges as a result of being God’s chosen people. 3. Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty before God. In fact, all people everywhere are under the curse of sin, and our world is in its fallen condition because of our sin.

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F S E P T E M B E R 18

43

THE POINT

Without Christ, we are condemned forever.

GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, enlist someone in the group to be prepared to read the second paragraph on PSG page 38. “Evil runs rampant among us because humanity as a whole loves sin and despises righteousness. Many want to blame God for the state of the world, but the blame is ours. We all have turned away from God to seek sinful pleasure, to please ourselves.” Ask the group to respond to this statement.

GUIDE: Use the Bible Commentary 1 to define righteousness.

44

S e ss i o n 3

several centuries, such as the Ten Commandments. If someone asked what advantage Jews had, Paul answered “Considerable in every way” (3:1-2). In verse 9 Paul might seem to be contradicting his answer in verse 2. In a sense Jews did have an advantage, because they had special revelation. But in reality, they had no advantage over Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners and need the salvation provided through Jesus. So in verse 9 Paul’s Not at all! is consistent with his answer in verse 2. The universal sinfulness of humanity trumps any temporary “advantage” Jews had. Paul concluded that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, under its devastating influence. Verse 10. Paul knew there were some Jewish Christians in the church at Rome. Although Rome was the key city in the Roman Empire and probably had mainly Gentile members, some Jews lived in the city. Visitors from Rome had been present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in various languages (Acts 2:10). These people might have joined the church in Rome. Paul was acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish Christians from Rome who had been expelled with fellow Jews from Rome by the order of Emperor Claudius (18:1-2). Knowing there were Jewish Christians in the church at Rome, Paul supported his argument about the sin problem faced by all of humanity with a series of quotations from the Old Testament. He introduced these quotations with as it is written. He did not give us chapter and verse for his quotations, and some Bible scholars think he was quoting the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament widely used among Greek-speaking Jews in the first century. Some of the quotations in verses 11-18 might not match word for word with our translations of the Hebrew texts. Bible scholars also note that Jewish rabbis often strung scriptural quotations together like pearls on a string. 1 Paul’s first quotation came from Psalm 14:1-3 or Psalm 53:1-3 which are very similar. Both these psalms begin by quoting a “fool” who said God does not exist (Pss. 14:1; 53:1). The main point of the opening verses of both psalms is that no one does good. Paul said no one is righteous. The term righteous in relation to humans typically means adherence to high moral standards set by God. The English rightness might approximate this traditional word righteousness. Although Paul’s Jewish audience would understand what he meant with this quotation, some readers today might be

puzzled. We might think about people who are “pretty good” people even though they are not believers. Paul was not wrestling with the issue of whether there are big sins and little sins. From the human level we might think of some people being better than others. Paul was thinking of sin as a condition or state rather than individual sins. Everyone is under the power and dominion of sin (Rom. 3:9). In God’s eyes, all people are sinners and need salvation. Verse 11. Paul reinforced his argument by noting that nobody understands. Paul did not mean intellectual understanding or cognition. The psalm he quoted had begun with a quotation from a “fool.” In the Old Testament a “fool” might have a high IQ but be lacking in moral or spiritual discernment. Perhaps you know someone who is intellectually brilliant but has little common sense, or who is bright but uses his or her “brains” to commit sins and crimes. In the context of the biblical worldview, being righteous and having understanding requires a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:26). 2 Paul also noted that no one seeks God. In our culture some people like to say they are “spiritual” rather than “religious.” These “spiritual” people often think of themselves as seekers after God. Paul certainly knew that kind of person existed in the first century as well. When he visited Athens, he found the Athenians to be “extremely religious in every respect ” (Acts 17:22). Indeed some of the Athenians enjoyed spending their time discussing what was new and novel (v. 21). Although Paul and readers today know people who “seek God” in their own minds, Paul likely meant no one was seriously searching for the true God. The overall witness of the Bible is that our sins distance us from God. As sinners we would rather not encounter God! Perhaps Paul would agree that so-called seekers are looking for some kind of religious experience rather than a life-changing encounter with God. The Bible teaches that God takes the initiative in creating a relation with sinners. As Paul wrote later, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Jeremiah wrote a letter to Jewish exiles in Babylon which included the notion of seeking God (Jer. 29:13). Their seeking of God would reflect a heart-felt repentance rather than an attitude of curiosity about spiritual issues in general. Verse 12. Paul continued with his reference to the Psalms. All sinful humans have turned away from God and His plan for their lives. Paul easily could have quoted Isaiah 53:6. “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way.” Certainly we live in a society that values personal

SAY: ”Research shows that a majority of individuals in our culture believe that, compared with others, they are ‘pretty good’ people.”

SUMMARIZE: When Paul said in verse 11, “There is no one who understands,” he was not referring to intelligence. In the psalm Paul quoted, David began by declaring, “The fool says in his heart, ‘God does not exist’” (Ps. 14:1). The reference seems to mean someone who lacks common sense.

SUMMARIZE: Using the Bible Commentary 2 to explain that no one “seeks God.” Scripture teaches that God seeks us, God is the one who draws us to Himself (John 6:37,44,65).

READ: Have someone in the group read the first part of Isaiah 53:6: “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way.”

45

THE POINT

Without Christ, we are condemned forever.

SUMMARIZE: Using the Bible Commentary 3 explain the meaning of useless.

READ: Romans 3:12b: “There is no one who does what is good, not even one.” Then say, “In short, we have all broken the commandments of God. We’ve all fallen short of Christ’s righteous standard. Sin reigns in our hearts.”

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 39): What evidence points to sin as a universal problem? NOTE: Group members may wish to talk about evidence of sin throughout history or in the world today, evidence of sin in their own lives, and so on. (Alternate: How would you compare the description of sin in these verses to the way our culture views right and wrong?)

TRANSITION: “We saw in verses 9-12 that all people are guilty of sin. In verses 19-20, we will see the consequences of our sin: all people are subject to God’s judgment.” 46

S e ss i o n 3

freedoms. Americans typically do not like anyone telling us what to do! Putting a high priority on freedom is fine unless it interferes with our relation to God. One key aspect of our sinfulness is our rebellion against God’s will. Adam and Eve, for example, lived in an ideal situation, but they decided they would not honor God’s command. 3 Paul also noted that sinful humans have become useless. The Greek word rendered “useless” could be translated “worthless” or “gone bad.” It could be used for milk that turned sour when it was old. Humans were valued by God when He created them. He made us in His image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27). As we learned in last week’s session, God created a covenant relation with the Israelites and created them for His glory (Isa. 43:1,7). When God’s people honor Him and serve Him faithfully we are useful to Him. Paul ended verse 12 with another quotation from Psalms 14 and 53, although some students think he might have been quoting Ecclesiastes 7:20. The point is that no one does what is good. Again, Paul was not thinking of our human evaluations of good and bad people. If you know the old sayings “Sin is sin” or “The ground is level at the foot of the cross,” you might see what Paul’s key emphasis here is. If Paul’s original readers knew the Psalms well, they knew David, the author of both psalms, noted God was looking down from heaven as He assessed humanity (Pss. 14:2; 53:2). On the human level many of us would say some family members, friends, and coworkers are “good” people based on human standards. Paul stressed the divine perspective on humans who did not yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior. In the following verses (Rom. 3:13-18) Paul continued to quote the Old Testament. He mentioned especially speech sins (vv. 13-14) and sins of violence (vv. 15-17). His conclusion was that sinners had “no fear of God” (v. 18). Several Old Testament texts stress the need for a reverent attitude toward the Holy God in order to have a relation with Him. The “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). Agreeing with Paul that all humans are sinners might be easy, as long as we are dealing with a general theological truth. To get anyone today to acknowledge his or her own sins and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ could be more difficult. In this session we are focusing on Paul’s analysis of the sin problem. Our next two sessions will focus on how we are saved through Jesus.

Romans 3:19-20 19 Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those

who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 3:19-20 10 minutes

shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

judgment.

verses 19-20.

20 For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the

law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. KEY WORD: Justified (v. 20)—Comes from a courtroom context. Paul used it to mean a guilty sinner was “declared righteous” (NIV) by God because of Christ’s sacrificial death.

We’re all under God’s judgment. Verse 19. Paul had devoted most of three chapters to demonstrating that all humans are sinners. We don’t know how his original readers would have responded to his argument so far, but in verse 19 he reminded the Jews that they were subject to the law. They were all under the law’s jurisdiction, or they were all subject to the law. Paul personified the “law” as a voice that speaks to those under its jurisdiction. The proper response of sinners to the law was to be silent. Whenever we find the “law” mentioned in Paul’s writings, we need to be sure what kind of law he means. Some Christians would think of distinctively Jewish rules such as circumcision or keeping the Sabbath. Earlier in this letter, however, Paul identified a law written on the hearts of the Gentiles, referring to the basic human ability to distinguish right and wrong (2:14-15). Paul had just illustrated that the Jews were sinners by quoting several Old Testament texts, and none of them came from the Torah (or Pentateuch), the five “law” books. So Paul apparently used “law” here in the general sense of God’s expectations for all humans. If Paul’s readers truly realized they were sinners, they should also have acknowledged they were subject to God’s judgment. They were in trouble and needed God’s help. If they were on trial in a courtroom, they should have acknowledged the overwhelming evidence against them and kept their mouths shut rather than launch a defense. As sinners we are all under God’s judgment. Jesus had made the same point with Nicodemus. Jesus told Nicodemus

SUMMARIZE: Although Scripture confirms that we are all sinners, on PSG page 40, we see that people respond to this reality in different ways. • Many people rush to deny this truth, just as the Jews did in Paul’s day. • Some believe by doing good works their own deeds will be enough to be considered acceptable in God’s sight. They may even compare themselves with others to elevate their own righteousness. However, when we compare ourselves with Christ—our only standard—we will always fall miserably short. When we take an honest look at Jesus, we soon see the sad reality of our own sinfulness.

47

THE POINT

Without Christ, we are condemned forever.

GUIDE: Review content from the KEY WORD (PSG, p. 40) and Bible Commentary 4 to explain the meaning of justified. Refer to the Biblical Illustrator excerpt on page 51: “The Meaning of Justified.” Ask a volunteer to read or summarize Digging Deeper on PSG page 41 for further insight into the impossibility of saving ourselves through our own efforts. We cannot earn salvation by fulfilling the law.

DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 42): What are some ways people try to explain away God’s judgments? (Alternate: What do these verses teach us about God’s law?)

TRANSITION: “In Romans 3:23 we will see one of the clearest summary statements in the Bible that establishes our present reality as sinners who need a Savior.”

48

S e ss i o n 3

that God had sent Him into the world to save it rather than condemn it. Whoever believed in Jesus would avoid condemnation, but “anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God” (John 3:18). Condemned! How would people today react to Paul’s claim that sinners are condemned? Some people today would want to make excuses for their sins. Others might deny that they are sinners. But if we take Paul’s word as the truth it really is, we should be concerned about God’s eternal judgment on us and others. In the next session we will focus on the salvation God has provided for sinners. Right now we should be concerned about any of our neighbors who are living under God’s judgment. They need to know the good news about Jesus’ death on the cross for their sins. Verse 20. Paul knew some people would respond to his depiction of human sin by saying they could fix their problem on their own! They would insist they would do the works of the law and make things right with God. Although only Paul used this exact phrase in the New Testament, the idea occurs in other places. Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and tax collector who prayed (Luke 18:9-14). The parable was directed to people who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (v. 9). People such as the self-righteous, arrogant Pharisee thought they could be justified in God’s sight by doing good deeds described in the Jewish law. Paul rejected this attempt to escape the sin problem by doing good deeds. One purpose of the law was to bring the knowledge of sin, but the law was not designed to solve the sin problem. The law could only make us more aware of God’s expectations. Later Paul illustrated this with the prohibition on coveting (Rom. 7:7-12). 4 Paul used justified to describe salvation. This term fits the analogy of a sinner being on trial and clearly guilty. But God, because of Jesus’ death on the cross, declared the sinner acquitted. Jesus used the term to describe the tax collector who was repentant of his sins (Luke 18:14). Justification was one of Paul’s favorite terms for salvation (Rom. 3:24,28; 4:2,25).

Romans 3:23 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 3:23 10 minutes

KEY WORDS: Fall short (v. 23)—The phrase points to the inability of sinners to meet God’s standard of righteous behavior and His glory.

READ: Invite a volunteer to read Romans 3:23.

We all fall short of God’s glory. Verse 23. 5 For many, this verse is the most familiar one in this week’s session. Paul provided a clear summary of his main point: for all have sinned. The primary meaning of the word sinned is to miss the mark. A friend once described sin as an “air ball.” This basketball term refers to a ball that misses the goal and backboard completely. Sinners do not come close to fulfilling God’s expectations for them! 6 Paul also noted that sinners fall short of the glory of God. On our own strength or ingenuity we can never fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. David noted that God crowned humans with “glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5). When Adam and Eve sinned, however, the sin problem entered human history. No matter how “good” we might be by human standards, we cannot save ourselves by doing good deeds. When we acknowledge our sinful condition, we need to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. Jesus’ healing of the paralyzed man illustrates our deepest need is God’s forgiveness. The paralytic’s friends brought him to Jesus to be healed, but Jesus addressed his deepest need, forgiveness (Mark 2:1-12). God’s “glory” is often depicted in the Bible through a radiance or light, symbolizing His presence. Although we never become divine, being glorified is one aspect of our eternal destiny. Later in this letter Paul noted that our present sufferings are a prelude to “the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). When Paul mentioned different aspects of our salvation experience, he referred to our glorification (v. 30). Without a personal relationship to Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will always “fall short of the glory of God.” How do you react to Paul’s message? A lot of his message so far sounds like bad news rather than good news. Paul was like a medical doctor telling you that you have a serious condition before telling you about the cure! We are all sinners and will experience God’s judgment unless we repent and receive the offer of salvation through Jesus. Our next session will focus on God’s gift of salvation!

GUIDE: Use the Bible Commentary 5 to explain the meaning of sinned.

DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 42): When have you felt the reality of sin in your own life?

GUIDE: Review information from KEY WORD (PSG, p. 42) and Bible Commentary 6 to explain how we fall short of God’s glory.

DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 43): How does sin prevent us from living in a way that glorifies God? (Alternate: In light of verse 23, what helps you find hope?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity on PSG, page 44: “Miss the Mark.”

49

THE POINT

Without Christ, we are condemned forever.

LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Without Christ, we are condemned forever. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 45; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs.

Wrap It Up GUIDE: Emphasize that no matter how badly we may have fallen short of God’s glory, He stands ready to forgive. SAY: “We can experience God’s forgiveness, no matter how badly we have missed the mark and fallen short of His  glory.” PRAY: Thank God for making it possible that we could be justified and be in right relationship with Him. Pray that group members will accept His gift of grace and turn to Christ in faith if they have not done so already.

50

S e ss i o n 3

LIVE IT OUT So, you have missed the mark—you have fallen short of God’s standard. Join the club. All have sinned. That’s not necessarily how the story ends. You can be justified. Not by anything you can do, but by receiving God’s grace. What will you do this week with the truths in this passage?

>> Confess. Ask God to reveal to you any areas of sin that you have not dealt with. Confess those and turn from them. Ask God to help you live for His glory. If you have never confessed sin and turned your whole life over to Christ, begin there. Talk to your Bible study leader or read the inside front cover of this book.

>> Pray. Pray specifically for the three people you listed in

the activity on page 44. As a group, pray for those who have yet to confront their own sin and turn to Christ. Keep praying for these individuals until you see the fruit of God’s work in their lives.

>> Invite. Ask someone who is not yet a believer to come

with you to your Bible study group. Offer to pick them up if necessary. Plan some time afterward to talk with your friend about the study and about Christ.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/DAVID ROGERS/MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS/BOSTON 6/5/19

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

a norm or standard.’ People are

Sin has destroyed our

‘righteous’ or ‘just’ when they

relationship with God, but

meet the standard. We have no

there is hope. Jesus took our

single English word for deeming

sin upon Himself and offers

someone righteous, so we use the

us forgiveness and a new life

word justify, but in so doing we

in Him.

lose the connection to its word family of righteousness. “In the Bible the ultimate

Each week, make yourself available either before or after

standard of righteousness/justness

the session to speak privately

is God. … Paul’s teaching on

with anyone in your group

righteousness and justification

who wants to know more

starts with this basic concept.

about becoming a Christian.

How does one become right with

See the article, “Leading

“When we say someone is

God? From Paul’s perspective

Someone to the Greatest

‘justified in doing something,’

it is impossible for us to earn

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

we mean they have warrant

our standing with God by our

guidance in leading a person

for doing it; they are ‘in the

own efforts. The only means of

to Christ.

right.’ Sometimes the word has

justification according to Paul, is

the nuance of ‘vindicating’ the

through faith in Christ, this is the

Remind group members that

‘rightness’ of someone. Behind

only means of obtaining a right

the word justify is the idea of

standing with God.”

Black figured two-handled cup (skyphos) with a caricature of the judgment of Paris; from the late 5th century B.C..

rightness; a person is justified when he is proved to be or deemed to be right.

The excerpt is from the article “The Meaning of Justified” (Spring, 1998), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.

“The Greek word for justify

page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ.

comes from a family of words that means ‘right’ or ‘just.’ Its basic meaning is ‘to conform to

>> Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >> Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). >> Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 51