BACKGROUND:Isaiah 59:7-8 states that rebellion against God leads to violence against others. The shameful milestones of history are marked with bloodstains from the atrocities committed by those who freed themselves from God. There is always talk of peace, but apart from God, there can be no real peace.
Quoting from Psalm 36:1, Paul states the bottom line condition of these people: they have no fear of God to restrain them. To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose his way.
Paul’s brief tour of truth ends almost full circle. He began with the fact that no one is like God (who is righteous), and he ends with the parallel truth that we lack fear of God. Some people lack this fear out of ignorance, while others, through familiarity with God, lose the sense of humble awe that ought to characterize a person’s attitude before God.
The verses above quoted from the Scriptures condemn all people, but especially those under the law, the Jews. Those who read the verses above are silenced. There are no more excuses to be made, no more self-defenses uttered. No one has any excuses; everyone is liable for judgment. And if the Jews—God’s special chosen people—can say nothing in their own behalf, then no one can.
In the silence filling the court, one thought is clear: guilty as charged. That accountability of guilt must be answered, even though every explanation and excuse had failed. We are held accountable to God because he is our Creator, the personal source behind the standard (law), and the faithful Judge. We owe our existence and obedience to this One.
With this all-inclusive statement, Paul closes his opening arguments that describe the state of human lostness. The purpose of the law is not to bring salvation, but to make us aware of sin.
The only way people can be made right in God’s sight is for God to declare them so. No one can do it by trying to do what God’s law commands, meaning keeping certain traditions, such as circumcision, in order to be identified as a Jew and so remain under God’s covenant promises. These traditions have to do with identifying with God’s people and maintaining one’s relationship within that people. Again Paul drives the point home: being a knowledgeable, faithful, and law-keeping Jew doesn’t make a person righteous. The law was not meant to become something the Jews boasted about; rather, it was given to eliminate anyone’s boasting and to make all people aware of sin and their constant need for God’s grace. The law only makes it painfully clear that people aren’t obeying it.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
In describing their actions in v. 15-17. he actually describes us. He moves from the throat, tongue, lips and mouth to "their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery mark their way and the way of peace they do not know." They are violent and as a result their lives are filled with misery. They don't know peace. This would be a good verse for the cornerstone of the United Nations building. "The way of peace they have not known."
Finally he gives the cause in v. 18. "Because there is no fear of God before their eyes."
The reason why we do our own thing is because we don't even let God enter our thoughts.
Paul starts with questions then he moves to quotations then he moves to conclusion. The last two verses (19-20) summarizes everything Paul's been building in the first three chapters of Romans. "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." Paul says, Summing it up I can say two truths: One, the whole world is accountable to God. Two, the whole world is without excuse. He says every mouth will be silenced. You're going to stand before God and you'll be speechless! You will not be able to defend yourself. You will not be able to say "I was innocent". The whole world is accountable and the whole world is without excuse. We're helpless.
Not only that, we're also hopeless without Christ. Verse 20. "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law. Rather through the law we become conscious of sin." Paul says here, no one can ever be saved keeping the Ten Commandments. No one can ever be saved by keeping all of the law. No one has ever been saved by keeping the law. Why was the law given? If it can't get you to heaven, why did God give the Law?
God gave the Law in the Bible for two reasons: It makes us aware of our sin. Through the law we become conscious of sin. When you have a standard you know when you fall short. When you have a goal you know when you don't reach it. When you have a law you know when you break it. The first purpose of the law is it shows us we need to be saved.
The second purpose of the law. Galatians 3:23-24. "Before this faith came we were held prisoners by the law locked up until faith should be revealed. The law imprisons people; it doesn't set people free. Grace sets people free, not the law. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." The second purpose of the law is to point us toward Christ. It shows us we have a need to be saved and then who the savior is; it directs us to the one who can save us.
The final verdict is man is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The whole world is lost. The bottom line is everybody needs to be saved. Whether you're respectable, religious or rebellious. Ray Steadman titled this passage, "Total Wipe Out". It's a description of the doctrine of the total depravity of man.
That's the bad news! Tomorrow we get into the good news. Between v. 20 and v. 21, J. Vernon McGee says it's like the Grand Canyon. Like night and day. All of a sudden Paul switches roles and becomes the attorney for the defense. All of a sudden we realize that we don't have to live under condemnation. One verse is so key: Romans 8:1 - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That's the good news.
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. Make sure you've given your life to Christ.
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