Good morning,
Romans 3 tells God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. The problem is all have sinned and need redemption. The solution is Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice to pay man’s sin debt.
Romans 3:9-20
THE PROBLEM: All are sinners (9-20)
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
“Romans 3:9–20 contains a string of quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul uses these to demonstrate that both Jews and Greeks alike are under sin. After establishing that ”there is none who does good” from Psalm 14:1, Paul uses quotes from Psalms and Isaiah to show ways we have always used our bodies—throats, tongues, lips, feet, and eyes—to express our sinfulness. He concludes the section with his strongest statement, yet, that no human being will be justified in God’s sight by following the works of the law. The law can only show us our sin, not save us from it.” (BibleRef.com)
Remember earlier God said He was no respecter of persons. That point is made clear in relationship to sin. All are under sin, none are righteous, none that understands, none that seeks God, none that does good.
Sin separates us from God. If man’s sin is not dealt with, he will be eternally separated from God. Some may not see this as a problem until they understand what that entails.
Hell is the abode of those who will not deal with their sin and turn to God. Hell is described as “torments”, “tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:19-31), “lake of fire and brimstone”, “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:7-10).
Revelation 20:11-15 refers to these people as dead. Judgment day has come and those who chose not to repent of their sins stand before God. When the book of life was opened their names did not appear. The consequence is “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
That is where those who choose not to deal with their sin go.
HOWEVER, there is a solution to the problem of sin.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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