Prepare: Lord help us recognize our sinfulness.
Read: Romans 3:9-20
None righteous: Paul firmly establishes that all are sinners whether Jew or Gentile. He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures to bring out the unrighteousness of all human beings. The list grows: none righteous, none seeking God, all turned away, all worthless and none kind. The power and problem of sin has pervaded the whole of human race and every one is under its bondage.
All accountable: Paul not merely states that all are sinners but also brings out the seriousness of sin with Scriptural quotations. It is good to note the points Paul makes: killer throats, deceiving tongues, venomous lips, cursing and bitter mouths, murderous feet, ruin, misery, lack of peace. All these are underscored by lack of fear of God. This list may make us think that we do not display these 'so called' serious sins. In God's perspective, there is no distinction between 'serious' or 'not so serious sins'. Let us reflect how we may fall into these sins in the light of what Jesus says in Matt.5:21 onwards. Let us pause for a moment why Paul is so passionate in listing these serious issues. Do we recognize the root cause of human sin as lack of fear of God? What can we do about this human predicament?
Respond: Lord, as we recognize the seriousness of human sin, may we be led to turn to You, who alone can give us freedom from this serious bondage.
Read: Romans 3:9-20
None righteous: Paul firmly establishes that all are sinners whether Jew or Gentile. He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures to bring out the unrighteousness of all human beings. The list grows: none righteous, none seeking God, all turned away, all worthless and none kind. The power and problem of sin has pervaded the whole of human race and every one is under its bondage.
All accountable: Paul not merely states that all are sinners but also brings out the seriousness of sin with Scriptural quotations. It is good to note the points Paul makes: killer throats, deceiving tongues, venomous lips, cursing and bitter mouths, murderous feet, ruin, misery, lack of peace. All these are underscored by lack of fear of God. This list may make us think that we do not display these 'so called' serious sins. In God's perspective, there is no distinction between 'serious' or 'not so serious sins'. Let us reflect how we may fall into these sins in the light of what Jesus says in Matt.5:21 onwards. Let us pause for a moment why Paul is so passionate in listing these serious issues. Do we recognize the root cause of human sin as lack of fear of God? What can we do about this human predicament?
Respond: Lord, as we recognize the seriousness of human sin, may we be led to turn to You, who alone can give us freedom from this serious bondage.
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