Fervent In Spirit Serving The Lord The Guilt of All Mankind Romans 1:18-3:20 Compiled by: Dr. William Ebert

The Guilt of All Mankind — Romans 1:18-3:20 Introduction to Romans 1:18-3:20 The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20

I. Introduction to 1:18-3:20 The first truth that is made clear is that all men are without excuse when they stand before God in their sin. It is only with 3:21 that "righteousness by faith" becomes central — showing the reason for the need of God’s righteousness. Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

I. Introduction to 1:18-3:20 Only if sin is seen to be the dominating, ruling force that Paul presents it to be in this section (cf. 3:9) will it become clear why God's righteousness can be experienced only by humbly receiving it as a gift—by faith. The Gentiles will respond to Paul's accusation against them that they have had no chance to make things right with God; so Paul insists that all people have been granted knowledge of God.

I. Introduction to 1:18-3:20 The Jews will argue that their covenant privileges protect them from God's judgment: so Paul shows that the Jews' covenant privileges do not help them in the judgement because they have broken that covenant through disobedience. What is argued is the equal status of Jew and Gentile under sin; what is presupposed is the self-evident character of the Gentile under sin.

I. Introduction to 1:18-3:20 Paul's accusation of humanity in 1:18-3:8 proceeds from the world to the Jew: From the whole of humanity 1:18 To humanity apart from special revelation-mainly Gentiles (1:19-32) To the "righteous" person-mainly the Jew-2:1-16) To the Jew explicitly (2:17-3:8).

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Revelation of God's wrath and why it is justified vv. 18-20 The reality of God's wrath v 18a. Reason for God's wrath: People suppress the truth through unrighteousness v 18b. People can be accused of suppressing the truth because God has given people a knowledge of himself vv. 19-20a.

II. The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Revelation of God's wrath and why it is justified vv. 18-20 The knowledge of God is manifested in them vs. 19b Through creation man can see the invisible things of God, His eternal power and Godhead vs. 20. When people sin they are without excuse v. 20b.

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 How people have suppressed the truth of God and its consequence vv. 21-31 Three parallel descriptions of human rejection of God and its consequence vv. 21-24; 25-26a; 26b-31. (Note uses of: "Change". And "Gave them up" in each parallel). (also note the division 21-24; 25-27; 28-31)

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 The first description vv. 21-24 "People exchange the glory of God for idols " —"Change" v. 23 "Gave them up" v. 24 Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 The Second description vv. 25-26a. "People exchange the truth of God for a lie" — "Change" v. 25 "Gave them up" v. 26 Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 A continuation of the second description vv. 26-27— "People exchange natural sexual practices for the unnatural" "Change" v. 26, 27 "Gave them up" v. 26 Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 The third description vv. 28-31 —"People did not acknowledge God v. 28 "Gave them up" v. 28 Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Parallel between the Sin of man and the Response of God 1:23-28 Men failed to give God honor (v. 23) God gave them over to the evil lusts of their hearts (v. 24). Men exchanged the truth of God for a lie (v. 25) God gave them over to degrading passion (v. 26). Men no longer acknowledge God (v. 28) God gave them over to a depraved mind. (v. 28)

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 3. Note the structure of Romans 3:22-31 Romans 1:22-24 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Romans 1:25-27 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Romans 1:28-31 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 C. The results of living with the world vs 32 Verse 32 is related to 28-31 but stands independent as a concluding accusation and transition to 2:1ff. The unbeliever wants you to participate in their sin

The Gentiles are sinners without excuse 1:18-32 Again we note the emphasis of the knowledge that mankind has. They suppress the truth in unrighteousness (v. 18) The knowledge of God is manifested in them (v. 19) For when they knew God, they did not honor him (v. 21) They did not want to retain God in their knowledge (v. 28) They know God's judgements, his ordinances, but ignore them (v. 32)

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 A. Introduction In Chapter 1:18-32 Paul speaks in the third Person In Chapter 2:1-5, 17-29, Paul uses the second person singular "you". Paul utilizes here, and sporadically throughout the letter, a literary genre called the diatribe. In this genre, an author gets his point across by engaging in an imaginary discussion or debate with a student or opponent.

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 A. Introduction Paul's critique of the Jews for thinking that their birth and status would protect them from God's wrath is important, but it is subordinate to his main indictment—that the Jews stand condemned before God because of their transgressions of God's Word.

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 B. "The Jew First" in Judgment 2:1-16 1. The Jews are without excuse 2:1-5 1) You condemn yourself by your judgement 2:1 2) God's Judgment is honest & correct 2:2 3) You will not escape judgment 2:3 4) In reality you are despising God 2:4 5) Judgement will come 2:5

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 2. God will render to all what they deserve 2:6-11 A. God will judge everyone impartially v. 6 B. Those who do good will attain eternal life v. 7 C. Those who do evil will suffer wrath v. 8 C'. Wrath for those who do evil v. 9 B'. Glory for those who do good v. 10 A'. God judges impartially v. 11 (Moo, pg. 134).

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 3. The law is not enough, one must be a doer 2:12-16 Sinners will perish v. 12 One must be a doer of the law v. 13 Being a Jew and having the law is not enough vv. 14-15 In the end all will be judged according to Jesus Christ v. 16

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 The accountability of the Jews despite the Covenant 2:17-29 1. Introduction: Paul resumes the diatribe style of 2:1-5 He explicitly identifies the Jews as the ones he is speaking to. In this passage Paul takes up the Jews argument that they have a status by virtue of the covenant. The Jews relied on their election and works of the law, Paul insists that it is faith—only and always—that is the sole basis for a righteous standing with God.

III. The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 2. The status obtained by the Law 2:17-24 3. The status obtained by Circumcision 2:25-29. One must keep the whole law 2:25 What if the Gentiles fulfills the unwritten law 2:26 It was a widespread belief that the righteous would sit in judgement over the unrighteous, and the Jews believed that they were the righteous. 2:27 Explains why circumcision does not guarantee salvation and why its lack does not bar one from salvation 2:28-29.

The Jews are sinners without excuse 2:1-3:8 D. God's faithfulness and the Judgment of Jews 3:1-8 The Jews have a great advantage in possessing the words of God vv. 1-2 * Note 9:4-5 for a full list. The Jews widespread unfaithfulness in no way annuls God's faithfulness vv. 3-4 God's righteousness is manifested even through the sin of His people, because God's word promises judgment for disobedience vv. 5-8

All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20 A. Introduction The brief questions that open v. 9 connect it with the dialogue of vv. 1-8. It is clear that Paul is moving toward a summary and application of the teaching he has been developing since 1:18. This section is labeled an "accusation"; in it he charges all people, Jews and Gentiles, with being "under the power of sin."

All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20 B. All people are under sin v. 9 Loosely related OT quotations confirming the universality and describing the variety of the sin that so characterizes all humanity. 3:10-18 Verse 18 is the last line closing with "there is none". The final quotation, which reverts to the introductory "there is none" of vv. 10-12, exposes the root error that gives rise to the manifold sins of humanity, There is no fear of God

All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20 Paul draws out the implications of this universal bondage to sin: all stand condemned before the divine bar of judgement and are unable to escape that condemnation by anything they do vv. 19-20. The last part of v. 20 supports Paul's contention in the first part of the verse by setting forth what it is the law does accomplish. The law does not ­ justify rather "through" it comes knowledge of sin.

All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20 Paul does not view the attempt to do the law as bad, or is the doing of the law wrong. It is man's failure to do it that creates the problem

All men are sinners, guilty before God 3:10- 20 "Knowledge of sin"—means that the law gives to people an understanding of sin (singular) as a power that holds everyone in bondage and brings guilt and condemnation. The law presents people with the demand of God. In our constant failure to attain the goal of that demand, we recognize ourselves to be sinners and justly condemned for our failures.

God's invisible attributes are clearly seen from Creation They are His Eternal Power and Godhead

Parallel between the Sin of man and the Response of God 1:23-28   Men failed to give God honor (v. 23) God gave them over to the evil lusts of their hearts (v. 24). Men exchanged the truth of God for a lie (v. 25) God gave them over to degrading passion (v. 26). Men no longer acknowledge God (v. 28) God gave them over to a depraved mind. (v. 28)

Romans 1:19-32 Emphasizes that Man has knowledge of God They suppress the truth in unrighteousness (v. 18) The knowledge of God is manifested in them (v. 19) For when they knew God, they did not honor him (v. 21) They did not want to retain God in their knowledge (v. 28) They know God's judgements, his ordinances, but ignore them (v. 32) 

All Men Stand before God as Sinners   1. The Gentiles 1:19-32 2. The Jews 2:1-3:8 3. All men 3:9-3:20