Bad News, Part 3

Introduction

In 1905, The Daily News in London asked writers and thinkers in the London area to answer the question, “What is wrong with the world?” How would you answer that question? We’re confident we could point to any number of things and in some sense we would be right. We could talk about inflation, injustice, politics, a loss of personal responsibility, and on we could list all kinds of things that matter to us. To some degree we would be right because the question demands opinion not necessarily facts. In the early 1900s all kinds of events transpired: McKinley was assassinated and Teddy Roosevelt became president. The Panama Canal was completed in 1904. Einstein introduces the idea of special relativity. The Russo-Japanese war is in full swing. Bloody Sunday occurs in Russia with the eventual overthrow of the Tsar. In London, people are experiencing all kinds of political and personal turmoil. The suffragette movement begins. The King of England recognizes the Prime Minister to run Parliament. Cadbury introduces its milk chocolate bar, a few years behind Hershey. And suicide rates reached an all-time high in London.

G.K. Chesterton wrote in response: “In one sense, and that the eternal sense, the thing is plain. The answer to the question, ‘What is Wrong?’ is, or should be, ‘I am wrong.’ Until a man can give that answer his idealism is only a hobby.” How does that sound? Do you find yourself quick to defend? To deny? To shift blame elsewhere? It is harsh. It is an astounding thought. Is it accurate?

Paul has never been to Rome. Jews returning to Rome would have caused those who have been in Rome during their absence to despise them. The Jews would have held to their spiritual superiority for comfort and confidence. This division has spilled over into the church. Paul writes to heal that division but he will not address it until chapters 14—15. The entirety of the writing is to make sure both groups understand that there is no room for boasting about spiritually being superior. Both groups are equally condemned. Today is Bad News, Part 3. Good news is coming, but until the bad news sinks in, the good news cannot have its full effect.

Sin Revealed

Chapter 1, Paul reveals the fullness of sin in the Gentiles. Without God, they have operated in this world selfishly and unnaturally. They have sought their own way in all areas of life and by doing so they are fully, justifiably, and without excuse recipients of God’s wrath. The spiritually superior Jews heard this as Paul choosing sides. But chapter 2 demonstrates that Paul is on God’s side not the Jews’ side. Throughout chapter 2 he reveals that the Jews’ spiritual superiority is based on a false presumption—God’s choice prevents wrath.

That is a lie. The Jews used the law as the means to prove that they were spiritually superior. Paul points out that trying to keep the law and failing means that just like the Gentiles they are fully, justifiably, and without exception recipients of God’s wrath. Instead of pointing to their superiority they should be focused on repenting. The law nor the sign of the covenant provide assurance that God’s wrath will be turned away.

So now we come to our text. Verse 9—the question is asked—are Jews any better than the Gentiles? Not at all! Paul uses the negative “no” here. But there is more than one way to say no. This is the word that is the absolute negative. It is a word that is used when a question is asked that expects a positive answer. It is a shouting no. It is a close the door and lock it from the inside no. It is a no that rejects any glimmer of hope. All people are the same under sin. Are there exceptions? No. Are there comparisons? No. Are there excuses? No. Are there possibilities? No. To drive home his point, Paul quotes from numerous texts that say the same thing.

These quotes are for the Jews. The Gentiles do not live under the law. Here is the conclusion of the matter from the very law that the Jews appeal to: No one is righteous, no one seeks God, no one does good, their tongues practice deceit, they curse others with their mouths, they do not know the way of peace, and there is no fear of God in them.

These hurt and sting. It is hard to admit the truth as God sees it. It can’t be this cut and dry. Every part of a human being knows good, better, and best. There is a natural tendency to compare and rate and rank. Paul isn’t allowing any of that. Appeal to the law and you will be silenced (verse 19). But not just the Jew, but the whole world. Here’s what the law does—the law makes us deeply aware of our sin. And with that awareness comes condemnation.

Accountable

In 1:28, Paul says the same thing about the Gentiles. In other words, the written law that the Jews appealed to is also in the heart and mind of every human being. It may not be written, but it is the sense of right and wrong that exists in everyone. The person who steals does not want things stolen from them. That is God’s law on their heart. The person who murders does not want to be killed. That is God’s law on their heart. The whole world is accountable to God.

Within each one of us is a knowledge or full awareness of what is right or wrong. Even the person who says they do not believe in God operates at times as God exists. Their moral thought tainted by selfishness is well intact when their own stuff is stolen or someone harms them. We are caught in the dilemma. We cannot compare our goodness to others by appealing to our relationship with God. To do so means that we are trying to live under the law and we are condemned. We cannot appeal to ignorance about the law because the law is already in our hearts and we are condemned.

Every year, I teach a class and I ask this question of my students: What do you believe about people? And then I prompt them. Are people trustworthy? Are people good? The question is designed to get students to think but more than surface reflection to think about themselves. If you think people are good, then how do you explain when they aren’t? If you think people are evil, then are you the exception? If so, then how do you manage to live in this corrupt world without pride and arrogance? Conundrum. Problem. Mystery. If I am good, then when I do wrong am I still good? If I am evil, then why do I try to be good? I am condemned either way I go. Yes. And that is Paul’s point in the first three chapters.

Feel the weight of your sin. This is where it gets really hard. Our sin is so profound that we seek relief. We seek that relief by comparing ourselves to those we know are in a worse condition or by ignoring the reality or by pushing the burden aside through distraction or surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel better. Here’s the problem: the weight of sin is still there. We want control and thinking about our sin doesn’t bring about control—it brings hopelessness. Now we are ready for the good news.

Take the weight of your sin and embrace it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t push it away. Don’t divert your attention. Don’t deflect. Don’t compare. It’s all yours. Now come to the cross and give it to Jesus. That’s what we did when we were baptized. Awareness of our sin means that we need a Savior. Invitation.

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