How Bad Can It Be?

Romans 2.17 – 3.20

A. CAN YOU USE RELIGION TO COVER UP SIN?
1. Going by a religious name [2.17]
a. Jew
b. Christian

 2.  Having a religious book  [2.17-18]
     a.  The Law
     b.  The Bible

 3.  Undergoing a religious ceremony  [2.25]
     a.  Circumcision
     b.  Baptism

Human beings are comfortable with what is outward, visible, material & superficial. What matters to God is a deep, inward, secret work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. [Stott]

B. NO! SIN IS A MUCH DEEPER PROBLEM

1.  Sin makes us GUILTY before God  [3.9]
    a.  No excuse  [3.19]
    b.  Ignorance of the law is no excuse  [2.12-13]
    c.  Subject to punishment  [1.32;  5.12;  6.21, 23]

2.  Sin makes our whole being NOT RIGHT  [3.10]
    a.  Mind  [11a]
    b.  Will  [11b-12a]
    c.  Behavior  [12b]
    d.  All that we are  [13-15, 18]
    e.  Result:  misery  [16-17]

3.  Sin makes EVERYONE guilty & not right  [3.10b-12]

    The way of escape…[3.21-22a]   

John Olson