ARE WE BETTER THAN NON CHRISTIANS?
Romans 3:9-22
NOT RIGHTEOUS BUT JUSTIFIED BY GOD
V:9-11. \” What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
10 As it is written: \”There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. \”
A. Are we better than those who say there is no God or those who have no faith
in God?
1. Yes we are. But not because we are more righteous or that we do more good
deeds.
2. We have the advantage of having the commands of God.
3. We have the advantage of the wisdom of God.
B. We have the advantage of being chosen by God before the foundation of the world.
1 We have the favor of God.
2. We have Grace rather than justice.
C. God said that there is none righteous, NO not one.
1. We were born in sin, shaped in iniquity.
2 .We are better than non believers because our sin are covered by the blood of Jesus.
3. We are better than none believers because we have the Holy Spirit to guide
our understanding of the Word of God.
4. If we yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will direct us in the application
of God\’s Word to our lives.
TURNING TOWARD GOD
V:12 -16. \” All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one
who does good, not even one.\”
13. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.\” \”The poison of vipers is
on their lips.\”
14. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.\”
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16. Ruin and misery mark their ways.
A. The unredeemed man is subject to the ways of the world.
1. The unredeemed man cannot control his thoughts or actions because he is under
the influence of Satan.
2. The unredeemed may at time, do some good, but their flesh is in control of all
they do.
3. Out of the heart of the unredeemed comes evil thoughts.
4. Evil thoughts lead to evil activities.
5 . Their evil activities eventually lead to their own destruction.
6. The unredeemed man eventually destroys himself.
B. The redeemed man is a new creation in Christ.
1. His heart is now subject to the conscience of his relationship with Christ.
2. The redeemed man has the strength of God to restrict his thoughts to
the righteousness of God.
3. The redeemed man has the strength of God to resist evil activities.
4. The unredeemed has turned away from God, but the redeemed is drawn to
God.
5. Because we have Christ in our lives, we are on the way to recovery from
our sins.
6. Thank God that He gives us time to change from our sinful behavior.
FEAR THE LORD, FIND PEACE
V:17-18. \” and the way of peace they do not know.\”
18 \”There is no fear of God before their eyes.\”
A. Are we better than the those who reject God?
1. Yes we are.
2. Peace is an aspect life that come only from God.
3. We are no longer enemies of God because Jesus settled our sin state
with His death on the cross.
4. Our sins, past, present and future have been covered by the blood of Jesus
on the cross.
5. Even though we are still subject to sin from time to time it is no longer
our natural desire.
6. We have the Word of God to guide our way into His righteousness.
B. The unredeemed man has no peace with himself.
1. We the redeemed, can have peace within ourselves.
2. We have the assurance that God has forgiven our sins.
3. We have the assurance that Christ is at our side at all times.
4. We have the assurance that Christ will take care of our needs.
5. We have the assurance that Christ will protect us from all harm and
danger.
6. We have the assurance that even if we suffer, that it is going to
work out for our good.
C. Are we better than non believers? Yes we are.
1. We have the mind set to fear God.
2. W have the mind set to reverence God.
3. We have the mind set to love God.
4. We have the mind set to be conscience of God commands and to be obedient
to them.
5. We have the mind set to love our neighbors as ourselves.
6. We have the mind set to love our enemies and bless those who despitefully
use us.
7. We may not do everything right all the time, but at least we have the mind set to
be righteous before God and to ask for forgiveness.
D. We have the mind set not to fear the actions of man.
1. We have the mind set not to fear our current circumstances.
a. Fear implies that you think something dreaded is going to happen.
b. Fear implies a lack of a control on your part.
2. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power, love and sound mind.
3. It is a sound mind that does not break down or give up in troubling times.
4. When troubles come, the sound mind calls on God and relies on Him.
NOT THE LAW, BUT GRACE
V:19-20. \” Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. \”
A. Are we better than unbelievers? Yes we are.
1. We are not under the Law, but under grace.
2. We are not subject to the penalties of law.
3. Jesus death on the cross satisfied all the requirements of the Law.
4. The Law was never designed to save, but to condemn man of his sins.
B. Without Jesus, man is subject to penalty of disobeying God\’s commands.
1. Even though man may claim no knowledge of God, he is still subject to
the penalty of disobedience, which is eternal death.
2. We are better than non believers because we know that there is a heaven and
a hell.
3. We are better than non believers because we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
4. The Bible says at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth.
Phil 2:10
a. In other words, it is not your choice, it is your predicament.
b. It is better to bow before Jesus and be granted eternal life, than to bow before
Jesus and be condemned to the eternal hell.
THE JUST LIVE BY FAITH
V:21-22\” But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference.\”
A. Are we better than non believers?. Yes we are.
1. God has given each of us a measure of faith to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. We have a measure of faith to believe in the Word of God as the only
truth to live by.
B. We have a consciences to pursue the righteousness of God.
1. We have the knowledge to know that the only way to heaven is through
faith in Jesus Christ.
2. We have the knowledge to know that obedience to God\’s commands is
profitable to our living to day.
3. We have the power of Word that tells we can enjoy heaven on earth to day.
4. We can have joy in our lives every moment of every day if we believe God.
a. Joy is not based on our circumstances, but it is the characteristic of a faithful
Christian.
b. Peace is not based on our circumstances but it is the characteristic of a
faithful Christian.
C. Tomorrow is not promised, but heaven is.
1. Tomorrow is not promised, but joy is.
2. Tomorrow is not promised, but peace is.
3. Tomorrow is not promised, but God\’s comfort is.
4. Tomorrow is not promised, but God\’s protection is.
5. Tomorrow is not promised, but God\’s provisions are.
6. Tomorrow is not promised, but God\’s love is.
7. Tomorrow is not promised, but God\’s forgiveness is.
8. Tomorrow is not promised but God\’s glory is.
9. Tomorrow is not promised but heaven is.
ARE WE BETTER THAN NON CHRISTIAN? YES WE ARE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston Texas
For a complete list of my lessons, visit my blog at
\”goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com\”
