February 15, 2018

Do You Want the Bad News First or the Good News?

Romans 3:11–12

Ann Holford
Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2018

Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2018

Central Truth

"[N]o one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:12b) This includes you and me. Since we have nothing in and of ourselves to bring to God, we need someone outside of ourselves. The good news is God sent Jesus to do what we could not do.

Romans 3:11–12

11      no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”

Dive Deeper | Romans 3:11–12

I work for a small law firm. The owner of our firm is a wise, committed Christ-follower. He says, "When you have bad news to give a client, always follow bad news with good news, which is the solution to their problem." So I always follow bad news with, "But here's what we can do to solve this issue."

That's what God does in this chapter. The bad news is really bad—that no one does good. We're all deserving of God's wrath. What? Me? This doesn't mean that people don't do good things. It means that sin has affected every part of our being: our character, thinking, heart, motive, will. There is nothing in ourselves we can bring to God to merit or earn His acceptance. We need a Savior.

Sneak peek to verse 21 that starts with "But." That may be one of the most important words in Scripture. The bad news is truly bad for each of us. BUT good news follows, and it's the most important, eternity-changing news that you and I will ever hear. And the good news is not what WE can do to solve the issue, but what Christ already did.

Are people basically good like our culture tells us? This passage clearly tells us the answer is "No." Our culture tells us what we may want to believe, but the Bible tells us the truth. Have you heard a two-year-old scream, "mine!" when asked to share a toy? Did someone have to teach him that, or does it simply reveal his heart?

For us to appreciate the good news, we have to know the bad news. Once I understood that I'm NOT the exception—that I am the one who doesn't understand, seek God, and do good—it made everything look different. I can't fix myself. Scripture reveals who we really are: people who need a Savior. Our sin was so bad that Jesus had to die if we were to be redeemed, but Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to die. The worst news + the best news = the gospel.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you really believe this passage is talking about you? Examine your thoughts, your motives, your desires. If this reveals anything short of perfection, go back and read this passage again. Where it says "no one" in Romans 3:12b, substitute your name: "no one, not even _____."

2. How does knowing that people are not basically good help you not be surprised when people disappoint and fail you? How does it help you appreciate God's unchanging goodness when He transforms people who are following Him?

3. Romans 7 tells us we all have a nature that is prone to sin. We aren't sinners because we sin; we sin because we're sinners. Do you tend to focus more on your actions or on your heart?

4. Romans 5:8 says that God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How will you respond to that kind of love today?