February 26, 2018
Promise Choosers: Choose Wisely
Romans 3:13–23
Danay Robinson
Central Truth
Sin is often belittled and overlooked as minor, but the Word would beg to differ. Sin promises destruction, and our challenge is to see sin for what it is—not for the false promises every sin has to offer. Believe in the promises the Lord has and live.
Romans 3:13–23
13
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16
in their paths are ruin and misery,
17
and the way of peace they have not known.”
18
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being 1 3:20 Greek flesh will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Dive Deeper | Romans 3:13–23
I once read an article about a woman who fell asleep on a plane and woke up to a man violating her. She and a witness reported the perpetrator. As the perpetrator was being arrested, he screamed, “It’s not that big of a deal!”
You and I would agree that the offense was a big deal, and the victim certainly would, too. Unfortunately, I believe you and I also have a tendency to misunderstand the weight of our own offenses. When I read the article, I immediately thought of how often I offend the Lord. When convicted, I am quick to pout in my spirit and say it's "no big deal."
All sin propels us toward broken relationships, uproots our joy (Psalm 38:3), deludes the heart (Isaiah 44:20), and, most importantly, offends our gracious Lord (Isaiah 43:24). Romans 3:16-17 states that when we are under the power of sin, we are marked by ruin and misery, and the way of peace is unknown. Scripture is clear. Sin promises destruction and is, therefore, a very big deal.
The problem is that when we sin, we believe the false promise our sin of choice offers over the promise of destruction Scripture has laid out for us. The untrue promise I battle daily is this: If I get angry enough, I can control other people's behavior. Instead of that promise proving true, I have seen the real promise of anger: The destruction of unity, joy, grace, and peace within my spirit and in my relationships.
Praise Him that we are not left as orphans! God, too, holds a promise. God promises that He has set us free from every sin (Acts 13:39), that He will finish what He started (Philippians 1:6), and that He will present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude 1:24). This is why we worship!
Sin is crouching at our doors desiring to own us. Let's rule over it instead! Identify the false promises of your sin. Then, confess, pray, and fight. Hold faithfully to the Lord's promises, and life will be your victor's crown.
This month's memory verse
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
– Romans 1:16–17
Discussion Questions
1. We all believe a false promise that sin offers. What is the false promise you believe?
2. Who can you pull in to help remind you of the truth of God's Word and the promises of freedom from sin?
3. What steps can you take to uproot the false promises and plant the true promises in their place?