Romans 1:18 to 1:32; 3:9 to 3:20 Every human being, whether irreligious or outwardly moral, stands guilty and silent before God's holy law, desperately needing divine grace. Analyze Paul's indictment of human idolatry and moral suppression of truth in Romans 1. Examine why external religious heritage cannot exempt anyone from God's impartial judgment. Understand the catastrophic conclusion of Romans 3:23: all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Paul anticipates objections from both Gentiles who lived in pagan decadence and Jews who trusted in circumcision and Torah observance. Paul dismantles every human ground of self righteousness. Suppressing the Truth in Unrighteousness Paul begins by revealing that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. What can be known about God is plain, because his eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in creation. Yet humanity exchanged the glory of the immortal God for manufactured idols, worshiping created things rather than the Creator. No Advantage for the Religious Moralist A moralist or religious person might nod in approval at Paul's condemnation of pagan immorality. But in chapter 2, Paul turns his spotlight on them: 'Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.' Possessing the written law does not save anyone; only obeying the law perfectly could justify, and no fallen human does so. The Universal Verdict: None Is Righteous In Romans 3, Paul assembles a string of Old Testament passages like a courtroom prosecutor: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.' Every human mouth is stopped, and the whole world is held accountable to God. By works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. This bad news of universal guilt sets the stage for the glorious good news of grace. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 According to Romans 1:19 to 20, why is humanity without excuse before God? Because God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly perceived in creation Because everyone has read the Hebrew Bible Because Roman laws were completely fair Because angels visit every house every year Because God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly perceived in creation General revelation through the created order renders all people accountable for rejecting the true Creator. What is the primary function of the law according to Romans 3:20? To give the knowledge of sin and reveal our inability to save ourselves To provide an easy ladder to heaven through our own effort To make us feel superior to other cultures To replace the need for faith To give the knowledge of sin and reveal our inability to save ourselves Paul explains that the law acts as a mirror exposing our moral failure, not as a mechanism of self justification. What universal conclusion does Paul establish in Romans 3:9 to 10? All people, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin; none is righteous Some humans are naturally sinless and perfect Only the citizens of Rome are guilty of sin Religion makes humans immune to God's judgment All people, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin; none is righteous Scripture concludes that universal fallenness touches every person without exception. Spend ten minutes in quiet confession before God, abandoning all self righteous excuses and thanking him for the grace that rescues sinners. Holy God, your law is a mirror that reveals my complete unworthiness. I confess that I have fallen short of your holy glory in thought, word, and deed. Thank you that you did not leave me in my guilt, but sent Jesus to rescue me. Strip away my pride and teach me to boast only in your mercy. Amen. Why do people often try to justify themselves by comparing their behavior to someone they consider worse? How does understanding the depth of our sin make the good news of the gospel so breathtaking? High school scholars examine universal human fallenness in Romans 1 to 3, understanding that self righteousness is futile and grace is indispensable. Draw a massive canyon on a whiteboard representing the gulf between human sin and God's holiness. Ask if someone who jumps 10 feet into the canyon is any safer than someone who jumps 2 feet. Both fall short of the other side! Does Romans 1 mean that God's wrath is an uncontrolled emotional outburst? No. God's holy wrath is his settled, righteous, judicial opposition to evil, flowing from his uncompromised justice and love for what is good. 5 min Hook, 20 min Expository Reading, 10 min Small Group Interaction, 10 min Universal Guilt Analysis, 5 min Prayer