Romans #4 The Man in my mirror

Rom. 3:9-20


If I asked any one of you to describe themselves to someone that you’d never met, I guess that the picture you would paint would put you in a favorable light. You’d make you look good! But here’s the thing. If I asked someone else to describe you to that new person, how close do you think that the 2 descriptions would be? What would they say about you? How would they describe you – not just how you look, but how would they describe things like your attitudes.

See, most of us have an image of ourselves that’s a bit different to reality. We don’t see ourselves as other people see us. That’s doesn’t make them right and us wrong o vice versa. But it is worth us taking time out to take a long, hard look at the face we see in the mirror and then being honest and objective about what we see. We may feel that we are fatter or thinner than we really are. Or we may feel that we’re smarter, or even dumber than we really are. You get the idea.

Now, this exercise is even more important when consider our spiritual lives too. In fact, when we look into the spiritual mirror there’s a real danger that this same deceptive self-image slips into view when we look closely at our spiritual selves too.

Most of us, if not all of us, believe that we’re basically good people. We want to think that we are in good shape spiritually. Now this isn’t just the way church people think either. Nearly every person who exists in the world today has an unrealistic self image. But worse than that they have the idea that all is well with his or her heart. Sadly, this is simply not the truth!

Romans Chapter 3 is what God sees when he looks at mankind. And its important to realize that its what people should see when they look in the mirror. So, these verses tell us all about the image in our mirror. Every day, we look in the mirror and the person we see looking back at us is nothing like we think he is.
So, Paul paints a detailed picture of what God sees when He looks at mankind. And the truth is that in the eyes of the Lord mankind is nothing more than sinners. Remember, in the last sermon Paul told his readers that the whole debate and comparison between Jew and gentile was futile because they were all sinners. Now, he’s reinforcing the fact that every man, no matter who he is, is a sinner in the sight of God!

For some people that’s a hard pill to swallow! But the very first step in coming to Jesus is to fully accept that truth. So.,. lets go thru these verses together and see what’s looking back at us when we look into the mankind’s mirror. What is the image that stares back at us? Now, as we go through this message, you need to realize that the man in your mirror is no different from the one I look at every day. And so my prayer is that there’s anyone here who’s never come to realize that they really are a sinner, tonight will be the night when the light comes on and you see yourself as you really are. By the same token, those of us who are saved need to be reminded from time to time that we’re in no position to boast – or gloat. We are who we are tonight – only by the grace of God! So lets take a look at the image in the mirror.

3: 9-10 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.

Here’s where we all have to start.We have to realize that SIN IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM. It touches everyone – regardless of race. Paul tells us that the problem that affects both Gods chosen people - the Jew’s and the rest of the world – the Gentiles – alike. Regardless of the color of your skin, you’re a sinner. There’s no exemption. There’s no immunity. Whether you’re white, black, red, brown or any other color or hue we’re all sinners in the sight of the Lord! More than that – sin touches every religion and belief system. Paul says that it really doesn’t matter whether you worship in a synagogue or a church, how dedicated or committed you are, we’re still sinners in the sight of God.

Paul starts v9 with the words “Well then” Paul tells us Christian readers that we’re no better or different than anyone else! We’re all sinners and there’s no escaping that reality . A lot of people today have made the mistake of thinking that if they just believe strongly enough in their religion or their church that their religion has the power to take away sins. New Hope can’t forgive your sin. Neither can New Tribes Mission. Then there’s others who think that sincerity and good intentions are the key to having sin removed. But here’s the truth. No one has ever been saved by religion, no one has ever been saved by a church or a denomination or an organization and nobody’s ever been saved by good intentions or their sincerity. You can sincerely believe anything you want to, and still be sincerely wrong, deceived and headed for Hell!

The last part of v10 says As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.

Here’s God's take on the sinner. He looks at mankind and says that no one of us has the ability produce righteousness! In fact, Isaiah tells us that in the sight of God the best we can produce is filthy rags, (Isa. 64:6.) And the best that we can do, will never be good enough! But the problem is that Jesus said we have to be perfectly righteousness to get into Heaven, and that’s absolutely impossible! I can never be good enough to please God, because I’m a sinner and therefore everything I touch is ruined by my sin! It is the Midas touch in reverse! When we sinners touch something, it doesn't turn to gold, it turns to junk in the sight of God!

Man's problem though is that we always measures ourselves against the wrong measuring stick! We will look at our neighbor and say, "Well, I’m really not as bad as he is!" People do that and then feel that they are somehow superior and pleasing to God because they are not a wicked as their neighbor. However, what man forgets is that dead is still dead, just as lost is still lost!

Imagine for a moment that some people in Hawaii decide to come to the mainland. However, they are going to try a pretty unconventional method of getting here. Instead of taking boats or planes, they decide to see if they can jump across the ocean. Some of them a in great shape! They run and jump with all their might and some might make it 25 feet or so. Others who aren't is as good a shape might be able to jump 10 or 15 feet. Still others who are in very bad shape might have difficulty jumping even 5 feet. Now, those who jumped the farthest might look down on those who jumped the least and feel superior, but the fact is, none of them were able to go the distance. That is a pretty silly illustration, but that is exactly what some people are trying to do! They are trying to jump into Heaven on the basis of their being in better "spiritual shape" than someone else.

People can try anything they please, but the fact remains that there is only one way to cure the sin problem and make it into Heaven and that is through faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! If we trust ourselves to get to Heaven, we’ll trust ourselves right into Hell!). Sin is a horrible problem! It has only one cure and that cure is faith in Jesus Christ! Lets go a bit further.

These next few verses talk about all about the problems we face as a direct consequence of being a sinner. See, while sin is a universal problem, everybody has to deal with it on an individual basis

11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God

This verse shows us that sin has dulled our minds to the truth of God. We can’t understand Him and there is not a single person in this world who, left to his own devices, will ever seek God. Nobody gets up one morning and just decides to go after God! When a person begins to hunger for the Lord, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit! Man is dead to spiritual things until the Lord quickens his heart and creates a hunger for the things of God. Put it another way – our sin has left us with spiritual brain damage!

12 All have turned away; all have become useless.

Now we’re really finding out what God thinks when he looks at us. He’s saying that because we’ve turned away from Him we’ve become worthless to Him.. And we stay worthless – or useless - until we’ve been cleansed and made worthy by the Lord. Now, a lot of people will want to disagree. After all, they say, surely there is a difference between Mother Theresa who spend years working with the Untouchables of India and Saddam Hussein who’s responsible for untold misery and suffering. Or, there must be a difference between the doctor who uses his education and talent to heal and the one who uses his talent to perform abortions.
See, here’s the problem: From a human standpoint, there is a difference. From our perspective we see some people do good work while others work evil. But from a heavenly standpoint, God looks at all of our works as they appear beside His righteousness and that leaves us guilty in His sight!

Let me show you what I mean. Imagine seeing New York City from a boat on the Hudson river. It ‘d be easy to see the difference in the buildings. Some would be short, others would be taller, while others seem to scrape the sky. Now, imagine looking down on New York City from the window of an airplane. From that point – thousands of feet up in the air - it would be impossible to tell which buildings were tall and which were short. See, it’s all a matter of perspective. About how you look at things. And mans perspective will count for squat when it is time to face judgment for our sins!

13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.”14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness

Now Paul’s telling us that sin has ruined our speech. He’s merely echoing the words of Jesus Christ in Matt. 12: & Matt. 15:18;

The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart them mouth speaketh Matt. 12:34

In other words, if its there on the inside of you – sooner or later it will come out. Our words will reveal the condition of our heart! Look at how Paul describes the speech of a sinner

It is like the smell of a rotting corpse.
You only have to listen to the way people talk today to see how rotten they are on the inside. If not, then why does so much of their slang and profanity have to do with human excrement, body parts or sexual acts!

It is filled with lies and deception.
Lying has become the national pastime! It is everywhere from the White House to the church house and it is another indication that man is living in a state of sin

It is like a deadly poison.
Think of the lives and reputations of godly people that have ruined by gossip and rumor. And some of the worst offenders are in the church. No wonder James tells us that to tame the tongue is to be able to control the entire body and to live perfectly. The tongue of the sinner can do more damage than a lifetime of right living can undo. I don't how you use your tongue, but I do know that how you speak reveals the condition of your heart!

15 “They rush to commit murder. 16 Destruction and misery always follow them.17 They don’t know where to find peace

Now, Paul’s showing us how the influence of sin in our lives has caused us as people to be extraordinarily cruel and wicked. Notice what he says about the sinful heart.

15 “They rush to commit murder

Now, before you totally decry this just look a the statistics about abortion - then you’ll know that Paul’ speaking the truth. Since 1973 over 30 million children have been murdered legally in this country.That is more than 10x the total number of war dead from every war in American history, from the Revolutionary War on through Iraq and Afghanistan. According to statistics, during the Twentieth Century, twice as many American citizens died by murder than in all our wars put together! One researcher has concluded that a child born in the 1980's in America had a greater chance of being murdered than an American soldier had of being killed in battle in World War II! As people - we are guilty! Remember this is exactly how God looks at us

16 Destruction and misery always follow them.

People are growing more and more brutal in their lifestyles. See, as people go through life, they’re guilty of stepping on one another just to get their own to have way. Often, lives are lost, or are permanently damaged
by people who are simply brutal in the way they live!

17 They don’t know where to find peace

Actually, a lot of people don’t really look for peace. Basically, people just want to have their own way! They don’t care about the rights of others and they’ll stop at nothing to achieve their own goals and dreams. Then we get to the worse consequence of sin of all

v 18 “They have no fear of God at all

This really is a big deal: sin takes us to the place where we have no concept of the fear of God. To put it simply, mankind just does not fear the Lord! God has already told us what’ll happen as a result of our sins.
But people have made the choice not to believe the Word of God. In fact, most people live as though God did not exist! This is called "practical atheism". The practical ATHEIST knows there is a God. And He knows there’s a Hell. He knows that he needs to live for the Lord. Yet despite all that he ‘knows’ he chooses to live his life his way and live as if there were no God. Why? Because that frees him up from any restrictions on his behavior and lets him to do as he pleases. God has a name for people like that: Fool,

Psa. 14:1 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

It’s should be the fear of God that motivates men to come to Jesus for salvation! It’s the fear of God that motivates the Christian to live for God. See, Fear can be healthy force for righteousness,if that fear’s born out of a desire to please the Lord.

V 19-20: 19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Because the God Law condemns all the things that man is guilty of, man himself stands condemned by the Law. You can’t miss what Paul is saying - its too black and white. God gave the Law to mankind as a tool.
And its purpose was to expose man for his sin and to draw him to Jesus

Gal. 3:24. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.

If the Law had one purpose, it was to show us that we are guilty. The Law is like the mirro we’ve been talking about. It can show you how dirty your face is,but it can’t be used to clean you up! You don't take the mirror and rub it on your face to get clean, the mirror’s there to point us to the water! And that’s how it is with the Law.

The Law can’t clean us up, but it can create a hunger in us for the One Who can: and that’s Jesus.

Guys: this thing is crystal clear! We’re all sinners before the Lord. There is one solution for our sins and it won't be found in doing good things or in being a good person. It’ll be found only in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! So I have to ask you this evening:  "Are you saved by grace through faith?