"No, Not One" Season Five/Episode Twelve (Romans 3:9-20)

Episode Synopsis: In Romans 1:18–32, Paul exposed the unrighteousness of the Gentiles.  They have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and engage in all sorts of godless behavior.  Then, in Romans 2:1–3:8, Paul turns the spotlight of the law upon the Jews, exposing the troubling fact that they are no better off than the Gentiles.  While correct in recognizing the truth of Paul’s condemnation of the Gentiles, the Jews were doing many of the same things for which they self-righteously judged the Gentiles.  If they think God will overlook their own lawbreaking and hypocrisy, they are sadly mistaken. Paul has set out the blessing-curse principle established at creation, when Adam and Eve were created as divine image-bearers.  The law was written upon their hearts: “Do this and you shall live; break this command and you will die.”  After God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel at Mount Sinai through the mediation of Moses, the commandments given to Adam and Eve as representatives of the human race were codified and published to Israel in the two tables of the law. This blessing-curse principle remains in place, as Paul reiterates several times in chapter 2.  God will give to each according to what they have done, promising blessings for obedience and threatening curses for disobedience.  The Jews mistakenly assumed that the mere possession of the law and undergoing circumcision would protect them from God’s judgment.  But their failure to keep the commandments, along with their error in understanding the essence of circumcision as a matter of cutting the flesh rather than a matter of the heart, renders them guilty before God. But Paul is not done.  Far from it.  In Romans 3:9–20, Paul turns up the wattage, shining a very bright floodlight on both Jew and Gentile.  Has anyone from either group ever kept the commandments of God?  The verdict?  No, not one.  Is anyone (Jew or Gentile) righteous before God?  No, not one.  Is there anyone who truly seeks God and desires to obey his will?  No, not one.  In fact, all have turned aside.  When it comes to the blessing-curse principle, how many have done good and earned the promised blessing? Not even one. In verses 9–20 of Romans, Paul will open up the Old Testament to expose the fact that every person and every aspect of human nature has been tainted and corrupted by sin.  The bad news is really bad. When Paul is finished with his indictment, not a single member of Adam’s race (Jew or Gentile) can claim the promised blessing.  Rather, we all face the covenant curses because of our disobedience. For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here:  https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/