Scripture

Romans 3:9-31
1 John 4:10
Romans 2:12-3:8
Acts 1:8

Main Points

1. All humans, apart from Christ, are enslaved to sin (3:9-20)

10b-12 – our hearts are under sin
13-14 – our mouths are under sin
15-17 – our actions are under sin
18 – our understanding is under sin

2. God’s ultimate solution is God’s redeeming and rescuing work in Jesus Christ (3:21-26)

Righteousness (dikaiosynē)
Redemption (apolytrōsis)
Justified (dikaioō)
Propitiation (hilastērion)

A person is declared right by faith alone in Jesus’ faithfulness, not anything they’ve done. Thus…

Is God only for the Jews? Doesn’t he belong to the nations as well? Yes, the story has shown that He is God of all.

Is there anything left for us to boast in? A status as God’s chosen people or doing well in obeying God’s rules? No. God has ruled this out. Faith alone is our boast.

So if we have faith, it doesn’t matter how we live? No way – our lives live out what we believe!

3. Faith is our means of living God’s gift of new life (3:27-31)