And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Ephesians 2

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter eighteen - The Horror of Human Sin, the Hope of Human Splendor.  Here, John Piper digs into Paul's writings from scripture that describe how he had not just an utterly realistic and negative view of human sinfulness, but at the same time a "more exalted view of human destiny than most people can dream*."  Piper first starts with Paul's view of human sinfulness where he points us first to Ephesians 2:1-3 where no one - regardless of wealth, morality, or spirituality - escapes the "universal indictment of human nature*."  Piper then moves to how it is not ignorance that puts all of us in this condition but hardness of heart - pointing to Ephesians 4:18.  Piper implores us to see how this hardness of heart may "may take the form of throwing God’s law away and becoming debauched in glaring lawlessness (see Romans 1:28– 32), or in using God’s law to bolster my religious and moral pride (see Romans 2:1–5).*"  Piper then moves to how Paul teaches us that the "world’s fallenness is part of a plan to reverse the world’s misery. Through Adam, all humanity became sinful, and all creation fell under the curse of death and a thousand sorrows. But at the very point where Paul introduces Adam this way, he portrays Christ as the second Adam. In Christ a new humanity— all who receive his grace— would be rescued from condemnation and inherit eternal life*."  Piper points us to Romans 5:17 and Romans 8:19-21 where through Christ we have a Savior and eternal life where those who believe in Christ as their Savior will escape the horrible consequences of a fallen world.

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me salvation and hope to escape both my fallen nature and the consequences - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Surely there is not a good person on earth who always does good and never sins.

Romans 3:9-20

Surely there is not a good person on earth who always does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (Romans 3:10, 12)

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved to the second section of Why We Need the Gospel: No One is Righteous: Romans 3:1-20; this section is entitled In the Courtroom with Paul and covers Romans 3:9-20. As a starting point, my reading of these verses indicates Paul's indictment of all humanity - Jews and Gentiles - as guilty of sin and Paul, knowledgeable of scripture, quotes Psalms (5, 14, 53, etc.) as he makes his case. In particular, he focuses on Jews who, although they live under and by the law, do not live a life consistent with the law and even if they do, this does not justify anyone.  

My commentary indicates that there are "fourteen total charges to provide that unrepentant humanity is guilty before God [and that] Tim Keller points out seven effects of sin in the list, saying that sin has affected:

1. our legal standing
2. our minds
3. our motives
4. our wills
5. our tongues
6. our relationships
7. our relationship with God"

My commentary further breaks down these effects into three categories (1) the character of the accused (v10-12), (2) the conversation of the accused (v13-14), and the (3) conduct of the accused.  

The character of the accused is marked by ignorance, godlessness, waywardness, etc. The conversation of the accused is marked by course talk and the destructive nature of our words, including deceit. Our speech is described of course as a matter of the heart. The conduct of the accused is marked by violence, wretchedness, and perhaps most importantly "no fear of God before their eyes (v18)."

My commentary closes a discussion of 3:9:20 with a description of v19-20 - The Verdict.  Again, everyone is guilty of sin, including those who feel knowledge of the law saves and of course it does not - instead knowledge of the law reveals the depth of our sin!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came to save me - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me despite my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am thankful as well that You sanctify me day by day.  I am undeserving of such blessings as I continue to sin - worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.

Job 25-31

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20

Day 258 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Job as Bildad once again addresses Job to seek to comfort him, and to help him understand his suffering. Job responds and again asserts his righteousness.  Job may have led a largely righteous life but we all sin:

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20

 

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20

 

It is our acknowledgement of this fact that should drive us into the arms of our Creator and Savior - Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who, despite knowing everything about me, including my sin, came to save me anyway, giving me life to the full on earth and for eternity in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and gifts.  I continue to sin...pride, arrogance, worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lia and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.