Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream,
All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him.
In last week’s sermon, Pastor Brian focused on God’s sovereignty as the starting point for evangelism. This morning, our service centers around the necessity of understanding our own sinfulness—as we’ll read from Ephesians 2:1, we are “dead in our trespasses.” Hymns such as Rock of Ages, Jesus Paid It All, Not What My Hands Have Done, and Come Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy strike at the heart of our fallen condition. We are “poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore.” We stand before a righteous God “naked,” “helpless,” and “foul.” We bring “nothing good,” and nothing our “toiling flesh” has endured can make us whole. The only remedy for this terrible situation is Christ, bearing the dreadful curse on the cross. Our final hymn reminds us: “Mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo here I fall, my Savior, ‘tis I deserve Thy place; look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: God, Seek, No, None, Righteous, Sinned, Fall Short, Glory
Keystone Verse: For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Romans 3:9-23
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks,
are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.