Intro - Sin David was nervous about how things were turning out for him. As a man of incredible influence he was surprised at how quickly things were closing in on him, and the lengths that he was having to go to to cover his tracks. It has all started with an accidental glance - then a lingering look, then a stupid decision Then another, and another. No doubt he felt instant remorse, hoping it would all go away But then it didn’t - Bathsheba’s note made it pretty clear that he had made a Kingly mistake alright - and she was now pregnant. That was the end of At first he thought he might cover it up simply, a little deceit guised as a reward for one of his best men But Uriah was a better man than he had supposed and now failed. Maybe I can get him drunk? failed. Clearly Uriah is a better man that he figured By order of the King, his general was forced to betray the trust of one of his best men No One is Righteous 9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”[a] 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”[b] “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c] 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d] 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e] 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f] 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 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. “What shall we conclude then?” (9) Who is the way? Who is he talking to? The context gives it away – he’s talking to believers – his heroes. Those who have accepted Christ. He says Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. “As it is written.” (10) Paul could argue his point from all sorts of angles. But here he goes straight to the highest authority - As it is written. He uses a chain of quotations to prove his point in verse 9 that Jews are in no better fix than the Greeks for all of us are under sin. Scholars have shown that the Jews and early Christians often had these Testimonia, or compounded quotations from the Old Testament, strung together for certain purposes as proof-texts. Paul may have used one of them or he may have put these passages together himself. Verses 10 to 12 come from (Ps. 14:1–3); first half of 13 as far as edoliousan from (Ps. 4:8)Psa. 4:8, the second half from (Ps.140:3); verse 14 from (Ps. 10:7); 15 to 17 from an abridgment of Isa. 59:7f.; verse 18 from (Psa. 35:1). Paul has given compounded quotations elsewhere (2 Cor. 6:16; Rom. 9:25f., 27f.; 11:26f., 34f.; 12:19f.) “No one understands; no one seeks for God.” (11) “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless.” (12) These quotations from the OT support Paul’s argument that the Jews are far from being exempt from the universal sinfulness of man. In view of how he has described the condition of the Jewish people, a Jew certainly could not hope to be saved simply because they were a Jew. And if such was the character of the chosen people, with all their privileges and advantages, what are we to conclude is the condition of the less enlightened heathen? When you look through the terrible description of the pagan world in ch. 1. to see that in fact the whole world is involved in sin, and all its inhabitants are polluted, ruined, and helpless. 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. We can try and argue our way out of it Most people might try and say “Im a good person” We might point to others who have lived much worse lives than us.. but the law says to me.. Stop your mouth. There’s no point speaking right now. You are guilty of sin before God. We all are. The law is there to say to you as well.. Virus Ilustration We’ve been hearing some bad news about the Corona virus and its devastating effect around the world. To summarise, this virus Now I want you for a moment to consider the sin problem. The sin problem is not simply a bad vibe. Its not simply an idea that we can choose not to believe in. It is about the worst contagion you can imagine. Consider how contagious (sin) is It is so highly contagious that when Adam sinned and received the consequences, it was as though we all sinned and we all received the consequences. The sin problem’s spread throughout the human race was instantaneous. Romans 5:12 The consequences of sin are , and the death rate is for . 100% of those infected with sin will die an eternal death from which there is no resurrection. What does sin do? it , it , it , it It fills us with , our vision of God so that we no longer admire, honour or revere Him But… Gospel 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. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Under the law we are . We cannot be good enough to save ourselves. We are Sinners BUT Through faith in Christ we are justified - we are . By His righteous act on our behalf we are saved. For all of its trouble, sin has been . To use virus terminology, there is a cure - and it is freely available in ample supply. And it is more than adequate to remove the consequences of sin, and immediately begin transforming your life to be like Jesus. King David's Story is Our Story 12 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this [a]shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Romans 3 says the same to us. Tells us a story of wickedness and deceit. Our stomachs turn at the description of the Jewish nation and everything within us wants to cry out - Who is this man? The law simply says Shhhhhhh.. Close your mouth. SIlence your tongue. Let every mouth be still. You are that man. And without a Saviour you cannot be saved. 13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Psalm 51 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” How will you respond? Perhaps you want to make this your own prayer today?