• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

" Are we better than they?"

Text: Romans 3:9

AT LEAST THREE GROUPS OF SINFUL PEOPLE DESCRIBED

Paul had now described at least three main groups of people (Romans 1-3):-

1. The Gentiles who engaged in idolatrous practices (Romans 1).

2. The Jews who exuded self-righteousness (Romans 2).

3. Perverse people with a warped sense of reasoning (Romans 3:1-8).

AVOIDING THE SNARE OF “HOLIER THAN THOU”

Paul was in none of the above categories! How did he see himself? His humility impacts the heart deeply.

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all.
For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks
that they are all under sin.”
Romans 3:9

1. A difficult position to articulate

Could Paul have come up with a fourth position? Would a “holier than thou” constitute a viable fourth position?

2. Jews and Greeks

Paul had already proven that both Jews and Greeks were guilty of sin (Romans 1-2).

3. The Perverse

He had already declared that “their condemnation is just”.

DID PAUL SEE HIMSELF AS A SINNER?

Paul intimated that he saw himself as a sinner in the following text.

“For if the truth of God has increased through my
lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?”
Romans 3:7

In writing about sin and sinners, it was inevitable that Paul classified himself as a sinner!

1. Admission of being sinful does not disqualify Paul from writing Romans.

a) Paul did not have to write from a position of one who was free from sin

b) All he needed to do was to ensure that he wrote from one who has been justified by faith.

2. Admission of sin only confirms the need to seek justification (salvation) from God.