How Do We Know We Are Sinners?

The true purpose of the Law is to show us that we are sinners. It’s not something to try to keep. Paul clearly makes this point in Romans chapter 3. The point I want to emphasize is this: the law serves its purpose when we see it as impossible to keep. If we see that there is no hope in keeping the law, and thus we are deserving of God’s punishment for breaking it, we acknowledge that we are sinners. If we are sinners without hope of rescue, then we are willing to accept the only form of escape from God’s judgement by trusting Jesus, placing our faith in Him. A man can never truly know God while he is proud. Pride prevents us from knowing God. How? When a man spends all of his time looking down on people (that’s what pride does), how can he expect to see Something (God) that resides above him? Why does God emphasize throughout scripture that He opposes the proud? Because man’s first step in believing and following God’s choosing Him is the realization that God is above us, far superior in any comparison. This “knowing your place”, or humility as the Bible calls it, is the first step in gaining the wisdom that God often talks about in the Bible. When we place our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we agree with God. We know we can’t earn our salvation or forgiveness, so by having faith in Jesus, we fulfill the law. It points out our inadequacy, and directs us to the only Solution. We trust the only way God has provided for man to be made right in His sight. That is what Jesus meant when He told Thomas, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, but by Me”. Does this make sense? We fulfill the 10 Commandments by knowing their purpose, and acting in the proper response in faith, not by trying to keep them. Trusting God, having faith in Jesus, is exactly what God intended by giving us the Law. Jesus said, (my paraphrase) “when we do these things, display the fruits of the Spirit, there is no law”. Loving others, forgiving them, teaching them to pursue God daily; these are above the law, meaning there is no law for these. Exactly how God wants us to behave. It’s seems too simple, having faith, but it’s exactly what the purpose of the Law is for. It may seem simple, but it’s not easy, and it takes a lifetime to workout. A journey worth the effort, for the reward is eternal.

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Christ Took Our Punishment 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is. 30 There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. Romans 3:19-31