QT 12/06/2024 Wed Romans 3. Unity: in the need to stop sinning. 合一：都需要停止犯罪。

QT 12/06/2024 Wed Romans 3. Unity: in the need to stop sinning.
READ
http://www.esvbible.org/rom3
LISTEN
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Romans.3

We learn from Romans 2 that Gentiles should not look down on the Jews, who have an "advantage" and their heritage has "value" (Rom 3:1), and vice versa.

But the Jews should NOT take advantage of this and think they can continue in doing wrong in order to enhance the "visibility" of God's faithfulness (Rom 3:3) or "righteousness" (Rom 3:5). They are NOT to use these privileges as EXCUSES to continue to sin.

REFLECTION: There is no shortage of excuses for finding reasons to CONTINUE sinning. The sinful mind somehow becomes VERY CREATIVE and THINKS OUT OF THE BOX in order to sin "innovatively".

Romans 3:11-18 is modern. These verses start and end with God: (1) No one seeks God (Rom 3:11), (2) There is no fear of God (Rom 3:18). As such, "every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God" (Rom 3:19).

APPLICATION (1): Since all are accountable to God, pride should have no place in our lives, whether Jews or Gentiles, 1st century A.D. or today, especially among Christians within the spiritual community we are in.

Therefore all people,whether Jews or Gentiles, within the community, are UNITED in being accountable to God and having the "knowledge of sin" (Rom 3:20).  We are also UNITED IN being given the chance to participate in "the righteousness of God" (Rom 3:21). This privilege is open to "all who believe" (Rom 3:22).

APPLICATION (2):　Because God is God of both the Gentiles and the Jews (Rom 3:29-30), we "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Rom 15:7) because "There is NO DIFFERENCE, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23).

星期三 2024年6月12日 今日读经：罗马书3章. 和一：都需要停止犯罪。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Rom/3/

听音频罗马书3章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/rom.3.cnvs

我们在罗马书2章学到，犹太人不应该看不起外族人，虽然他们比较“占优势”，他们的血统也很“珍贵”(罗3:1)，同样的，外族人也不应该看不起犹太人。

但犹太人不应该占便宜而觉得他们可以继续犯罪以让神的信实(罗3:3)和“公义”(罗3:5)更“显而易见”。他们不可用这些优势作为继续犯罪的借口。

反思：想找继续犯罪的借口其实一点也不缺乏。那颗犯罪的心总是能够变得很有创意、想出一般人能想不到的“创新”法子来犯罪。

罗马书3:11-18是很现代的。这些经文都以神作为开头和结束：(1)没有寻求神的(罗3:11),(2)他们眼中也不怕神(罗3:18)。因此，“好让每一个人都没有话可讲，使全世界的人都伏在　神的审判之下”(罗3:19)。

应用(1):既然每个人都得向神交代，我们的生命里不应该有骄傲、无论是犹太人或外族人，公元第一世纪或今日，尤其是在我们所处的属灵家庭里的基督徒中间。

所以，所有的人，无论是犹太人或外族人，只要是在群体里的，都要共同向神负责，且“对罪有充分的认识”(罗3:20)。我们也因着有机会参与“神的公义”而合一(罗3:21)。这个权利是毫无区别地临到“所有信的人”(罗3:22)。

应用(2):因为神是犹太人的神也是外族人的神(罗3:29-30),“因此，我们应当彼此接纳，就像基督接纳了你们一样，使荣耀归于神”(罗15:7)因为没有区别，“人人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀”(罗3:23)。