All Have Sinned 

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:9-20.

Memory Verse: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

Introduction: "The English word 'sin' is found forty-nine times in the epistle to the Romans, and this is the first time. It is important, therefore, that we stop and analyze its meaning . . . The concordances of the original languages list twelve different Hebrew and Greek words that are translated by our noun sin. The meaning hidden in the etymology of these words is very interesting."--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), pp. 178,179.
  "The most familiar and frequent of these words means 'missing the mark.' In a world that was more familiar with archery than our world is with guns, the significance was very real . . . There can hardly have been a man who did not remember pulling back on the bowstring with all his force, aiming for the distant target and releasing the arrow, only to see it drop to the ground before it reached the mark. This says the Word of God, is the meaning of moral sin. God has placed a target which none can ever reach; men have fallen into inferior strength by the nature of their Adamic heritage so that no man can ever satisfy the demands of God.--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), p. 195.
  "Another word that is used for sin is 'overstepping a boundary.' While the first word was one which signified inability, this word is one which signifies rebellion . . .
  "A third word that is translated 'sin' means 'falling instead of standing.' It presents to us the idea of weakness. It is interesting to note that a synonym for standing is to be upright. And the word 'upright' comes from the same root as 'right,' and 'righteousness.' But no man in this world has maintained a righteous position before God. Men, by God's standards, are crooked . . .
  "A fourth word that is translated 'sin' means 'being ignorant instead of knowing.' Now, in our fallen state, ignorance is not necessarily sin, unless it be ignorance of the laws of God. . .  It is no sin for you to be ignorant of higher mathematics, or of Chinese grammar, or even of English grammar, but it is a sin for you to be ignorant of God's way of salvation, and you will one day be examined on your knowledge of Jesus Christ.
  "A fifth word for 'sin' is ' diminishing that which should be rendered in full.' We have only to note that God has commanded us to love him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength, to realize that we have diminished that which God required of us."--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), p. 195.

Lesson Questions:

1. By what charge does all of mankind stand accused? Romans 3:9; Genesis 6:5; Psalm 53:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Galatians 3:22.

2. Examine the character indictment that man is universally evil. Romans 3:10; Psalm 14:1; John 7:7; Genesis 6:12; Isaiah 28:8.
"Place yourself along side of Christ, and you will see that you are not righteous. There is a famous old story of a woman who washed some fine linen and found it ever so white, until she placed it on the new fallen snow--it was yellowish in hue. So with the hearts of men. We will admit that there are men who are white as fine linen, but Christ alone was white as snow. Therefore our text stands true: "There is none righteous; no, not one."--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), pp. 196-198.

3. What spiritual deficiency causes the natural state of men to be godless? Romans 3:11; Psalm 14:2; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:17,18; Philippians 2:21; Isaiah 64:7; Psalm 53:4; 10:4; Daniel 9:13.

4. What further character indictments are made? Romans 3:12; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; Proverbs 14:12; Psalm 14:3; John 15:5,6; Titus 1:15,16; Matthew 5:18,19.

5. What indictments are brought against the natural man's speech? Romans 3:13,14; Matthew 12:34,35; Proverbs 10:31,32; 15:2,28; Psalm 5:9; 36:1-3; 10:7; Isaiah 59:1-3.

6. What three acts of misconduct are fomally charged by Paul? Romans 3:15-17; Proverbs 28:17; 6:17; Isaiah 59:6,7.
"The most savage animals do not destroy so many of their own species to appease their hunger, as man destroys of his fellows', to satiate his ambition, his revenge, or his cupidity [greed]."--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), p. 218.

7. Examine the real motive behind the ungodly life. Romans 3:18; Psalm 36:1; Proverbs 16:6; Luke 13:1-5; Matthew 10:28.

8. What is the final verdict upon unredeemed mankind? Romans 3:19,20.