The most sweeping indictment in history.

The most sweeping indictment in history

2. “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 1:18-3:20)

In this section of Romans, Paul is going to indict the entire unregenerate, unbelieving human race.

He is going to prove their unrighteousness and ungodliness.

He is going to demonstrate that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

He is going to explain why by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

He is going to indict the three categories of unregenerate humanity, which together constitute the entire unbelieving human race.

Easiest to Hardest
to prove that they are unrighteous and ungodly.

These are the THREE KINDS OF UNBELIEVERS that are out there.

the degree of difficulty in convincing them that they are ungodly and unrighteous!!!

These are the terms they would use to describe THEMSELVES.

 It was easy to prove that the pagan Gentile was a sinner. He claimed nothing for himself, and his immorality was plain to see.

But the case of the Jew was different.
 
He had a divinely given system of religion.

The Jew as a son of Abraham considered himself righteous by the law.

To convince him that he was unrighteous and ungodly and needed a Savior was no easier …

then than it is today to convince a professing (but unbelieving) “Christian” of the same thing.

If Judaism (or any other religion) can save men, the gospel is an unnecessary intrusion.

Thus, in order to make the case airtight, the radical failure of the Jew must be revealed.

Because of the extent of their blindness!
MAT 7:1-5

Romans 1:18 - 3:20 is our guide for witnessing to the three kinds of unbelievers.

First, notice that this group is spoken of in the third person plural: “they”, “them”, “their”.

These people are filled with unrighteousness, and they know it, and everybody knows it.

The first kind of unbeliever is the immoral pagan.

The immoral pagan unbeliever is the EASIEST to show as unrighteous and ungodly.

Now it is no longer about “them”. Now it is about “you”. And it’s in the singular.

Most people do not see themselves as immoral pagans. Most people see themselves as more moral than the next guy.

Now we have people who JUDGE others for that immoral behavior.

The second kind of unbeliever is the self-righteous hypocrite.

This is the one reaching for the splinter of immorality in another sinner’s eye …

…while sporting a telephone pole of bogus righteousness in his own eye!