In this episode, we walk through what Paul shows us in Romans about life apart from God.

We talk about sin and what it means for all of us. Seeing our condition is not meant to push us down. It opens our eyes to how much we need a Savior.

When we understand that, grace becomes clear. Mercy becomes personal.

This episode points to the heart of the Gospel. It shows both our need and the love God has for us through Christ.

The content shared on Living the Selah Life is for spiritual encouragement, personal reflection, and informational purposes only.

It is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace medical, psychological or professional advice of any kind.

Please consult a licensed healthcare provider or qualified professional for any physical, mental or emotional health concerns.

The views expressed are those of the host, Kimberly Lockett, and are based on personal experience and Biblical insight, not clinical or professional training.

Welcome back to Living the Selah Life, a podcast that invites you to slow down to breathe and reconnect with the presence of God.

I'm your host, Kim, and this space is for anyone longing to become more familiar with his presence.

Each episode is an intentional pause, a moment to reflect, realign and remember that God meets us when we create space for Him.

So take a breath.

You're right on time.

Let's live the Selah life together.

In our last episode, we explored Paul's declaration that he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.

We discovered that the Gospel reveals God's righteousness and that the just shall live by faith.

Today we're moving into Romans Chapter 1, verses 18, through chapter 3, verses 20, where Paul shows us why the gospel is such incredible news.

He reveals humanity's condition apart from God, not to condemn us, but to help us see how desperately we need the Savior and how amazing his grace truly is.

This passage might feel a little bit heavy at first, but it is the truth, and it is a beautiful truth.

Paul is setting up the most glorious revelation of grace that you'll ever hear.

The darker he paints the problem, the brighter the solution shines.

Every word about our sin is leading us to celebrate the magnitude of God's mercy.

You can't fully appreciate being rescued until you understand what you're rescued from, and we can't really treasure grace until we know how undeserved it is.

It's about preparation for the greatest good news ever announced.

We will call our main teaching today the Universal Problem, and it comes From Romans chapter 1, verses 18 God's wrath revealed Paul begins with the sobering declaration for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

In the previous verse, Paul said the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel.

Now he says the wrath of God is revealed against sin.

Both are being revealed simultaneously.

God's righteousness in saving and God's wrath against what we're being saved from and God's Wrath isn't an emotional outburst or a loss of control, which some say it is more of a righteous opposition to sin.

It is his holy response to evil.

It's justice being expressed against everything that violates his character and destroys his creation.

This wrath is revealed from heaven, so it's not hidden or questionable.

God has made his opposition to sin clear.

Throughout creation and Scripture, humanity knows the truth about God, but some pushes it down, holds it back, refuses to acknowledge it or exchange the truth for lies.

In Romans chapter 1, verses 19 through 20, Paul explains what truth humanity suppresses.

Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.

God has revealed Himself through creation.

When we look at the universe, its vastness, complexity, order, beauty, you see evidence of a Creator.

His eternal power is evident in the magnitude and energy of creation.

His Godhead, divine nature is evident in the design, purpose and intelligence displayed in what he has made.

This revelation is clearly seen and understood.

Creation shouts that there is a powerful, intelligent, purposeful creator and that's just creation.

Many more things shout that, but we're going to just start there.

The result, God says humanity is without excuse.

You can't stand before God and say, I didn't know you existed.

Creation itself testifies to his reality, power and divine nature.

And remember, I said this was going to be kind of heavy in the beginning of this letter.

But in order to understand the true gift of grace and embody it, you have to know the direness of the previous condition.

Now this doesn't mean people can be saved through observing creation, because that's not a thing.

Salvation comes only through the gospel.

But it does mean that people are justly condemned when they reject what they know about God from creation and refused to seek Him.

The downward Spiral Romans, chapter 1, verses 21 23.

Paul describes humanity's response to what God revealed.

Because although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four footed animals and creeping things.

My goodness, notice the progression.

People knew God.

They had knowledge of his existence and his nature through creation.

But they didn't glorify him as God.

They didn't honor him, worship him or acknowledge him in his rightful place.

They weren't thankful.

They took his gifts without recognizing the giver.

And the result.

Their thinking became futile, empty, worthless, leading nowhere.

Their hearts were darkened.

They lost the ability, ability to perceive truth clearly.

They claim to be wise, while actually becoming fools.

The ultimate expression of this foolishness, exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal creatures.

They created idols shaped like humans, animals and even insects, and worship these things instead of their Creator.

This is the essence of idolatry.

Exchanging the infinite God for finite substitutes.

And that substitute can be anything.

Worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.

God gave them over.

Three times in this passage, Paul says God gave them over or God gave them up.

And this is judicial abandonment.

God allowing people to experience the full consequences of rejecting Him.

Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness and in the lust of their heart to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchange the truth of God for the lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator.

When people reject God, he gives them over to that thing that they're rejecting him for.

They dishonor their own bodies through pursuing lust disconnected from God's design.

And they exchange truth for lies and worship created things again instead of the Creator.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.

For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another.

Men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error, which was due.

So here God gives them over to degrading passions, sexual behaviors that violates his design for sexuality.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting.

When people refuse to acknowledge God, he gives them over to a corrupt mind.

Paul then lists the results.

Every kind of unrighteousness filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness.

They are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violence, proud boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy unloving, unforgiving and unmerciful.

That is quite a list.

And this list is not just a list of bad behaviors.

It's a portrait of humanity in rebellion against God, corrupted in every area of life.

Follow me.

The passage ends with a very chilling statement.

Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

They know God's judgment.

They know these things deserve death.

Yet they not only do them, they celebrate others who do them.

They call evil good and good evil.

They suppress truth so thoroughly that they praise what God condemns.

The self righteous, judged.

Romans, chapter 2, verses 1 through 16.

After describing the obvious sins of the pagan world, Paul turns to those who think they're better, the mortally upright.

You know those C's about Sadducees, Pharisees, the religious, those who judge others.

Therefore you are not inexcusable, old man.

Whoever you are who judge for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself.

For you who judge practice the same things.

You might read chapter one and think, yes, those people are terrible.

I am nothing like them.

Paul says, if you're judging them while doing the same thing, you condemn yourself.

You may not commit the exact same sins, but you're guilty before God the same.

But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Again, we're coming From Romans, chapter 2, verses 1 through 16.

God's judgment is according to truth.

It sees past external respectability and straight to the heart.

We won't escape judgment because our sins look more socially acceptable.

Continuing.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

God's patience is not approval.

His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance.

And I just want to address that word repent because I often hear it misused.

Just stop sinning and just repent and repent.

Repent.

Repentance is simply a change of mind, a change of heart.

The Word in some places said, and God repented.

God never sinned.

He simply changed his mind, changed his heart towards what he was thinking to do.

So when repentance is a lifelong thing, it can be a daily thing, but it is a definitely a lifelong thing.

And it's simply coming into an awareness that we didn't have before and changing our mind and going in a different direction.

So when you hear the word repent, repent, repent, repent.

It simply means to change your mind.

But before we can change our mind, we have to come into a new truth.

So I just wanted to put that out there.

But in accordance with your hardness and your impotent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself.

Wrath in the day and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds.

If we refuse to repent, we're storing up wrath, period.

Every day of continued rebellion adds the judgment that could possibly be faced when God's judgment is revealed.

And Paul explains, God's judgment is impartial.

For there is no partiality with God.

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law.

And as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.

Whether you had the written law or not, you'll be judged fairly.

Those without the law who sinned will perish.

Those without with the law who sin will be judged by that law.

Having the law doesn't save you, only keeping it perfectly wood.

And that's impossible.

No one does.

The Jews are not exempt.

Romans, chapter 2, verses 17 29.

Paul specifically addresses Jews who relied on their special status with God.

Indeed, you are called a Jewish and rest on the law and make your boast in God, and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent.

Being instructed out of the law, they did have advantages.

They were called by God, had his law, knew his will could teach others.

But Paul asked some devastating questions.

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?

You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

You who say, do you commit adultery?

Do you commit adultery?

Having knowledge does not equal obedience.

The Jews broke the very law that they claim to uphold.

For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law.

But if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

And circumcision, the sign of the covenant, means nothing if you don't keep the covenant.

External religion without internal reality was kind of worthless.

For he is not a Jew who was one outwardly.

Nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

But he is a Jew who was one inwardly.

And circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men, but from God.

True relationship with God is internal.

It starts there, not external.

It's heart transformation, not a ritualistic performance based faith.

It's being made right with God through the spirit.

Romans, chapter 3, verses 9.

20.

All under sin.

Paul reaches his conclusion.

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.

Jews aren't better than Gentiles.

Religious people are not better than irreligious people.

Moral people are not better than immoral people.

All hear me.

All are under sin.

All are dominated by sin.

Enslaved to guilt.

Guilty before God because of sin.

And Paul strings together Old Testament passages proving universal sinfulness.

There is none righteous.

No, not one.

There is none who understands.

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside.

They have together become unprofitable.

There is none who does good.

No, not one.

And this can be referenced In Psalms, chapter 14, verses 1 through 3.

Ecclesiastes, chapter 7.

20.

Not one righteous person.

Not one who truly understands God.

Not one who genuinely seeks him.

All have turned away.

All have become worthless in terms of producing the righteousness God requires.

No one does good, meaning the perfect good that meets God's standard.

The evidence continues.

Throats like open graves.

Psalms, chapter 5, verses 9.

Tongues practicing deceit, poison on lips.

Psalms, chapter 140, verses 3.

Mouths full of cursing and bitterness.

Psalms, chapter 10, verses 7.

Feet swift to shed blood, destruction and misery in their paths.

No knowledge of Peace.

Isaiah, chapter 59, verses 7 through 8.

No fear of God.

Psalm, chapter 36, verses 1.

This is humanity's condition apart from grace.

Thoroughly corrupted, completely unable to save ourselves.

And Paul concludes, now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight.

For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The purpose of the law is not to save us.

It is to silence every excuse and prove everyone guilty.

The law shows us sin, it does not fix it.

No one will be justified by keeping the law, because no one can keep it perfectly.

The law's purpose is to reveal our need for a Savior.

And why does this matter?

This passage of Scripture, the many passages of scripture that I read today, they are not intended to crush you, even though I know they sound super bleak.

It is meant to set you free.

When you see the depth of your need, you can stop pretending that you're good enough on your own.

Understanding your sin isn't the end of the story.

It is the Beginning.

It's the setup for the most glorious, beautiful truth ever.

God loves you anyway.

While you were still a sinner.

Christ died for you.

You don't have to clean yourself up before coming to God.

You can come broken, guilty, empty handed and he fills you with his grace.

This is why the Gospel is such good news.

We're not good people who need a little help.

We're desperately lost people who have been completely rescued.

We're guilty sinners who have been freely forgiven.

We're dead in sin, who have been made alive in Christ.

Paul is being honest so that we can be grateful.

The more we understand what we are saved from, the more we will treasure what we're saved to.

I am going to go ahead and move on.

I know this week's episode is a little bit on the heavy side.

I've said that like three times.

But it gets better.

Because once you understand truly what God provided and what he rescued you from, it will eliminate all works based doctrines.

It will eliminate getting saved and then trying to do everything on your own.

It just eliminates a whole bunch of stuff when you understand the condition that God actually saw or sees mankind in prior to sending Jesus.

And now we will move on to this week's pause prompts.

And Paul's prompts are never meant to condemn.

We can only know where we need to go when we understand where we are.

Pause prompt number one.

God's invitation is to be honest about your need so so you can fully receive his grace.

You're safe to acknowledge your sin because you're already loved.

Is there anywhere that you are suppressing truth that you know where?

Do you know what's right but resist doing it?

Have you been relying on religious performance or or moral behavior to feel accepted by God?

Do you see yourself as someone who's desperately needed rescue and received it?

How does understanding the depth of your sin make grace more precious?

The darker the background, the brighter gray shines.

We will move on into this week's Selah moment and prayer.

This is our opportunity to breathe and to rest and to receive the good news of God's grace.

Get comfortable, take a few deep breaths.

And here's the thing.

Yes, we've talked about sin and guilt and our desperate condition.

But that's not where the story ends.

Not even close.

God knows each of us completely.

Every mistake, every failure, every time we've fallen short.

And he is not surprised.

He's not standing there with his arms crossed waiting for you to get it together.

He's already made a plan before you Ever sinned the first time.

Jesus took care of it.

All of it.

The whole message.

When God looks at you, he sees his son's success.

You're not on probation.

You're not barely making it.

You're fully loved, completely forgiven, totally accepted right now, today, just as you are.

If you are in Christ, You don't have to prove anything.

You get to live loved.

That's your starting point, every single day.

Loved, forgiven and free.

Your starting point.

Every single day is loved, forgiven and free.

Let us pray.

Father, thank you that the Gospel is good news.

Thank you that you are showing us the depth of our need and you show us the greatness of your grace.

We're grateful that you don't leave us stuck in guilt and shame.

You meet us right where we are and lift us up.

You call us beloved.

You call us your children.

You call us righteous because of Jesus.

Help us live from this place of security when we mess up.

And we will remind us that we're still loved when we feel like we're not enough.

And we will remind us that Jesus is more than enough.

Thank you that your grace is not stingy or conditional.

That it is extravagant and abundant and it's for every single day, not just the day we first believed.

Give us hearts that come from knowing we're fully forgiven.

Shed light in our hearts that comes from knowing that we're fully forgiven.

Give us peace that comes from knowing that we are completely accepted.

Give us joy that comes from knowing we're forever yours.

And when we encounter others who are struggling with their own sin and failure, help us.

Offer them the same grace you've given us.

No condemnation, no judgment, just the grace.

Good news that there's room at your table for everyone.

Thank you that we get to live in freedom instead of fear.

Thank you that we get to rest in your love instead of working for your approval.

Thank you that the Gospel really is the best news we could ever hear.

We're grateful, we're relieved, and we are loved.

And that changes everything.

In Jesus name we pray and it is so let's lean into our Salah moment.

Well, my friends, that is it for today.

Thanks again for listening to Living the Selah life.

If this moment stirred something in your spirit, please share it with someone who needs to be reminded to pause and and listen.

You can connect with me on Instagram, a Facebook group, or YouTube @Living the Selah life or email me your story to Living the Selah liferoton me.

Until next time.

Remember that God is speaking.

He wants to guide you and direct you and give you his wisdom for your life.

Create space to listen.

Be honest about your need for grace so you can fully receive it.

The Gospel is for sinners, and that's the best news you'll ever hear.

May you go from this place, rested not just in body but in spirit, carrying the awareness that his presence is always near.

May you be rooted not in the shape voices of this world, but in the unshakable word of God, the Logos that ground you and the rhema that guides you.

For man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

And may you keep rising into the life he designed for you, into purpose, into peace, into the fullness of his calling.

May your life become a living selah, an intentional pause that reveals his presence.

It is in Jesus name that we pray, and it is so, Selah.