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For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Romans 3:23)
For
although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor
gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their
foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise,
they became fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious,
ever-living God, they worshiped idols... So God let them go
ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.
(Romans 3:10-12)
I
know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful
nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot
carry it out. (Romans 7:18)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain
the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to
do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every
kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they
invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are
senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know
God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
If
we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and
refusing to accept the truth. (1 John 1:8)
I
tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
(John 8:34)
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Look
at
today's news headlines (click on hypertext
link)
1. What indications do you see here that the human race is not living up
to its potential?
2. Take a piece of paper and write down anything in your history—things
from your family, from your relationships, from hurts or frustrations or
even tragedies—that indicate that your own personal life has not been
picture-perfect.
3. Share with one other person one of those historical markers of
imperfection.
4. Last week, we learned that we were created to reflect the glorious
image of God. That is our “purpose,” our “reason for being.” It gives us
dignity and meaning. It explains why we want to be noble and good and
loving. This week, we will seek to understand why we fall short of that
in our lives.
Look
at what Romans 3:23 says.
1. If we were created to reflect the glorious image of God, then this
verse tells us that we have a problem. What is it?
2. Who is not guilty of sin?
3. What is sin?
How's this for a better definition? When we no longer seek to live
according to our design as the image of God and instead seek after our
own selfish desires and glory, we are sinning. Sin is our waywardness
from God's intended life for us.
4. Last
week we identified three aspects of God’s glorious design for us as his
“image.” Let’s look at these three in succession as it relates to
“falling short of the glory of God”
Falling Short of God’s Glory – Aspect 1
Falling short as “God’s image” to be in loving relationship with
God
Look at Romans 3:10-12
a) According to these verses, what is the problem with the entire human
race?
b) How does this relate to our original created essence “in God’s image”
to be in loving relationship with God?
c) How have you seen evidence that humanity no longer is in that
relationship with God?
d) Does this mean that there is absolutely NO good in any human being?
Falling Short of God’s Glory – Aspect 2
Falling short as “God’s image” to be in
relationships with others in community
Look at Romans 7:18
a) This is the Apostle Paul speaking. In what way do you echo his
frustration about wanting to do the right thing?
b) Have you ever treated someone you cared about so poorly that you
asked yourself, “Why am I so wacked?”
c) Why do you suppose we, as “individuals,” have such a hard time living
in inter-dependent community?
Falling Short of God’s Glory – Aspect 3
Falling short as “God’s image” to be in our
loving care for and creative working of creation and culture
Look at Romans 1:28-32
a) How have you seen the depravity of humanity in the culture around you
(on TV, in movies, in music, in textbooks, in ideas, in classes)?
b) How have you seen the way how the American Dream differing from the
pure call on humanity to create and cultivate the culture for the good?
5. Now, if you were God, what would you do with a bunch of humans who
are so hell-bent on falling short of their glorious purpose?
6. Next lesson, we will learn what God actually DID do about the
situation.
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