A careful reading of the first six chapters of Romans should cause the Christian to think. In fact, it will stretch your thinking to the limit regarding sin. Contemporary Christianity wants to highlight only those parts of God’s Word that express His love, grace, joy, compassion, forgiveness etc.

This is abundantly evident in the Christian music genre. Song after song, the lyrics of songs sung in church buildings on Sunday mornings are dominated with what is considered good and positive. Sermons, books, Youtube videos and comments often have similar emphases. However, from Romans, we can see there is more: Truth that must not be ignored or relegated to the lower shelf. Certainly God’s love, compassion and forgiveness are truths that bring comfort. But, something is missing.

Whole Truth

A neglect of the whole truth as presented in Scripture robs God of His due, and for the Christian, a full understanding of that truth. As sinners save by grace, Christians need to look to Paul as an example. He never forgot the sin he was saved from. Like him, we must remember those sins. “It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). This verse presents a whole truth. It is the love of God seen in redeeming wretched people. This gives depth of meaning to the mercy and grace of God through Jesus, that saves hopelessly sinful people.

Remembering What We Are Saved From

Beginning in the second half of chapter 1, and part way through chapter 3, Paul in Romans systematically spells out in vivid detail the nature of sin - the grossness of which is unavoidable. Note the words he uses, darkened hearts, fools, lust, unnatural, unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful. In its sum, all of these words show people as “haters of God.”

Why such detail?

It is obvious. Paul pulls out all the stops, takes off the gloves, and bluntly and aggressively launches into an eye-popping definition of sin. This detail is necessary for Christians to remember. Why? Because “such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The Christian reading this cannot and should not ignore the one clear fact, it was Christ and Christ alone that rescued you from gross sin. We the sinners, are saved by His grace.

This opens the door to a full understanding of the wonder of Jesus. The fullness of Christ’s love, compassion and forgiveness are realized by remembering the past, what you came from. But that is only the beginning. Continuing to see the wonder of Jesus is found in the ongoing realization of the sins you are being saved from now.

God Alone

Paul is teaching us that we were deeply sinful and did nothing to save ourselves. It leaves no room for boasting, or ostentatiously taking any credit for our redeemed and changed life. Paul also is teaching us the full depth of God’s love and the magnitude of His grace, as seen by the depth of our sin.

This brings God and God alone His due - all praise and glory. We Christians must understand and never forget, the perverse life we were saved from, and that our present sins are completely covered. In turn, we may experience the full wonder of His gracious love, joy, compassion and forgiveness.

Worship

A whole truth results in joy that is replete, leading to humble worship. The deepest gratitude and most abundant praise flows from the knowledge of your past; “‘for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:24).

There is intent by the order in which Paul wrote the book of Romans. To understand the wonder of chapter 4 and on, requires an understanding of the preceding chapters. It was Paul’s vivid memory and present awareness that lead him to say, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a). He was once dead yet alive in Christ.

God Alone

You are a Christian because of God and God alone. Through His Son Jesus, He pulled you out of that sinful pit that leads to hell. So yes, for the Christian, knowledge of sin will result in joy. How can it not! Because of this, “you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).