Human brokenness and the need for grace

14/09/2025 - Matthew Destry

Romans 1:16 –17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

1. Creeping death :: Romans 1:21 –23 (ESV)

For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

1. The levelling ground :: Romans 2:1–2 (ESV)

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practise the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practise such things.

1. The verdict rendered :: Romans 3:10 –18 (ESV)

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

1. The gift revealed :: Romans 3:21 –24 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

The four steps in Romans 3:21 –26. Here’s how Paul unpacks it:

1.Revealed (v.21)

2.For everyone (vv.22–23)

3.Through the cross (vv.24–25a)

4.Showing God’s character (vv.25b–26)

Application: where brokenness meets mercy

1. Admit your need
2. Receive God’s grace
3. Live from mercy, not masks 

“Pride is a form of cosmic plagiarism – claiming to be the author of something that is actually a gift’ – Tim Keller