A. The human situation (life without Christ) The Gentiles and Jews were “under the power of sin” or living in “the flesh” (Thibodaux, video). To the Gentiles, from chapter 1:18-32, Paul addressed idolatry (1:22-25) and sexual perversion (1:26-32). St. Paul said, "They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice" and then lists a multitude of sins: envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, spite, gossips, and hate of God. According to St. Paul, the Gentiles are "insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." (1:29-32). Also to the Jews, he adamantly asserted, “Now if you call yourself a Jew and rely on Mosaic law and boast of God. …then you who teach another, are you failing to teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery?...Because of you the name of God is reviled among the Gentiles” (2:17-24). …show more content…
How God freely justifies us in Christ Paul taught how God freely justifies us in Christ. In chapter 3:28, he stated, “For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Abraham was justified by faith, for he believed in