Guilty!

Most of us know the story about David and Bathsheba. King David saw a woman that was obviously pleasing to his eyes and he desired her. After inquiring about her and finding out she was married to Uriah, one of his soldiers, he slept with her. Then he had Uriah killed and took Bathsheba as his wife. David had many wives already and Uriah only had the one. Nathan the prophet came to David and told him a story.

2Samuel 12:1 ¶ And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
12:3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
12:4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
12:7 And Nathan said to David, THOU ART THE MAN.

Nathan points his finger at David and says,"You are the man! You had many wives and this poor man had only one, and you took her and killed him. You're the man". GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY! By David's own admission he is guilty. Nathan's story brought out emotions in David that said that the guilty man must pay. It brought out feelings of righteous anger and justice that the guilty man is deserving of death. This is the same method that the apostle Paul uses in Romans to convict the whole world of sin. Paul uses half of chapter 1 describing the heathen sinner and then in chapter 2, he points his finger at us and says...

Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Paul's method inspired by the Holy Spirit is pure genius. He first describes the ungodly sinner and we look on them in judgment. We look at all the horrible sins they have committed with feelings of "that horrible person must pay"...

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

We look on people that do those things and feelings of justice rise up in us and we condemn them. We know that doing those things are not right. Yet we have all done things in that list! Paul points his finger at us and says, "You're the man! You just looked on those heathen and judged them and you've done the same thing! How do you think you'll escape the righteous judgment of God?" Do you still think you are a good person? You think of all the times you've judged someone and then gone on and done the same things. Do you think you're above God's judgment? Are you ignorant of the fact that you are a guilty sinner worthy of death? Are you ignoring the longsuffering and goodness of God in that he has allowed you to live as long as He has? Are you ignoring the fact that you are breathing His good clean air and He hasn't damned your soul to hell? Do you not know that you are storing up the wrath of Almighty God because of your sin and like a dam it will one day burst and come pouring out on you?

So by our own judgment we have condemned ourselves. We stand guilty, with our mouths shut before God without a shred of an excuse. We deserve death and eternal punishment in the lake of fire. The whole world stands guilty and condemned deserving of death. No religion, no belief system can save us. No amount of effort and "church going" can save us. No pope, no priest, no pastor, no denomination can save us. Our only hope is Jesus. Thank God he died in our place. Thank God that He took our punishment so we wouldn't have to. He is the truth and the life.