The Guilt of All Humanity

The whole world guilty before God (CSB)

What are we guilty of?

Read Romans 3:9-20

Paul mentions the universality of sin (“all,” two times; “no one,” four times; “not even one,” two times; “together,” once). under the power of sin. And its condemnation.

Read v.9

Are Jews better than Gentiles in the sight of God?

so there is no advantage

Paul uses the objection to draw his readers back to the point he has been making throughout this first section of his letter—no one is without excuse for sin.

Why do we like to use excuses?

that every individual, whether Jew or Gentile, is accountable to the moral standard of God. The Gentiles cannot plead ignorance of the law written on their hearts; the Jews cannot plead exemption on the basis of their privileged status or their ritual marking of circumcision

What is the Power of sin?

being under its power, against God

slaves to sin

the solution of this problem is the liberation provided in Jesus, who frees us from both the penalty and the power of sin.

Read v.10 - 12

Why does Paul want us to understand this?

Ps.14: 1-3 “1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Ps.53: 1-3 “1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Ecc. 7: 20 “20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

v.11 understands : about God and what is right

His description progresses from those who lack righteousness, understanding and a desire for God

v.12 turned away

Isa. 53:6 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

What does it mean to turn away?

Why does Paul make them out to be deceitful, bitter, bloody, warring vipers.

left to our own inclinations, this is where our fallen hearts will take us.

Left to ourselves, we will spiritually degenerate unless God’s prevenient grace does its work in our hearts to awaken us to our sinful condition and draw us back to God.

Read v.13

What does this description of open graves mean and tongues of deceit?

Poison represents what?

a substance that causes pain or death

Read v.14 - 18

fear of God. Awesome reverence for God; the source of all godliness

Read v.19

we know. An expression Paul frequently used, assuming that the persons addressed agreed with the statement that followed

How are we held accountable to God?

Read v.20

Why is THEREFORE therefore?

now that he has called everyone’s attention to not being righteous, now he is going to lay out righteousness through faith not the law.

no one can earn justification by obedience to the law’s requirements.

the law was never intended as a means of salvation, a primary purpose for the law was to reveal sin in its full scope, thus pointing to humanities need for the gift of righteousness.

How do we become conscious of our sin?

HOW WILL THIS SECTION OF SCRIPTURE HELP YOU IN YOUR DAILY WALK?

We are held accountable to God : Romans 3:19 “19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”