None Righteous

Introduction

Today we are continuing our study in the book of Romans.

A couple of weeks ago, we saw that No one has an excuse about the gospel, because God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power, and divine nature—can be clearly seen through creation.

Then we saw those who have a form of godliness end up storing up God’s wrath because they had a suborn, unrepentant heart. Paul accused them doing the same kind of things that they passed judgement on. So God holds them accountable. For God does not show favoritism.

In our passage today, Paul is going to show us that being a Jew has great value, but keeping the Law of God has NEVER been able to save anyone.

So Paul is going to show us a new righteousness that comes from God and depends on God!

So if you are a Jew, this question comes up.

Romans 3:1 NIV84

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?

Romans 3:1

What Advantage Is There in Being a Jew

Romans 3:2-4

Romans 3:2–4 NIV84

Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

The Jews were entrusted with the very words of God.

Paul is going to argue that it doesn’t matter whether they were faithful or not it doesn’t matter. Rather Paul says,

“Let God be true”

The Jews were given so many opportunities to see God’s true faithfulness.

Yet the idea in this entire phrase is that God is always true, while man ends up becoming a liar. So God is dependable, mankind is not!

To empress his point, Paul quotes which reminds us that because God is true He is also proved to be the righteous judge.

Romans 3:5-8

Romans 3:5–8 NIV84

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved.

Mankind’s Unrighteousness Show God’s Righteousness

Now Paul is going to make a logical but very human argument.

If mankind’s unrighteousness allows God’s righteousness to be seen more clearly, they why does God bring his wrath out on mankind?

Paul says, “certainly NOT!” No, every person who sins deserves the condemnation they receive.

The Jews had to realize that none of them was ever able to approach God on their own. Because the truth is none of them ever had enough righteousness to get to God.

Romans 3:9–18 NIV84

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:9-

No One Is Righteous

Now here’s the Key! If the Jews could not live by the Law and achieve enough righteousness to get to God—we can’t drum up enough righteousness to get to God.

Paul quotes from a number of Old Testament passages.

No one is righteous!

To make sure we understand the passage says there’s not even one!

No one understands or seeks God

No one seeks God

This is one of the big problems in our world today. Mankind has turned its back on God and stopped seeking after Him.

All have turned away

There is no one who does good

So in verses 10-12 Paul establishes the fact that no one is righteous! Now Paul is going to describe the character of people who do not pursue God.

Words

Their throats are open graves

Their words are useless and can’t be trusted!

Tongues practice deceit

The poison of Vipers is on their lips

Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness

There is nothing that can be trusted by what these men and women say. Yet you can’t trust their actions either.

Actions

Swift to shed blood

They do not value human life.

Ruin and misery mark their ways

They don’t know the way of peace

Plane and simple—They do not fear God!

Romans 3:19–20 NIV84

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. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 3:19-20

The Law cannot declare ANYONE righteous!

So Paul shows the advantage of being a Jew, but also develops the reminder that the Law was never able to save anyone. Mankind was in need of a different kind of righteousness.

Righteousness by Faith

Romans 3:21-26

Romans 3:21–26 NIV84

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

The New righteousness is apart from the Law

This righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ

It’s available to ALL who believe

All have sinned

All have fallen short of the glory of God

So we learn that everyone has sinned—so again no one has any righteousness in themselves. And because of that we all fall short of God’s glory—His perfect standard.

All are justified freely by God’s grace which comes through Jesus Christ

Justified—Just as if I had never sinned.

This justification comes freely by God’s grace.

And it comes through Jesus Christ.

God gave Jesus as a sacrifice

Jesus became a sacrifice to atone (pay the price) for our sins for those who put their faith in the blood of Jesus.

God proves His justice by this plan!

God’s plan pays the penalty for our sin, but not only ours by also for those who committed past sins. Justification comes through faith, faith in Jesus.

It’s all about God!

Romans 3:27–31 NIV84

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Boasting is excluded.

It depends on faith.

Does not depend on the law

God is the God of both the Jews and Gentiles!

There is only ONE God

So God justifies the Jew!

And God justifies the Gentile!

And God can still uphold the law.

What Do We Learn Today?

1. No one is righteous before God.

2. Mankind’s Unrighteousness shows God’s righteous.

3. God has the right to Judge.

4. By nature no one seeks God!

5. Mankind by nature if far from God.

6. The law never could save anyone.

7. But God has a plan—justification by faith in Jesus.

8. Jesus is our atoning sacrifice!