Romans 3:1-20 - God's Righteousness & Man's Depravity

God’s Judgment Defended (vv. 1-5)

Since true Jews are Jews of the heart, what advantage has a physical view?

They were entrusted with the oracles of God.

λόγιον: these are the sayings, commandments, statutes of God.

πιστεύω: the word of God was placed in their care.

The faithlessness of men does not nullify the faithfulness of God.

Our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God

Here we see that God’s righteous nature is put on display when he pours his wrath out on sin. We can see his righteousness in his judgment.

So then, if ungodly behavior results in God’s righteousness being displayed, why are we judged for engaging in it? Why not behave in an ungodly fashion even more?

Paul classifies this as outrageous blasphemy.

No One is Righteous (vv. 9-20)

Romans 3:9 NASB95

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

All men are under sin

Galatians 3:22 NASB95

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Proverbs 20:9 NASB95

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?

Romans 11:32 NASB95

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Have you ever heard anyone jokingly say, does all mean all?

The proper answer, hermeneutically speaking, is that all doesn’t always mean all.

Psalm 14:1–3 NASB95

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Isaiah 53:1–3 NASB95

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

No one is righteous

No one understands

No one is seeking God

No one does good - not even one

They have become worthless

ἀχρειόω: to become a liability to society because of moral depravity, become depraved, worthless.

Everyone is subject to God’s law

Even though Gentiles were not entrusted with the law, they were still subject to the law because the works of the law are written on the human heart.

The Law cannot justify

Galatians 2:16 NASB95

nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Gal

Psalm 143:2 NASB95

And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.

Acts 13:39 NASB95

and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.