Romans Part 9

Romans 3:9-20.

In tonight’s text, Paul moves away from this hypothetical dialog

and moves back to the main purpose of this letter

let’s start in verse 9

The New International Version Chapter 3

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.” p

13 “Their throats are open graves;

their tongues practice deceit.” q

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.” r

14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” s

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know.” t

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

He begins his return to the meat of the letter by reminding them of the impartiality of God

Before the Judge sits Jews and Gentiles alike

Paul uses Scripture from Psalms Ecclesiastes and Isaiah pointing that people use every part of their bodies minds and hearts to rebel against the will of God

God’s Judgment is righteous, true and impartial

Just like we are all alike in the fact that we all sin against Him.

Vs. 19

The New International Version Chapter 3

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. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

I wanted to read these two verses together intentionally and entirely.

The law was never given to make us righteous.

Rather, the law provides the knowledge of sin

The law is essentially a mirror that provides us the ability to see who we really are.

If you ever hear a message, or read a book that refers the first half of verse 20 and leaves it at just that.

it happens a lot, not just this verse, but it is one of many

This is where many get the law and grace confused

No, the law is not our salvation

it is not our deliverence

it is what helps us see when we go astray

it allows us to be conscious of our sin

Why do we need that?

If we are not conscious of our own sin, then how can we keep our eyes set on Christ?