9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:9-20
1. Are Jews better than Gentiles?
No!
2. Both Jews and Gentiles “are all under sin” (Romans 3:9)
3. Citing the Scriptures
a) Romans 3:10-18
b) This passage was a citing of a number of texts:
i) Psalm 14:1-3
ii) Psalm 140:3
iii) Psalm 5:9
iv) Psalm 36:1
v) Isaiah 59:7-8
vi) Psalm 10:7
4. Understanding what the Scriptures say:
a) Paul called these texts “Law” (Romans 3:19a)
b) The Law applies to the Jews too
i) The Jews take pride in their knowledge of the Law
ii) But the Law read correctly, declares all are under sin
c) Intended effects:
i) Every mouth may be stopped
ii) All the world may become guilty before God (Romans 3:18)
5. Conclusion of this argument
a) By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (Romans 3:19)
b) By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20)
OUR CHALLENGE
1. To recognize
a) The Fact of sin
b) The judgment against sin
2. To return to the Lord
a) For cleansing from sin
b) For forgiveness
c) To seek salvation and a new creation in the Lord Jesus