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Romans 3:9-20
In Paul’s attempt to show the guilt of all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, in the eyes of God, he quotes the Old Testament in numerous passages from Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Isaiah (in which the Jewish Christians would have been very aware of as most of them would have memorized this Scripture from childhood). But he begins with a question in Romans 3:9 (NKJV) by asking them, “What then? Are we better than they?” And before any of them can exercise any amount of self-righteousness, pride, or arrogance (which is from the devil), Paul answers the question with a quick “Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9b, c). As Paul follows this with the Old Testament Scripture in which the Jewish Christians stand on, he leaves no room for them to be considered righteous through their works as the Scripture condemns all humanity – both Jew and Gentile. Paul proclaims in Romans 3:19-20 (NIV), “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 God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
This is a promise proven through the word of God that all humanity stands guilty of sin before Almighty God.
This is a significant amount of Scripture to cover in one daily devotional Bible study, and each of the Old Testament passages could be studied in depth by themselves. But they all will lead us through the historical account of the Israelites to a point in which God has shown His great love for them, and the rebellion of the Israelites against God; which is the textbook definition of sin – which is disobedience to God. And as Paul has been pouring out his gospel to the church at Rome in showing and proving that all humanity has sinned and been found guilty in the eyes of God, he is about to begin teaching the way to redemption and freedom – in Christ!
Dear LORD,
The Apostle Paul has clearly shown us that all peoples are sinful and are found to be guilty of it in Your eyes. Please help us to understand that we too are guilty of sin in Your eyes, but please help us to learn in the coming days of Your great plan of salvation in and through Your one and only Son Jesus; whom You sent to this world to save us from sin and give us everlasting life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.