Romans 3:9-20 (New American Standard Bible)

First Baptist Church, Oak Hill - Sunday Night Bible Study (October 26, 2008)

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

(Rom 3:9-20 NASB)

So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right; I can't find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mud slides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, Don't know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin.

(Rom 3:9-20 MSG)

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.", "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

(Rom 3:9-20 ESV)

Romans 3:9-20 (New American Standard Bible)

First Baptist Church, Oak Hill - Sunday Night Bible Study (October 26, 2008)

I. Summation Argument (v. 9)

A. Who is the “we” group

1. Majority interpretation - “We” is the Jews

a. A conclusion or segue from Chapter 2-3:8

2. Minority interpretation - “We” are the Christians of Rome (Jews and Gentiles)

a. Changes interpretation for understanding or warning to Christians not to spiritually snobs

B. Who is the “they” group

1. If “we” = Jews; “They” = Gentiles (“Greeks”)

2. If “we” = Christians (Jews and Gentiles); “They” = Fallen Mankind; Unrighteous

II. Character of the Unrighteous (vv. 10-12) ~ (Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-3)

A. None Righteous (Universally Evil)

B. None Understands (Spiritually Ignorant)

C. None Seek God (Rebellious)

D. All Have Turned Aside (Waywardness)

E. All Have Become Useless (Spiritually Worthless)

F. None Do Good (Naturally Corrupt)

III. Conversation of the Unrighteous (vv. 13-14) ~ (Ps. 5:9, 140:3, 10:7)

A. Their throat is an “open grave” (Spiritually Dead)

B. Their tongues are deceiving (Deceitful)

C. Under the lips is the poison of asps

D. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness

IV. Conduct of the Unrighteous (vv. 15-17) ~ (Is. 59:7)

A. Their Feet are swift to shed blood (Naturally Murderous)

B. Their path is littered with destruction and misery (Generally Destructive)

C. They lack peace (Peacelessness)

V. Motive (v. 18) (Ps. 36:1)

A. No Fear of God

1. Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

2. Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

a. Ps 14:1 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

VI. Conclusion (vv. 19-20)

A. Who is “under the Law”?

1. So that every mouth is closed (“They are without excuse” - Rom. 1:20; 2:1)

2. The whole world is accountable to God

B. Justification does not come by “works of the Law”

1. Justification by “faith alone”

a. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 5:8)

b. Rom. 3:28; Gal 2:16; Gal. 3:2, 5, 10-11

C. The Law’s purpose

1. Knowledge of Sin

a. Gal. 3:23-25; Ps. 119:142; Ps. 19:7

FOCUS VERSES

Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)

“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for god; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”

Psalm 14:1-3 (NASB)

“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 sinned and turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, no even one.”

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

1. If God is pursuing all of us, why don’t more people respond to Him?

2. Does God choose some to salvation and not others? If so, does that mean that God condemns some to eternal damnation?

3. To what message do people respond to - God’s love or God’s judgment?

4. How can someone who is spiritually dead respond to God’s love (the Gospel) without comprehending their sinful nature? How can they know or comprehend their sinful nature unless awakened from the spiritual stupor that all are in apart from God?