Romans 3:9-20 Lesson 289

Romans 3:9-20
Lesson 289

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The wicked.

We are all sinners.

Paul summarizes his point on mankind's condemnation begun in verse 1:18 (lesson 286).

Freed from the bondage of sin.

By American illustrator Ron DiCianni.

Study Tip:

The more we know about the Mosaic Law and the Old Covenant, the more we understand the New Testament. Always click on the links to the Old Testament passages; they are a vital tool that helps us understand God's eternal plan for mankind.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

The King James Bible

Romans 3:9-20
None are righteous

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used 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 have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them 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 there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Margin notes:

"They are all under sin." (3:9) - We are all guilty of sin (Galatians 3:22).

"As it is written, There is none righteous." (3:10) - It is written in Psalm 14:1-3, 52:2-4, and 53:1-3. No one is righteous. Everyone has sinned. To refresh your memory on this important point, re-read verses 1:18-2:24.

"They are together become unprofitable." (3:12) - "They are fruitless."

"Their throat is an open sepulchre." (3:13) - "Their throat is like an open grave." Paraphrased from Psalm 5:9.

"The poison of asps is under their lips." (3:13) - From Psalm 140:3.

"Whose mouth is full of cursing." (3:14) - Quoted from Psalm 10:7.

"Their feet are swift to shed blood...not known" (3:15-17) - Paraphrased from Proverbs 1:16 and Isaiah 59:7-8.

"Destruction and misery are in their ways." (3:16) - Mankind reaps destruction and misery whenever they follow their own path.

"There is no fear of God before their eyes." (3:18) - Paraphrased from Psalm 36:1. Paul cleverly uses the Old Testament quotes in this segment to show that all have sinned.

"Law." (3:19) - A reference to the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament.

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." (3:20) - No one is saved by trying to obey the Mosaic Law (Psalm 143:2; Galatians 2:16). As the Bible repeatedly tells us, it is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us (Galatians 3:11).

"For by the law is the knowledge of sin." (3:20) - The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to show us how sinful we are and that we needed a savior. Without the Law, we would not know what sin was (Romans 4:15; 7:7).

New Living Translation

Romans 3:9-20
All People Are Sinners

9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.

10 As the Scriptures say,

"No one is righteous-
      not even one.

11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.

12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one."

13 "Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
      Their tongues are filled with lies."
   "Snake venom drips from their lips."

14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

15 "They rush to commit murder.

16 Destruction and misery always follow them.

17 They don't know where to find peace."

18 "They have no fear of God at all."

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. If no one can obey the Mosaic Law, why did God give it to Moses? (3:19-20)

Study the Bible each day; it has much to teach us.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The purpose of the Mosaic Law was twofold;

1) To teach God's moral standards and to prepare the world for Jesus. ("The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" Galatians 3:24).

2) To show humanity how sinful we are and how impossible it is to attain God's perfect standards ("for by the law is the knowledge of sin." verse 3:20).

We can never meet the standards set by God, but they give us insight into what life in heaven will be like, a life with no sin, no war, no jealousy, lust, greed, lying, killing, hate, etc.

Application thought for the day:

All humanity is guilty of sin.
Without God's saving grace, we would live without hope.
Contemplate the universality of sin and God's great capacity to forgive.
Confess your sins and ask God's help in resisting future temptation.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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