Romans 3:9-20
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.
Paul has made his argument that one way or another everyone is guilty of sin. He now goes on to back up his argument with the witness of scripture. It is good to use our power of reason but let our reasonings be guided and backstopped by the council of God found in the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16, “ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”
Paul stacks verses from Psalms and Ecclesiastes that corroborate his argument. It is all too easy to cherry pick a verse that sort-of says what we want to hear but Paul shows us that where we find a preponderance of evidence in scripture we can lean on scripture interpreting itself. Which is to say the important things in the Bible are easy to understand and often repeated.
Paul references Psalms 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1, 53:1-3, 140:3 and Ecclesiastes 7:20
If there were no law we would be arguably innocent no matter our intentions or actions or their consequences. However, everyone understands that some actions are forbidden like the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Knowledge of sin removes the possibility of innocence. Genesis 3:22, “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.”
The correct expression of our nature is to be in right relationship with God. Since sin cuts us off from God we need to be made right or justified. Justification begins with repentance.
Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
brotherpayne 