GETTING STARTED
“None is righteous, no, not one…” Really? But surely that doesn’t include me, right? I’m not as bad as (fill in the blank). And, at least I don’t do (fill in another blank). We try to make ourselves feel better by comparing ourselves to others, most often to those whose behaviors seem so much worse than ours. But “none” means none. There is no room for comparison, no room for self-righteousness, and no room for excuses. We don’t just sin by what we do or don’t do; we are sinful from our head to our toes.
- How hard is it for you to admit that you are a sinner? Do you find yourself making excuses for your behavior while condemning that of others?
READ THE WORD: ROMANS 3:9-20 (ESV)
9 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, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
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 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. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- What is the condition of both the Jews and Gentiles (vs. 9)?
- Which parts of the body are mentioned, and how are they each described (vss. 13-18)?
- What is the purpose of the law (vs. 20)?
- Think of times when you became aware of sin in your own life because of
knowing God’s Word and his law. How did you respond?
RESPOND TO GOD
These are hard words to hear, yet they show us the seriousness of our sin. Verse 19 says, “so that every mouth will be stopped.” Perhaps that’s just what we need: for our mouths to be shut, and to be speechless as we realize that we are no better than anyone else. The good news is that, unlike some diseases that have no cure and no hope for recovery, there is a remedy for our sinful selves: God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness given through his son, Jesus.
- Spend some time asking God to search your heart and show you sin that you might be justifying, or not even aware of.
- Confess those sins to him and thank him for his great gifts of forgiveness and grace.