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. Romans 3:9-20
A. Human Condition Defined
- All under sin’s dominion
Rom. 3:9, Rom. 6:14, Gal. 3:21-22
2. All under sin’s consequences: Total depravity
Ps. 14:1-3, Ps. 53:1-3, Eccl. 7:20
– Morally destitute heart
Rom. 3:10, Matt. 15:16-20, Prov. 4:23, Ezek. 36:25-27
– Corrupt mind
Rom. 3:11, Gen. 6:5, Eph. 4:17-18, Rom. 1:38, 1 Cor. 1:18-21
– Captive will
Rom. 3:11b-12, Eph. 2:1-3, 2 Tim. 2:24-26, Luke 4:16-19
B. Human Condition Described
- Ungodliness in our speech
Rom. 3:13-14
- Ungodliness in our actions
Rom. 3:15-17
C. The Chief Cause of the Human Condition
Rom. 3:18
D. The Final Word on the Human Condition by the Law
Rom. 3:19-20
- God’s Law and human accountability
Rom. 3:19
- God’s Law and necessary knowledge
Rom. 3:20