Gospel Prayer Ministry

📖 Passage

Romans 3:1–20
Read Romans 3:1–20 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

In Romans 3:1–20 Paul brings his opening argument to its climax: no one, Jew or Gentile, is righteous before God. After redefining true Jewish identity in 2:28–29, Paul anticipates objections. If circumcision and heritage cannot secure salvation, does being a Jew still have value? Paul affirms that it does—Israel was entrusted with the “oracles of God,” the Scriptures. Yet possession of the Law does not cancel Israel’s unfaithfulness nor exempt them from judgment. In fact, their unfaithfulness highlights God’s faithfulness, though Paul rejects any suggestion that this excuses sin. He then declares that both Jews and Gentiles are “under sin,” subject to its power and guilt. To prove the universality of sin, Paul strings together quotations from the Psalms and Isaiah, describing human corruption in mind, speech, and action. The conclusion is devastating: “none is righteous, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1–3; 53:1–3). The Law, rather than providing a path of righteousness, exposes sin and silences every excuse, leaving “the whole world accountable to God.” In the Greco-Roman world, Jews prided themselves on possessing the Law, while Gentiles boasted of their philosophy and wisdom. Paul sweeps both away—God’s judgment is impartial, and the Law’s purpose is not to justify but to reveal guilt. This section lays the foundation for the gospel’s necessity: before Paul proclaims the righteousness of God revealed in Christ (3:21–26), he shows the hopelessness of humanity apart from grace.

🌿 Key Themes

God’s Faithfulness – Israel’s unbelief does not annul God’s covenant promises.
Universal Sinfulness – Jew and Gentile alike are under the power of sin.
Scripture’s Witness – The Old Testament testifies to man’s corruption and lack of righteousness.
The Law’s Role – Not to justify but to expose sin and silence every mouth.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Romans 3:1 — The Advantage of the Jew

“Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?”

Paul anticipates the Jewish objection: if true Jewishness is inward, what benefit remains for Israel?
The question reflects the tension between covenant privilege and covenant responsibility.

Romans 3:2 — Entrusted with God’s Word

“Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.”

Israel’s chief privilege was being given the “oracles of God”—the Scriptures.
Possessing God’s Word was a sacred stewardship, but it heightened accountability.

Romans 3:3 — God’s Faithfulness Despite Human Failure

“What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?”

Israel’s unfaithfulness does not cancel God’s covenant faithfulness.
Human failure cannot overturn divine promises.

Romans 3:4 — God’s Righteousness Upheld

“By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ‘That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.’”

God’s truthfulness stands even if every man is false.
Paul quotes Psalm 51:4, showing that God is justified in His judgments against human sin.
David’s confession demonstrates that sin magnifies God’s righteousness.

Romans 3:5 — The Human Objection Raised

“But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)”

Paul raises a rhetorical objection: if sin highlights God’s righteousness, is it unfair for Him to judge?
He quickly distances himself, clarifying this is human reasoning, not divine truth.

Romans 3:6 — God’s Justice Defended

“By no means! For then how could God judge the world?”

God’s justice is essential. If sin excused judgment, He could not be the righteous Judge of all.

Romans 3:7 — The Absurdity of Excusing Sin

“But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?”

Another objection: if sin somehow magnifies God’s glory, why should the sinner be condemned?
Paul shows the absurdity of excusing sin on theological grounds.

Romans 3:8 — Twisting Grace into License

“And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.”

Paul rejects the twisted logic that grace permits evil.
Accusations that he promoted sin for God’s glory were false.
To deliberately distort God’s truth is worthy of judgment.

Romans 3:9 — All Under Sin

“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.”

Paul concludes that Jews have no moral superiority.
The universal problem: “all… are under sin”.
Both religious privilege and pagan ignorance leave humanity guilty before God.

Romans 3:10–12 — None Righteous, None Seeking God

“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.’”

Paul quotes Psalm 14:1–3 and Psalm 53:1–3 to prove the universality of sin.
Human corruption affects mind, will, and actions.
The language is absolute: “no one,” not even one.

Romans 3:13–14 — Corrupted Speech

“‘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.’”

Paul strings together citations (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7) to show sin’s corruption of speech.
Words reveal the death and poison of a sinful heart.

Romans 3:15–17 — Corrupted Conduct

“‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.’”

Humanity is violent and destructive by nature.
These verses echo Isaiah 59:7–8.
Instead of peace, man leaves a trail of ruin.

Romans 3:18 — No Fear of God

“‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”

Quoting Psalm 36:1, Paul identifies the root of sin: the absence of reverence for God.
Without the fear of God, moral corruption flourishes unchecked.

Romans 3:19 — The Whole World Guilty

“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.”

The Law addresses Israel but its verdict extends to all humanity.
Its function is not to justify but to silence excuses and expose guilt.

Romans 3:20 — The Law Reveals Sin, Not Righteousness

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

The Law cannot justify—its role is to reveal sin.
Attempting salvation by law-keeping is futile; it exposes guilt rather than removes it.
This verse sets up Paul’s announcement of justification by faith apart from the Law in vv. 21–26.

🔍 Trusted Insight

“The law is meant to stop every mouth. It is not meant to give men something to talk about, but to shut their mouths. It is meant to lead them to say nothing but just to stand before God convicted and guilty.” – Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon’s insight captures the crushing effect of the Law: it does not flatter, but convicts, preparing the way for the Gospel.

Summary: The Law exposes sin, silences pride, and proves humanity’s universal need for the righteousness of God in Christ.

🧩 Review Questions

🔍 Definitions

Oracles of God – The revealed Word of God entrusted to Israel.
Justified – Declared righteous before God.
Universal Sinfulness – The teaching that all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike, are under the power of sin.
Fear of God – Reverent awe and submission before the Lord, lacking in fallen humanity.
Righteousness (Romans 3:5, 10) — God’s perfect moral purity and justice. In Romans, it also points to the status of being right before God — something no one naturally possesses.

🙋 Application Questions

Do I still cling to a sense of personal righteousness, or has the Law silenced my boasting?
How does knowing all are under sin shape the way I view unbelievers?
In what ways does this passage prepare my heart to treasure Christ’s righteousness?

🔤 Greek Keywords

Logia (λόγια) – “Oracles,” referring to God’s sacred words and promises.
Dikaioō (δικαιόω) – “To justify, declare righteous.” Not to make righteous inherently, but to pronounce as righteous.
Hamartia (ἁμαρτία) – “Sin,” missing the mark, rebellion against God.
Phobos (φόβος) – “Fear,” used in verse 18 of reverence toward God.

📚 Cross References

Psalm 51:4 — God is justified when He judges.
Isaiah 59:7–8 — Their feet run to evil, shedding innocent blood.
Psalm 14:1–3 — None is righteous, none seeks God.
Galatians 3:22–24 — The Law imprisons everything under sin.
James 2:10 — Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of all. of all.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Romans 3:21–31

Romans 3:1-20 - God's Righteous Judgment and the Law