Romans 3:9-20

As a skillful prosecuting attorney the Apostle has laid out a strong argument for the sinfulness of all men.  Having called the witnesses creation, conscience and Scripture he has argued that mankind is inexcusable and justly stands condemned before their Creator.

·        All people can see God in creation (1:18-20).

·        All men turn away from the Creator to worship creation (1:21-23).

·        Their sinful lifestyles reflect this idolatry (1:24-32).

·        Therefore God will judge them in truth and justice (2:1-13).

·        Gentiles are judged for defying the law of conscience (2:14-16).

·        Jews are judged for defying the Law of Moses (2:17-3:8).

Paul is now ready for his closing argument.  Using a series of quotes from the Old Testament he shows the pervasiveness of this sin.  Again and again such terms as none, all and not one are used to declare all men to be depraved and that no part of man is free from the effects of that depravity.  The argument is in three parts.

•   Mankind is depraved in his character, v10-12.

This passage begins with righteousness and ends with goodness: mankind is empty of both.  You may question this, saying that almost all bad people have some good in them.  But the phrases in the middle explain the problem.  The good things men do are not done in a context of knowing or seeking God.  As was said in 1:21, although they knew God they did not glorify Him as God.  Man’s goodness is selfish, done for himself or for others or for some other reason other than to glorify god.  Verses 10-12 are quoted from Psalm 14 which begins, The fool has said in his heart there is no God.  In his heart men have turned from God.

•  Mankind is depraved in his communication, v13-14.

Jesus once said, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34).  That is seen here.  Paul notes that the evil character is heard in the evil word men speak.  Since their hearts are futile (1:21), though professing to be wise they became fools (1:22).  They exchange truth for a lie (1:25).  All this is behind a throat that is full of dead words.  We need to be willing to acknowledge this: any philosophy that stands against the picture painted in Rom. 1-3 is ultimately lifeless, deceitful, poisonous and slanders the Creator.

•  Mankind is depraved in his conduct, v15-18.

Of course evil character leads to a lifeless philosophy, and a lifeless philosophy leads to evil conduct.  We become what we are on the inside and what we think.  Bloodshed and misery aptly describe the ultimate path of mankind and his myriad attempts at creating workable societies.  Even God’s chosen nation shows this truth: when they no longer feared God (3:18) they were destroyed.

Having made his case it’s as if Paul sat back for the rebuttal argument from the defense.  But as 3:19-20 says, every mouth is stopped.  There is no excuse.  All the world is guilty.  No flesh is justified (declared righteous) in the sight of the Judge.  The law has done its job, revealing the sinfulness of all mankind.