THE WHOLE WORLD NEEDS THE GOSPEL

Romans 3:9-20

Conclusion

We have been looking at the three basic divisions of humanity as seen in the Epistle to the Roman. In chapter one we’ve seen that the Heathen are guilty before God. In chapter 2:1-16 the Hypocrite is guilty and in 2:17-3:8, the Hebrew is guilty and needs the Gospel. Now in 3:9-20 we learn that all of mankind is guilty before a holy and righteous God. The description given in this section is what theologians call total depravity. Total depravity may defined in the following way: Total depravity doesn’t mean that man is as bad as he can be – rather that man is as bad off as he can be. It means that original sin has intruded into all of humanity through the fall and original sin has pervaded every part of every person, man woman and child – so that there is no part of an individual that is untouched by adamic sin. Let’s take a look at this passage.

The Evidence of Universal Guilt - verses 9-18.

The statement of the fact – v.9. “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin”. In other words, the entire human race is under the penalty and power of Adam’s sin.

The Scriptural Proof – vs. 10-18. The following characteristics taken from the Old Testament confirm this fact. One writer has given us the following enlightening statement: “A cluster of Scripture passages is now presented to corroborate the evidence which supports the charge that all men are under sin (Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa. 59:7,8; Ps.36:1). Herein is a composite picture of all humanity. This does not mean that all these sins appear in each individual, but they do appear somewhere within the human family. And if men were allowed to go on, in the course of time each sin would appear in each individual. A fourfold picture of human depravity unfolds at this point.”

Mankind is depraved in CHARACTER - vs. 10-12.

• As seen in the absence of righteousness - v.10. “There is none righteous, not even one.” Humanity is condemned in their own self-righteousness. They lack the quality of righteousness required by God to measure up to His holy standard. This fact leads to the following:

• As seen in the lack of true understanding - v. 11. “There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.” The natural man doesn’t perceive nor understand spiritual phenomena. This is confirmed in I Corinthians 2:14. “For the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” The natural man doesn’t have the Holy Spirit – cf. Jude 18,19, Romans 8:9.

• As seen in their alienation of God from their lives – v. 12. “All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one.” Humanity has ruled the God of the Bible completely out of their life. They want nothing to do with Him or His Word.

Mankind is depraved in COMMUNICATION – vs. 13,14. “Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Dr. Herman Hoyt reminds us that the description of man’s condition reaches deeper than at first meets the eye. Corruption, deceitfulness, uncharitableness, and blasphemy are all exhibited in the speech of mankind. And these must all be traced to the inner source of the heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Mankind is depraved in their CONDUCT - vs. 15-17. “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known.” The conduct of humanity affirms their heart condition. This seems to be directed to their fellow man.

Mankind is depraved in their CONTEMPTIBILITY toward God – v.18. "There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Man, it is evident, does not fear God. This stresses the lack of wisdom resident in humanity for Proverbs tells us, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”

The Edict of Universal Guilt - verses 19, 20. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

The final verdict - v.19. Paul has already spoken to the heathen and to the hypocrite and now he speaks to those under the law in order that no one escapes the charges contained within the holy law of God. No one has a valid protest. The whole world stands condemned before God.

In verse 20 there is a two-fold function of the law:

• It provides a restriction –IT CANNOT JUSTIFY - v.20a. It is obvious that no one can be declared righteous by the Law.

• It provides a revelation- IT REVEALS SIN – v.20b. By the law is a knowledge of sin. The law acts as a mirror to show man what he is like when measured by God’s Holy standard.

In our next pen pulpit we move to the next phase of God’s revelation in the book of Romans - His wonderful salvation and deliverance through His Son, Jesus Christ.

God bless.