July 5, 2026, Morning Service
All Have Sinned
Pastor Greg Isom
We completed chapter two Paul brought us to the conclusion that it is not our outward actions that makes us right with God, but it is a matter of the heart. In this verse he uses the Jewish act of circumcision as an example:
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
It is not so much the outward actions, circumcision or even baptism, that justifies us with God, but it is our faith that Jesus truly is who He says He is. It is not so much the “what we do” as it is the “why we do it.” As we begin chapter 3, Paul continues to build his case that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Just as it is very unpleasant for any of us when the coach, teacher, parent, boss or spouse begins to give us a list of what we are doing wrong, this picture Paul is painting of all of us is also hard to take. Though hard to take, it is the truth and we need to know the truth to set us free. Realizing that we are a sinner in need of a Savior is the first step to salvation and transformation. We must see ourselves as we are; broken needing fixed, lost needing to be found. He begins looking at the fact that if the act of circumcision really has no effect on us spiritually, what advantage do the Jews have over the Gentiles?
Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? (2) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
Israel is God’s chosen people beginning with Abraham. God established an unending covenant with him and his descendants (Gen. 17:1-16) forever. Through Moses, they were given the Law which showed the unattainable level of perfection needed to “earn” salvation and exposing us to the need for a Savior. They are also the ones He chose to send the Messiah through, the Savior of all the world. However, all these blessing and privileges did not make them any better than anyone else in the world. It actually gave them a greater responsibility and accountability when they stand before God. Paul now asks if the Jews’, God chosen people, lack of faith in God injure His reputation.
Romans 3:3-8 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? (4) Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND MAY OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.” (5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) (6) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? (7) For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? (8) And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? —as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
Paul, in verse 4, quotes the Psalms 51 from when David repented of his multiple sins with his affair with Bathsheba. In taking ownership of these sinful acts, David proclaims that it is God who is holy, just and good and he is not. Sin has brough the king to a point of a “broken and contrite heart” which God can work with. Paul then asks what many say; if God gave us the ability and nature to sin, is He unjust is judging us for that? Should we continue to do evil (sin) that others will see the wonderful forgiveness of God? “Certainly not!” Paul now uses his great knowledge and understanding of the OT scriptures to defend this point. Here he quotes scriptures from Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Isaiah to make his case of justifying ourselves by looking at the sins of others as the Jews were doing (and we do).
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Romans 3:9-20 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (10) As it is written: “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. (12) THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.” (13) “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE PRACTICED DECEIT”; “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; (14)” WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.” (15) “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD; (16) DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR WAYS;
(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 says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Paul here paints a very clear, but unpleasant, picture of all of us. As we discussed in chapter 2, many of us wrongly tend to look down and judge others who are not walking as close to the Lord as we think we are. In looking down at others, we can deduce that we are not so bad of a person; we are better than most anyway. We lift up ourselves by tearing down others. But Paul here crushes that theory of justification. “None is righteous, no not one!” Think of that, the person you respect the most for their deep faith does not even come close to justifying themselves through their works. Look at the example of King David who was described as “a man after God’s own heart.” David was a liar, adulterer, and a murderer. Despite having a heart for God, he still is a sinner in need of a Savior. No one, except Jesus, has ever lived a life worthy of God’s calling and we only deceive ourselves when we think we can do it.
Verse 20 (read) summarizes both the purpose of the Law and a stark reality that we must accept. The Law reveals to us the knowledge of sin for us; clearly showing us that we are missing the mark of perfection. We must accept that there is nothing we can do (deeds) to justify, make ourselves acceptable, to God. By myself I am helpless, hopeless, and lost. BUT, God does not leave us in this state. He makes a way where there is no way.
Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Suddenly, Paul changes the whole appearance of the ugly picture he is painting by revealing to us God’s beautiful plan for us. He shows us we no longer have to lean on and trust ourselves to “earn” our salvation, but we can fully trust and believe that we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” This is the wonderful gift from God that he gives to us. Jesus’ death upon the cross and the shedding of His blood is the “propitiation” of His righteousness overcoming our sinfulness. In all of this it is made clear that God is the One who is “just and the justifier of the one (me) who has faith in Jesus.” I am a sinner in need of a Savior and Jesus is the One I need. I am saved through my faith in Him not the works that I do. Paul makes this very clear to close out this chapter.
Romans 3:27-31 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (29) Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, (30) since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (31) Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. Finally, Paul makes the point he has been building up to; “man is justified by faith apart form the deeds of the law.” Why would God choose to save us by faith alone? Faith eliminates the pride of human effort (Eph. 2:8-9). Faith exalts what God has done, not what we have done. Faith allows us to admit I cannot achieve justification nor salvation on my own showing us the need for a Savior. Finally, faith ignites within me a desire to create a relationship with the One who loves me enough to die in my place upon the cross. Once I understand that I am suffering from a terminal illness (sin) and He alone has the cure, I will run to Him and give myself totally over to Him. My heart will belong to Him and the love I will show Him will come from my inward true self. For God to change me and transform me into the person He created me to be, I must first come to the realization that I am broken, helpless, and hopeless and I need a Savior. To win in the end, I must first surrender myself to God.