Scripture Reading: Romans 3:9-20
This paragraph in Romans forms the climax of the argument of the first major section of the book. The thrust of the first section of Romans is that the entire human race stands guilty before a holy God. The pagan man is guilty (Rom 1:18-32); the moral man is guilty (Rom 2:1-16); the Jewish man is guilty (Rom 2:17-29).
What we have in Romans 3:10-20 is a string of Old Testament quotations which, in unambiguous statements, concludes that every human being stands guilty before God’s awesome judgment. "None is righteous, no, not one; . . . no one does good, not even one" (Rom 3:10,12). So overwhelming is God’s evidence of our rebellion that this passage asserts that on judgment day every tongue will be silent and every mouth closed (Rom 3:19). The guilty will not have a valid defense to offer the Judge.
The implications of this section in Romans are far reaching. If we take this passage to heart and see ourselves in its assertions, it shatters our self-righteous tendencies and works in our hearts a deep humility. It drives us to Christ in passionate devotion and love and delight because of His provision for our helpless lives and souls. The mercy of God in Christ is all the more sweet in light of our desperately sinful hearts. Let us run to Jesus for His mercy and His righteousness. He is our only hope in the great day of judgment.
