v9 – “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.”
--Paul is beginning to conclude his argument of the guilt of humanity for the sins committed against God. He continues with the message that all men are equally guilty before God of being wicked and sinful (“Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.”) Like he has discussed already, the Jews receive no preferential treatment because of their standing as the ones entrusted with the Law (v2, v5-6). They are guilty like the Gentiles, and so will deservedly receive punishment like the Gentiles.
--What follows this verse is Paul’s evidence of the whole world’s guilt before God. He begins by saying that “There is no one righteous, not even one” (v10b), including the Jews. In verses 11-18, Paul gives examples of how all men are wicked and sinful. These quotes come from Psalms and Isaiah, which is no small thing because He used their own Scriptures, with which they were entrusted, to prove they were in fact sinful. “In these verses (Rom. 3:10-18), Paul left no basis whatsoever for Jewish readers to say that his point that Jews were sinners contradicts the Old Testament” (Wolvoord 450).
--His condemnation of all men can be broken down into three actions: talking (v13-14 = “throats . . . tongues . . . lips . . . mouths”), conduct (v15-17 = “feet”), and seeing (v18 = “eyes”). He sums up all the actions and sin in one statement: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (v18). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10). “Fearing God (i.e., reverencing Him by worship, trust, obedience and service) is the essence of a godly person” (Wolvoord 450).
--Paul has made quite a complete case of condemnation against all of humanity. We all have committed evil, and so we all stand guilty before the Lord. We all are equally sinful before the Lord, Jews and Gentiles, Christians and non-Christians. We must be careful not to become self-righteous or think ourselves better than non-believers, for we have committed evil just like them. We have been set free of the penalty of that sin because of the grace of God through faith, but it is not because of anything we have done.
--“The best way to close this section would be to ask a simple question: Has your mouth ever been stopped? Are you boasting of your own self-righteousness and defending yourself before God? If so, then perhaps you have never been saved by God’s grace. It is only when we stand silent before Him as sinners that He can save us. As long as we defend ourselves and commend ourselves, we cannot be saved by God’s grace. The whole world is guilty before God—and that includes you and me” (Wiersbe 41).
--It is my prayer for us that this section of Scripture will remind us of what it is that we deserve because of our sin: God’s wrath. And that we will be thankful that the book of Romans doesn’t end here, but goes on to words of salvation. The story doesn’t end with God pouring out His wrath on all people, for in His infinite love and grace He has decided to offer salvation by pouring out His wrath on Himself and offering us life eternal instead. To Him be all praise glory and honor for ever and ever.
