As people, each one of us is uniquely different from everyone else. We have our individual likes and dislikes. We have our own ways of thinking. We do things differently than others do. We have different talents and abilities. We have different physical characteristics. Some of us are tall, others short. We have different colors of skin, eyes and hair. Not only that, we speak different languages and come from different cultures. We have many other differences as well. When we view mankind as a whole, we see an infinite variety.
However, there is one way, regardless of our different abilities, temperaments, cultures and ways of thinking, in which everyone is exactly the same. Each one of us has violated or has failed to live up to God’s standards. God calls our rebellion and failure, sin. Sin separates us from fellowship with God.
In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul points out that this condition of separation between God and man is not limited to those who do not have God’s Law. No, the Jews also, to whom God gave His Law, are also separated from God because they failed to keep it. To drive the point home, Paul quotes several passages from the Old Testament Scriptures. In chapter 3, verses 9 through 20 he writes, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.” “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”; “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. The way of peace, they haven’t known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of 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 Jews boasted that they were better than other peoples because God had given them the Law of Moses. No doubt the Law gave the Jews many advantages and blessings. However, the Jews came under condemnation as sinners, just like everyone else, when they failed to keep the Law. Their boast was nullified by their disobedience.
In what ways have people become sinners? Paul lists 14 statements taken from various places in the Old Testament to substantiate that everyone has sinned.
“There is no one righteous; no, not one.” What this means is that there is no one who has conformed to God’s standards. God made us in His image, yet we do not display the character of God as we should.
“There is no one who understands.” Though it is impossible for a creature to fully comprehend his Creator, God reveals enough of Himself to us so that we can recognize Him. However, as Paul already said in chapter 1, verse 18 of this letter, we have chosen to suppress the truth about God. We do not understand because we have chosen not to understand. As other Scriptures point out, we are ignorant of God because we have hardened our hearts against Him.
“There is no one who seeks after God.” Instead of trying to restore our broken relationship with God, like Adam after he sinned, we try to hide from God.
“They have all turned aside.” God has shown us the way, yet we have chosen to turn from it.
“They have together become unprofitable.” God created us for a purpose. However, we have not fulfilled that purpose. We have become useless to God.
“There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.” At the time of creation, God declared that mankind was good. Unfortunately, we have become evil by not practicing what is good.
The next statements describe our talk and how we use our voices. “Their throat is an open tomb.” Graves contain decay. They give off a bad odor. All too often our words are putrid and vile. As Jesus said, our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts.
“With their tongues they have used deceit.” Our words should instruct and guide. Instead, we use words to mislead, lie and deceive.
“The poison of vipers is under their lips;” We should use our words to build others up and encourage them. But we destroy others with false accusations and gossip.
“whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” God made our mouths to give praise and to sing in worship. Instead we use our voices to condemn, curse, grumble and complain.
The next statements highlight deeds, which are often an outgrowth of our speech. “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” All we need to do is look around us to see that people delight in killing.
“Destruction and misery are in their ways.” In our selfishness, we do not care how we hurt others as long as we get what we want.
“The way of peace, they haven’t known.” We do not know how to live in harmony with others, and we do not have peace in our own hearts. We try to fill the void with things and activities rather than let God’s Spirit fill us with His peace and joy.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The root problem behind all sin is that we do not have a proper view of God. We put ourselves and our desires on an equality with Him.
In summary, all of us, whether Jew or non-Jew, have violated God’s laws. And, once we have become sinners, we cannot become righteous again by keeping His Law in the future. Keeping the Law does not repair the violations we have already committed.
If the Law of Moses cannot save, then what was the purpose of it? Paul writes that it was to make us conscious of sin. We cannot know what is right and wrong unless we are told. We can’t understand the need of salvation if we aren’t conscious of being lost.