Case Closed

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.- Romans 3:1‭-‬20 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

All mankind is justly deserving of God's wrath. Regardless of whether we are religious or irreligious, we all deserve wrath.

Case closed: mouths closed

Paul is trying to make a case that both Jews and gentiles were guilty. He wants to address anyone who would make any excuse. He addresses the Jews and the the law and the circumcision. These advantages do not save us from our guilt before God. Man is under the dominion of sin. It is not just things that we do. Because of this dominion, all our desires are twisted and turned from God. We should have a reverent love for God. Rather we want to run away.

Open hands, open hearts

We are justified by nothing other than Jesus and our faith in Him. It is only the grace of God that saves. We only need to acknowledge our need for salvation and turn to Jesus. The only thing that stands in the way is our "good works", our self delusion.