All People Are Sinners: The Testimony of Scripture and the Purpose and Limitation of the Law
Romans 3:9–20 (NLT)
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Message
I. The Universal Sinfulness of Humanity (9–18)
After Romans 1:18-3:8, Paul concludes that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin (9b). To truly understand the depth of our sin, we must look into the law, because the law reveals God’s standard and exposes how far we fall short of it. Verses 10b-17 provide scriptural support for this conclusion.
The following is provided to assist readers in further self-study by showing how Paul’s argument in Romans 3:10–18 is grounded in earlier Scripture.
Verses 10b-13 (NLT) are derived from Psalm 14:1-4, 53:1-3.
Verses 10b-13 (NLT):
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
Psalm 14:1–3 (NLT):
1 Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
2 The Lord looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one!
Psalm 53:1-3 (NLT) is identical to Psalm 14:1-3 (NLT).
Verse 13a is same to the 2nd half of Psalm 5:9 (NLT).
Verse 13 a:
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
Psalm 5:9 (NLT):
My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.
Verse 13 b is from Psalm 140:3 (NLT).
Verse 13b:
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
Psalm 140:3 (NLT)
Their tongues sting like a snake;
the venom of a viper drips from their lips.
Verse 14 is same to the 1st half of Psalm 10:7 (NLT)
Verse 14:
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Psalm 10:7 (NLT):
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
Verses 15-17 are from Isaiah 59:7-8 (NLT).
Verses 15-17:
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
Isaiah 59:7–8 (NLT):
7 Their feet run to do evil,
and they rush to commit murder.
They think only about sinning.
Misery and destruction always follow them.
8 They don’t know where to find peace
or what it means to be just and good.
They have mapped out crooked roads,
and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.
Verse 18 is the 2nd half of Psalm 36:1 (NLT).
Verse 18:
“They have no fear of God at all.”
Psalm 36:1 (NLT):
Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
They have no fear of God at all.
Old Testament Sources of Romans 3:10b–18
| Romans Passage (NLT) | Quotation / Theme | Old Testament Source (NLT) | Relationship |
| Romans 3:10b–12 | “No one is righteous… No one does good, not a single one.” | Book of Psalms 14:1–3 | Direct quotation |
| Psalm 53:1–3 | Identical to Psalm 14:1–3 | ||
| Romans 3:13a | “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” | Psalm 5:9 (second half) | Direct quotation |
| Romans 3:13b | “Snake venom drips from their lips.” | Psalm 140:3 | Direct quotation |
| Romans 3:14 | “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” | Psalm 10:7 (first half) | Direct quotation |
| Romans 3:15–17 | “They rush to commit murder… They don’t know where to find peace.” | Book of Isaiah 59:7–8 | Condensed quotation |
| Romans 3:18 | “They have no fear of God at all.” | Psalm 36:1 (second half) | Direct quotation |
II. The Purpose and Limitation of the Law (19–20)
See verses 19-20.
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
James 2:10 (NLT) says,
10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
Therefore, “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.” (20a) The law shows the entire world is guilty before God (19b) and how sinful we are (20b). Romans 7:7, 8:3 also support what verse 20 says.
Romans 7:7 (NLT)
7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
Romans 8:3 (NLT)
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
The only true source of righteousness and salvation is God’s grace through faith in Christ (Romans 3:22).
