Romans 3:9-20 - Outline and Summary

Paul ends this section of the letter with a Summary and a Conclusion regarding the sinfulness of man and of his inability to save himself by keeping God’s Law (Romans 3:9-20)

• Summary: Paul repeats the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. (Romans 3:9-18)

– In support of his charge (in verse 9) Paul cites Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3 and Ecclesiastes 7:20 which show that all are under the power of sin:

– As it is written:

• There is no one righteous, not even one;

• There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

• All have turned away, they have together become worthless;

• There is no one who does good, not even one. (Romans 3:10-12)

– Citing Psalm 5:9; 140:3; and 10:7 Paul shows that our speech is filled with sin which leads to death:

• Their throats are open graves;

• their tongues practice deceit

• The poison of vipers is on their lips.

• Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. (Romans 3:13-14)

– Citing Isaiah 59:7-8; and Psalm 36:1 Paul shows that our lives and hearts are dominated by sin:

• Their feet are swift to shed blood;

• Ruin and misery mark their ways,

• the way of peace they do not know.

• There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:15-18)

• Conclusion: No one will be justified (i.e., declared righteous or acquitted) in God’s sight by observing or keeping the law. (Romans 3:19-20)

– God has placed all men under some revelation of Law (either the law written on the heart or the law of Moses written in Scripture), “so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God” (Romans 3:19)

– “Therefore no one will be declared righteous [i.e., justified or acquitted] in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20)