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 lips to deceive; the venom of asps is under their lips; in their mouths are curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and destruction, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
I titled this post "ALMOST out of the woods" because verses 19-20 of this chapter wraps up some of the most depressing portion of the Bible. Paul has systematically condemned the Hedonistic Gentiles, the Moralist and the Jew in perfect manner and has made it painfully and perfectly clear that none are in good standing before God.
The Gentiles who did not know God, but worshiped idols instead are under condemnation. The Moralist who condemns the Gentile, yet sins himself is under condemnation. The Jew who has the knowledge of the Law and Circumcision, but has not obeyed God from the heart is under condemnation. Finally, in a condemning crescendo, he states that NONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE.
It is important to note at this point that God did not have to speak. He could have kept His mouth shut, leaving us to grope in the dark for idols. Even in speaking, He did not have to speak grace and mercy to condemned men and women. Romans could have begun at 1:18 and just as easily ended at Romans 3:20. He owed us no knowledge of Himself and in giving us knowledge (of His own free will, not by compulsion in anyway) He did not have to speak grace and mercy to us through Jesus Christ. The word given to us is not simply an amazing gift, but the most amazing gift that God could have given to sinful humanity. May all love this word!
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