All Under Sin

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 

Romans 3:9 

Paul labors powerfully to prepare the ground for planting the gospel. To that end he addresses every conceivable excuse and thoroughly closes every loophole. In the first few verses of chapter three he shows the benefits of the revelation the Jews had received and how even with those benefits in hand they had not made best use of them. He also addresses the excuse that evil behavior more thoroughly highlights God’s truth. By the time he has arrived at our text he begins to thoroughly summarize his argument. To state it briefly, no one escapes condemnation. We may ask, why is all this condemnation necessary? Why does he go to such lengths to call out everyone? The answer lies in our nature. We are, by nature, self-justifying. We invariably make ourselves the exception. Even if we concede some error or moral defect of which we are guilty, our next remark is, ‘but at least I have never…’and then cite something someone else does that we consider to be morally worse. Paul is closing every escape. If we retain any shred of self-righteousness we will not fly to Christ. We will continue to attempt to robe ourselves in the filthy rags of our own imagined goodness. The good news that Paul brings to us is that through Christ there is no more condemnation.  

Our Good and Gracious God, 
we rejoice that You know all about us. 
We praise You that You have provided Christ 
to meet our every need.