Summary: All people (3:9-20)

Rom 3:9 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.

Rom 3:10 As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous—not even one. Rom 3:11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. Rom 3:12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one."

Life Application New Testament Commentary

The phrase no one is seeking God is from Psa_14:2. Seeking is a way of expressing what is most important to us. This kind of seeking means training ourselves to turn to God first for help, to fill our thoughts with his desires, to take his character for our pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. The phrase all have turned away from God; all have gone wrong is from Psa_14:3. The failure to seek God does not leave a person immobilized; rather, it sets him or her on a course of destruction. Whatever does not include the seeking of God ends up leading people in the wrong direction.

Rom 3:13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." Rom 3:14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." Rom 3:15 “They rush to commit murder. Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery always follow them. Rom 3:17 They don't know where to find peace." Rom 3:18 “They have no fear of God at all."

From Psa_10:7 comes the picture of sinful people’s mouths full of cursing and bitterness. There are few movies made today that I would have been allowed to watch when I was young, Television allows the lord’s name to be taken in vain all day. How sad it must be to God as his creation here in America slowly slips into oblivion.  

Isaiah 59:7-8 New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.
They pursue evil schemes;
    acts of violence mark their ways.
⁸ The way of peace they do not know;
    there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
    no one who walks along them will know peace.

Does that verse remind you of Isis? There is no peace with them or for that matter in many parts of the world. We believe in peace through strength. How wonderful it would be if there was peace everywhere.

3:18 Quoting from Psa_36:1, Paul states the bottom line condition of these people: they have no fear of God to restrain them. For many Americans they do not fear God. At best God is an afterthought. Now many worry more about next meal, next date, next car, next trip next? If we knew God well enough we could give him all out nexts.

Rom 3:19 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. Rom 3:20 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.

This verses are defeating at best. It is like a greased pole and we are supposed to climb up it. Thank God that he send Jesus Christ to intercede on our behalf.