August 14

Romans 3:19
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God”— Romans 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19).
IN choosing Israel from among the nations to be a special people unto Himself (Psa. 33:1212Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)) God had in view the blessing of the whole world (Gen. 12:2, 32And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:2‑3)). Moreover, in His dealings with that nation the entire world was on trial. To Israel He revealed Himself and made known His will, as He had done to no other people (Psa. 147:2020He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 147:20)). If they, under the most favorable circumstances, failed—as, alas, they did—then it became evident that there was no possibility that any people could or would of themselves prove obedient to His law. This is what Paul emphasizes in our present text. To Israel the law was given. Their failure to obey it (as a sample nation) demonstrated the sinfulness of all the world.
“Vain are the hopes which sons of men
On their own works have built;
Their hearts, by nature, all unclean;
Their lives make known their guilt.
Let Jew and Gentile stop their mouths
Without a murmuring word,
And the whole race of Adam stand
Guilty before the Lord.
But Lord, how glorious in Thy grace
When in Thy name we trust;
Through faith we have a righteousness
That makes the sinner just.”
—Anon