All the World is Guilty Before God
Chap. 3: 9-20—Paul now draws a conclusion to the foregoing. He asks, "What then? Are we (Jews) better than they (Gentiles)?" He answers his own question, "No, in no wise" (vs. 9a). In this statement, he reduces the three sectors of the human race to one common denominator—they are all sinners. From this point forward in his charge, he no longer views the race in three parts, but the race as a whole, and addresses them as such in verses 9-20.
The Charge
Vs. 9b—Paul continues to use the imagery of a courtroom scene, and brings a formal charge against the whole human race—"They are all under sin." He says, “We have before proved...” but the word "proved" (KJV) is not exactly the right translation here. The word in the Greek means "to lay charge against," and should be translated, "We have before charged..." "Before" is referring to the sum of what he has stated in the first couple of chapters of the epistle. "Under sin" not only refers to being under sin's guilt, but also under sin's dominion and sin's just judgment.
The Indictment
In verses 10-18, we see sinful man at the bar of divine justice being charged under 14 counts.
• "There is none righteous, no not one" (vs. 10). This shows that man in his natural state has no righteousness of his own.
• "There is none that understandeth" (vs. 11a). This shows that the mind of man is broken through sin and is now incapable of comprehending divine subjects (1 Cor. 2:14).
• "There is none that seeketh after God" (vs. 11b). This shows that man's will is bad; he does not want a relationship with God.
• "They are all gone out of the way" (vs. 12a). This shows that man has transgressed from God's way and is far from Him.
• They are together become unprofitable" (vs. 12b). This shows that men in their fallen state cannot be used for the purpose for which they were created.
• "There is none that doeth good, no not one" (vs. 12c). This is speaking of the general course of human life; it is not speaking of isolated acts of kindness that men might do occasionally.
• "Their throat is an open sepulchre" (vs. 13a). This statement has to do with man's language being bad; corruption and defilement pour out of his mouth like the stench that comes out of an open grave (sepulchre).
• "With their tongues they have used deceit" (vs. 13b). The motives behind much of what men say are corrupt.
• "The poison of asps in under their lips" (vs. 13c). Man's words can also be vindictive.
• "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness" (vs. 14). Man's words can be full of hatred.
• "Their feet are swift to shed blood" (vs. 15). The tendency of human life has been toward violence—wars and civil strife have abounded throughout history.
• "Destruction and misery are in their ways" (vs. 16). Much of the trouble and sorrow in this world has come upon men because of their own evil ways.
• "The way of peace have they not known" (vs. 17). As a result of man's sin, the world has never known real peace.
• "There is no fear [respect] of God before their eyes" (vs. 18). The human race as a whole lives without reference to God and without reverential fear of Him.
A Threefold Summary of the Indictment
• Vss. 10-12 What man is—depraved in character (his way).
• Vss. 13-14 What man says—depraved in conversation (his words).
• Vss. 15-18 What man does—depraved in conduct (his works).
Thus, Paul has not only laid charges before God against the whole human race concerning its guilt, but he has also proved—with 14 counts—that the charges are true! (These points regarding man's depravity are quotations from seven Old Testament Scriptures—Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 50:19; Psalm 10:7; Isaiah 59:7-8; Psalm 36:1).
Chap. 3:19—Paul concludes by saying, "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." His point here is that when God gave the Law to Israel, He was using Israel as a sample of the whole human race. When the Law proved Israel to be in total failure, God rightly concluded that all (both Jews and Gentiles) have fallen short of His holy standards. This is predicated on Paul's use of the word "that." The things which the Law said to Israel about their failure, implicated the whole world as guilty. W. Macdonald illustrated this point by saying, "It is the same as when a health inspector takes a test-tube of water from a well, and tests the water and finds it polluted; he then pronounces the entire well polluted." If the Law has proven Israel to have fallen short, it has proved that all in the human race have fallen short.
The Verdict
Thus, following the courtroom imagery that Paul has been using, opportunity—so to speak—is given for those under the charge to make their defense. However, the evidence is so overwhelmingly against all mankind that "every mouth" is "stopped" and all the world stands "guilty before God."
Chap. 3:20—Having been proven guilty, the accused may think that he can appeal the verdict on the grounds of his (supposed) good works of law-keeping. But Paul counters this by showing that there is no chance of appeal on that basis, because "by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight." Job also condemns any attempt of self-justification before God. He says, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse" (Job 9:20).
This leads Paul to make one last remark concerning the purpose of the Law. He says, "For by the Law is the knowledge of sin." To clear up any misunderstandings, he states that the Law was not given to men so that they could justify themselves, but that they would have "the knowledge of sin." When it is applied to men as God's holy standard, it bears witness to the fact that all men are thoroughly ruined sinners. Similarly, a carpenter will use a level to establish a straight line, from which he will build a project. In establishing a level plane, he can determine whether the other components that he is working with are true, by comparing them to the straight line. Again, a mirror is useful to see whether our faces are dirty, but it cannot wash our dirty faces; it was not made for that purpose. Hence, the Law has been given to convict men of their sins and help them to see their sinfulness more clearly (chap. 5:20). It cannot, and never was intended to, save men from the judgment of their sins.