GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, Ron Ward
NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS
Passage: Romans 3:9~20  
Key verse: 10,11
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(A) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(B) 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[a](C)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[b](D)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c](E)
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d](F)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e](G)
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f](H)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(I) it says to those who are under the law,(J) so that every mouth may be silenced(K) and the whole world held accountable to God.(L) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(M) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(N)
Footnotes
- Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
- Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
- Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
- Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
Cross references
- Romans 3:9 : ver 1
- Romans 3:9 : ver 19, 23; 1Ki 8:46; 2Ch 6:36; Ps 106:6; Ro 5:12; 11:32; Gal 3:22
- Romans 3:12 : Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecc 7:20
- Romans 3:13 : Ps 5:9
- Romans 3:13 : Ps 140:3
- Romans 3:14 : Ps 10:7
- Romans 3:17 : Isa 59:7, 8
- Romans 3:18 : Ps 36:1
- Romans 3:19 : S Jn 10:34
- Romans 3:19 : S Ro 2:12
- Romans 3:19 : Ps 63:11; 107:42; Eze 16:63
- Romans 3:19 : ver 9
- Romans 3:20 : Ac 13:39; Gal 2:16
- Romans 3:20 : S Ro 4:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. There is no one who is good (9-18)
The conclusion of Romans 1:18-3:20 is: 'There is no one righteous, not even one.' People who are cut off from God become worthless. Paul brings together many quotations from the Old Testament to support his conclusion. Verses 11-12 emphasize that all people are under the power of sin. Verses 13-14 show that one's words expose what is in one's heart. Verses 15-17 show that those lost in sin are directionless and without peace. Verse 18 says that those under sin have no fear of God. Only fools do not fear God. Paul is telling us that everyone needs Jesus.
2. Everyone is accountable to God (19-20)
Every human being--Jew, Gentile, Christian, non-Christian--must stand before the judgment seat of God. No one can take refuge in any excuse or past privilege. The ground before God's judgment seat is level, and all of us must someday stand there as unrighteous sinners. We need an advocate-Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, I need Jesus--and so does the world. Help me to see the world and myself from your point of view.
One Word: No one is righteous