Is Paul equivocating on the value of being Jewish? No, he is just indicting the entire human race. Romans 3:9-19

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:

“ None is righteous, no, not one;

11 no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

13 “ Their throat is an open grave;

they use their tongues to deceive.”

 “ The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14  “ Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

15  “ Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18  “ There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Paul’s writing is so brilliant. Yes, he is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but I believe that God also chose a man whom He had already gifted as a skilled rhetorician. At first glance, Paul might seem to be equivocating, or changing the definition of something he has already defined. He stated at the beginning of chapter 3 that the advantage of being a Jew was much in every way, but here he states that Jews are not better off. What is he trying to accomplish with this doublespeak? Well, we discussed with the last few verses that the Jews indeed did have an advantage if they understood the law of God. However, the purpose of the law of God is not to provide righteousness, but to drive people to seek the righteousness of God through faith. So if Jews do not grasp this about the law and instead seek to justify themselves by the law, then they discard the advantage which God has given them - the “heads up” if you will, about the coming gospel and the One who would provide perfect righteousness.

Just in case there were some Jews who didn’t quite get it, or Gentiles for that matter, Paul states the case clearly by using a Hebrew Scripture, Psalm 14. It has been said that Psalm 14 could be hyperbolic (exaggerated for effect), but I don’t think so. If Psalm 14 doesn’t apply to everyone, then Paul is using it incorrectly here, because his entire argument in Romans 3 is that ALL people are unrighteous. It is a healthy exercise for us to remember what Paul is arguing here. The total depravity of man, a difficult doctrine for some to accept, is a must for us to accept if we are to fully appreciate the righteousness of Christ. Do we realize that “there is none who does good,” applies to us? But aren’t there people who do pretty good things apart from Christ? What about a peace corps worker who doesn’t know Christ, they are doing good right? Well, we might be tempted to say that, but Paul would say otherwise. The idea which Paul is building upon here - the idea that all people are guilty - is foundational to the gospel. In other words, if people can do good, then there is an avenue for a works based salvation. And herein we see the wickedness of “good” works of charity done apart from Christ. Every act apart from Christ, though it may help others, and though it may appear good to the world is an act of offense to Christ because it is a rejection of His righteousness.

This is where Paul’s brilliant argumentation comes into play. He is completely tearing everyone down, including himself. But remember where he is going. When we meditate upon our total depravity, or complete sinfulness apart from Christ, we might be tempted to despair. This is why we must read all of Romans in one sitting. Chapter three would leave us depressed without chapter eight, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Yet, chapter eight without chapter three would not be quite as powerful. So what is our application of chapter three? Well, I would say that the simplest application is for us to know ourselves well. We must accept the truth of who we are and that we cannot do good apart from Christ. When we realize the gravity of our own situation, we should treasure Christ all the more. If Christ is to us someone who has merely helped us out a little, or helped us to be a better person, then we have missed the point of the gospel and the letter to the Roman church. The gospel includes the fact that we are completely inept, in fact, we are dead. We can do absolutely nothing. Everything that we might try to do actually puts us further in debt. Then comes the faithfulness, righteousness, love, mercy, and grace of God. He makes us alive, gives us faith, and makes us His son or daughter. So how do we live this truth? We give up. We give up completely on trying to earn things. But wait, doesn’t Paul also write, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling?” Yes, and he writes it to motivate us to work in faith by God’s strength because “it is God who is at work in you.” More of that brilliant Pauline rhetoric inspired by the Holy Spirit. I love it.