Romans 3:9-20
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.
The one advantage of being sinful is an awareness of our sin. As it says in verse 20, "through the law comes knowledge of sin". There is a danger in thinking that we are already "good" and thus have no need of God. Our brokenness reminds us that we are sinful, that we need a Savior. In our recovery our aim should not be to become so "good" that we don't need any help. Rather, it should be to humbly recognize our weakness and need for God, allowing His power to work through us.
Lord, it is true that I am not righteous. Help me to remember my need for You and give You the glory.
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.
The one advantage of being sinful is an awareness of our sin. As it says in verse 20, "through the law comes knowledge of sin". There is a danger in thinking that we are already "good" and thus have no need of God. Our brokenness reminds us that we are sinful, that we need a Savior. In our recovery our aim should not be to become so "good" that we don't need any help. Rather, it should be to humbly recognize our weakness and need for God, allowing His power to work through us.
Lord, it is true that I am not righteous. Help me to remember my need for You and give You the glory.