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Timothy: Romans 3:9-20
God’s Law Condemns Everyone

9 What then? Do we excel? Not at all! For we have charged both Jews and Greeks before, all with being under sin;

10 according as it has been written, “There is not a righteous one, not even one!”

11 “There is not one understanding; there is not one seeking God.”

12 All turned away, they became worthless together, not one is doing goodness, not so much as one!” LXX-Psa. 13:1-3

13 “Their throat is a tomb being opened;” “they used deceit with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips;

14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery are in their way;

17 and they did not know a way of peace;

18 there is no fear of God before their eyes.” LXX-Psa. 5:10; 139:4; 9:28; Isa. 59:7, 8; Psa. 35:2; MT-Psa. 14:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa. 59:7, 8; Psa. 36:1

19 But we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those within the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment to God.

20 Because by works of Law not one of all flesh will be justified before Him, for through Law is full knowledge of sin. Psa. 143:2

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I thank You for granting me another day and for providing me with spiritual nourishment through Romans 3:9-20. I pray to Christ for more strength, and to the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind so that I may always rejoice in meditating on Your Word.

Dear Father, the Bible passage I read and reflected on today helped me understand that everyone in this world is under God’s law. Since no one is without sin except for Jesus Christ, humanity has been condemned by the law and sentenced to punishment. Therefore, even though You chose the people of Israel as a special nation for Your eternal plan for mankind, there is nothing inherently good in them compared to other nations.

Dear Father, I understand that all those chosen to be in Your Church are not inherently better than those outside the Church. Rather, we are shown mercy by You and granted the grace of redemption from our sins, given the status of sons and daughters of God, and empowered to live according to God’s law.

Dear Father, I understand that Romans 3:10-12 speaks to the general condition of all humanity, until someone truly repents and trusts in God, obeying God. Those like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job… were called righteous not because they did not fall under the category of Romans 3:10-12 but because they trusted and obeyed God.

Dear Father, I realize that Romans 3:13-18 vividly describes the manifestation of humanity’s sinful nature. Truly, without Your redemption, we would all be lost in our sin. Humanity’s sinful nature is terrifying, abhorrent, and unworthy of Your mercy. But You loved us and provided redemption for us.

Dear Father, I realize that the power of words is truly terrifying. God only used words to create all species. We humans were granted language by God, but we have used it to speak profanity, wickedness, bitterness, curses, and more. Human speech can be so powerful that it can kill, incite others to sin, and crush the hearts of others. What’s even worse is that humans can use words to blaspheme against God and His saints. That’s why bad words spoken by humans are compared to the venom of a viper. Meanwhile, the human mouth is compared to a tomb, a place full of corruption and death.

Dear Father, I understand that because humans live in sin, they cannot do any righteous deed. Even when humans do good, that goodness is contaminated by the pride within them. It is like a person with a highly contagious disease; their whole body is full of disease-causing germs, and it is very easy to spread. When that person holds a life-saving pill and gives it to someone else, the pill is also contaminated with disease-causing germs.

Dear Father, I understand that humans cannot be called righteous just by following the law. On the outside, they may appear to obey the law, but on the inside, they have the idea of violating the law. A person may not commit adultery, have an affair through words or actions, but in their heart, they always enjoy the idea of adultery and having affairs. A person on the outside may not worship anyone other than God, but in their heart, they worship themselves, putting their ego above everything else.

Dear Father, before God’s law, whether it is written in the human spirit, that is the conscience, or written in the Bible, no one is without sin. Sin means having thoughts, words, or actions that go against God and violate God’s commandments. Therefore, the whole world must remain silent before God’s judgment.

That is why humanity needs to be saved from the nature of sin. The soul needs to be washed in the holy blood of Jesus Christ, the spirit needs to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, and the fleshly body needs to be born anew by God the Father.

Dear Father, I have learned this important lesson: Living according to God’s law is our duty as human beings. Our adherence to the law does not make us righteous. If we do not accept Your salvation, we cannot fully keep the law. However, if we accept Your salvation, we are considered righteous by You through our faith. Then, our faith is manifested in voluntary and joyful obedience to the law. This means that we are considered righteous before we even act righteously by obeying the law.

Dear Father, this is when we become passionate about Your Word, eager to meditate on it like the author of Psalm 119, and when You sanctify us more and more every day to become more like Christ. At that point, following Your law becomes second nature, and we naturally think, speak, and act according to Your law, just as we naturally breathe in oxygen.

I thank You, Father, for Your Living Word. May my life always be satisfied in Your Word like the author of Psalm 119. Amen!

In the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Timothy Christian Huynh
03/12/2023