Romans 3:9-12 NKJV – 9 What then? Are we better [than they]? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
V9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
Are Gentiles or Jews better off in God’s judgment? Neither; both groups are sinners and condemned. All have the sin nature. All sin. All will be punished. Under sin has the idea of slavery to sin (John 8:34).
V10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one.
No obeys God’s laws perfectly. Jesus Christ is the exception. What is righteous? It is meeting a standard of perfection perfectly. God’s law is the standard. God is the lawgiver, king, and judge. The standard must be kept perfectly in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.
Bridge Bible Dictionary: “Perfect righteousness is found in God alone. He is perfect in goodness and has a perfect knowledge of what is right and what is wrong (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 145:17; Isaiah 45:21; Romans 9:14; Hebrews 6:18). Since God made human beings in his image, they also have a sense of righteousness. If they are characterized by proper behavior and moral uprightness, the Bible may speak of them as righteous (Genesis 7:1; Psalm 15:2; Proverbs 12:3-10; Luke 1:6; 2 Corinthians 9:9-10).
“This righteousness is not a moral perfection that people achieve by their own efforts, but a right relationship with God that people enter into through faith and obedience (Isaiah 50:9; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 3:4-5; Romans 9:31-32; Romans 10:3-4; Galatians 3:11-12). It is a righteousness that pleases God and guarantees his help (Psalm 45:7-8; Isaiah 56:1; 1 Peter 3:12).”
V11 There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.
The Greek word for understand is (G4920) συνίημι syníēmi and means (Bullinger: “native insight, understanding, capacity to apprehend; used of reflective thought, while sophia (wisdom) is used of productive thought.”
The Greek word for seek is (G1567) ἐκζητέω ekzētéō, which means to search out and investigate.
All need to understand and investigate, but no one is able in their own ability. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in all the unsaved is to open the eyes, mind, understanding, then they are able to seek (John 16:8). Most reject and suppress (Romans 1:18).
12 They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.”
The rejection most used is diversion, turning aside from truth and God. They have opportunity and ability to believe in Jesus because God initiates salvation. Other translations use worthless in place of unprofitable. This is more accurate.
Good is interpreted by God’s character. God is good, and no one else (Luke 18:19).
Clarke: “There is none that does good – In Rom 3:10 it is said, There is none righteous; here, There is none that does good: the first may refer to the want of a righteous principle; the second, to the necessary consequence of the absence of such a principle. If there be no righteousness within, there will be no acts of goodness without.”
We learn:
- The meaning of the sin nature.
- God’s standards.
Questions:
- Are you good?
- Are you good in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds?