Sermons on Romans 3:9-18

Romans 3:9-18 Interpretation:

Universal Need for Christ: Righteousness Through Faith (David Guzik) interprets Romans 3:9-18 as a sweeping, all-encompassing indictment of both Jews and Gentiles, emphasizing that all humanity is "under sin"—a phrase he unpacks as slavery to sin, a tyrant ruler over every person regardless of background. Guzik uses the metaphor of a medical scan (MRI, CAT scan, x-ray) to describe Paul's use of Old Testament quotations, showing that sin corrupts humanity from head to toe. He highlights the Greek phrase "under sin" as meaning "sold under sin," deepening the sense of bondage. Guzik also draws a vivid analogy between the word "unprofitable" and rotten fruit, explaining that just as rotten fruit is permanently bad and only gets worse, so too is the human condition apart from Christ. He stresses that Paul's intent is not to say people are as bad as they could possibly be, but that every part of human nature is touched by the fall, leaving no part uncorrupted.

Embracing God's Righteousness: The Power of Faith (Desiring God) offers a unique interpretive focus by framing Romans 3:9-18 as a diagnosis of the ruin of our relationship with God, not merely a list of bad behaviors. The sermon highlights the structure of the passage—beginning and ending with references to God (no one seeks God, no fear of God)—to argue that sin is fundamentally about our vertical relationship with God, not just horizontal relationships with others. The preacher uses the metaphor of sin as a "resistance to finding joy in God," and describes the passage as a "diagnosis" that should make us long for salvation. He also draws attention to the progression from the heart to the mouth (throat, tongue, lips, mouth), showing how sin flows from inner corruption to outward expression, and contrasts the "throat as an open grave" with the biblical ideal of the mouth as a "fountain of life." The sermon closes with a powerful image of being "clothed in righteousness like asbestos" to survive the flames of judgment, emphasizing the radical nature of the gospel's solution.

Embracing God's Grace: Breaking Boundaries in Ministry (Victory Christian Fellowship) interprets Romans 3:9-18 as Paul's argument that both Jews and Gentiles are equally under sin, regardless of religious observance or background. The sermon connects this to the story of Peter and Cornelius, using the passage to argue that no one is inherently better or more deserving of grace, and that the law's purpose was to reveal sin, not to provide a means of salvation. The preacher uses the analogy of the law as a system that could only "push sin forward a year" but never truly remove it, and emphasizes that only the blood of Christ can redeem. He also draws a contemporary application, arguing that the lack of the "fear of God" in society is a direct result of generational ignorance of God, and that the church must respond with grace rather than shame.

Embracing Grace: The Hope Beyond Our Sinfulness (Desiring God) interprets Romans 3:9-18 as Paul’s climactic indictment of all humanity—Jews and Gentiles alike—under the power of sin, emphasizing that “under sin” is not merely about committing individual acts but about being enslaved to a corrupting power. The sermon uses the analogy of sin as a slave master, a force that holds humanity down and corrupts from the inside out, rather than just a list of bad deeds. A unique interpretive angle is the preacher’s wrestling with Paul’s use of Old Testament quotations, especially Psalm 14, which in its original context distinguishes between the “righteous” and the “wicked.” The sermon notes the apparent contradiction in Paul’s use of “there is none righteous” from Psalm 14, since the Psalm itself later refers to a “generation of the righteous.” The preacher resolves this by arguing that Paul is not using each Old Testament quote in isolation but as a collective witness to the universal corruption of humanity, and that the only way anyone escapes this indictment is by God’s sovereign, merciful intervention—being “reckoned righteous” by faith, as with Abraham. The preacher also highlights David’s self-understanding in the Psalms: David acknowledges his own corruption but appeals to God’s mercy as the only basis for entering God’s presence, thus modeling the only escape from the universal indictment of sin.

Humanity's Sinfulness and the Hope of the Gospel (SermonIndex.net) interprets Romans 3:9-18 as a sweeping declaration of the total depravity of humanity, emphasizing that by nature, no one is righteous or even capable of seeking God. The sermon uses the metaphor of humanity being caught in a “river of scum and filth and cesspool and sewage,” dead in trespasses and sins, and carried along by the current of the world under the dominion of Satan. The preacher draws out the linguistic force of “under sin” as being under a slave master, echoing the Greek sense of subjection to a dominating power. The sermon also uniquely focuses on the diagnostic function of the passage, likening Paul’s words to a doctor’s terminal diagnosis—unpleasant but necessary for healing. The preacher further explores the imagery of the mouth in the passage, noting that the tongue is an immediate window to the heart’s depravity, and that the repeated references to the throat, tongue, lips, and mouth in Romans 3:13-14 are a deliberate emphasis on the outward manifestation of inward corruption.

Romans 3:9-18 Theological Themes:

Universal Need for Christ: Righteousness Through Faith (David Guzik) introduces the theme of "total depravity" in a nuanced way, explaining that while people are not as bad as they could possibly be, every aspect of human nature is affected by sin. He also develops the idea that the law functions as a "straight edge" to reveal our crookedness, not as a means of salvation, and that the only solution is a received righteousness from Christ. Guzik's sermon adds the facet that the radical nature of God's solution (the cross) matches the radical depth of the human problem, highlighting the proportionality between the extremity of sin and the extremity of grace.

Embracing God's Righteousness: The Power of Faith (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that sin is primarily a vertical problem—alienation from God—rather than merely a horizontal one. The sermon also explores the idea that the true tragedy of sin is the resistance to joy in God, and that self-assessment based on comparison to others is irrelevant before God's standard. The preacher further develops the theme that the gospel is not about self-improvement but about receiving a "free righteousness" that alone can withstand judgment, using the metaphor of being "clothed in asbestos" to survive God's holy fire.

Embracing God's Grace: Breaking Boundaries in Ministry (Victory Christian Fellowship) adds a unique application by connecting the lack of the "fear of God" in Romans 3:18 to contemporary generational shifts, arguing that societal disregard for God is rooted in a lack of exposure and reverence, not just willful rebellion. The sermon also introduces the idea that the church must move beyond shame-based approaches and instead focus on heart transformation through grace, suggesting that the solution to societal ills is not moralism but a change of heart produced by the gospel.

Embracing Grace: The Hope Beyond Our Sinfulness (Desiring God) introduces the nuanced theme that the universal indictment of sin in Romans 3:9-18 is not contradicted by the existence of “righteous” people in the Old Testament, because their righteousness is not intrinsic but imputed by God’s sovereign grace. The sermon adds the facet that the only escape from the mass of corruption is God’s “free, sovereign, gracious, transforming mercy,” as illustrated by David’s own confession in the Psalms. This theme is developed with the insight that the church’s role is to uphold the truth of universal sinfulness as a “pillar” in the world, not to minimize or soften it, because only by facing the full diagnosis can the hope of the gospel be truly appreciated.

Humanity's Sinfulness and the Hope of the Gospel (SermonIndex.net) presents the distinct theological theme that the primary and most heinous aspect of human sinfulness is not merely interpersonal wrongdoing but the habitual rejection and suppression of the true God. The sermon develops the idea that even the “good people” of society, who may be moral and upstanding, are guilty of the ultimate crime: despising the glory and beauty of God and refusing to seek or love Him. This is illustrated by the assertion that people will accept any god but the God of the Bible, and that the greatest evidence of depravity is the universal tendency to create false religions and reject the revelation of God in Christ. The preacher also adds the facet that the “mouth” is the primary evidence of this depravity, as it reveals the heart’s true attitude toward God, and that the world’s religious and moral systems are “stenches of death” because they perpetuate lies about God.

Romans 3:9-18 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing God's Grace: Breaking Boundaries in Ministry (Victory Christian Fellowship) provides detailed historical context about the Jewish-Gentile divide in the early church, explaining that prior to Peter's encounter with Cornelius, the church was exclusively Jewish and that it was illegal for Jews to enter a Gentile's house. The sermon explains the cultural shock and resistance among Jewish believers when Gentiles began to receive the Holy Spirit without adopting Jewish customs, and how Paul's argument in Romans 3:9-18 addresses this tension by asserting the universal need for grace. The preacher also references the function of the law in ancient Israel, noting that its sacrificial system could only "push sin forward" but never truly reconcile people to God, and that access to God's presence was still restricted under the old covenant.

Embracing Grace: The Hope Beyond Our Sinfulness (Desiring God) provides historical context by explaining that in Paul’s time, “Jews and Greeks” was a shorthand for all humanity—Jews representing the covenant people and Greeks representing the rest of the world. The sermon also delves into the Old Testament context of the Psalms and Isaiah passages Paul quotes, noting that Psalm 14 originally distinguishes between the wicked and the righteous, and that Isaiah 59 addresses Israel’s own iniquity and separation from God. The preacher highlights that Paul is aware of these contexts and is intentionally using the collective witness of these texts to demonstrate universal sinfulness, not ignoring the existence of “righteous” people but showing that their righteousness is a result of God’s intervention, not their own nature.

Humanity's Sinfulness and the Hope of the Gospel (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight by explaining that “Jews and Greeks” in Paul’s day encompassed the two main categories of people in the ancient world: Jews, who had the law and the prophets, and Greeks (or Gentiles), representing the pagan world. The sermon also references the cultural reality that even the most privileged and enlightened people (the Jews) rejected Christ, thus closing every mouth and demonstrating that no amount of religious advantage can overcome the power of sin without divine intervention.

Romans 3:9-18 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing God's Grace: Breaking Boundaries in Ministry (Victory Christian Fellowship) references several passages to expand on Romans 3:9-18: Genesis 20:11, where Abraham notes the lack of the fear of God in a foreign land, is used to illustrate the societal consequences of godlessness; Psalm 36:1 is cited to show that the wicked transgress because they lack the fear of God; Proverbs 8:13 and 16:6 are used to explain that the fear of the Lord leads to hating evil and departing from it. The sermon also references Acts 10 (Peter and Cornelius) to illustrate the breaking of religious boundaries, and alludes to Jesus' statement about fulfilling the law, not abolishing it, to clarify the ongoing purpose of the law in revealing sin. Additionally, the preacher references the story of the rich young ruler and Nicodemus to show that Jesus ministered to both the marginalized and the privileged, reinforcing the universality of the gospel's reach.

Universal Need for Christ: Righteousness Through Faith (David Guzik) notes that Paul is quoting from the Psalms and Isaiah 59 in Romans 3:9-18, using these Old Testament texts to demonstrate the universality of sin. He also references Job 9:2 ("How can a man be righteous before God?") to show the longstanding biblical problem of justification, and alludes to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis to illustrate humanity's failed attempts at self-justification. Guzik further references Jesus' teaching that he will be with his people "even unto the end of the age" to counter feelings of abandonment, and alludes to the Ten Commandments as the standard of the law that cannot save.

Embracing God's Righteousness: The Power of Faith (Desiring God) references the structure of Romans 3:10-18 itself, as well as Proverbs ("the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life") to contrast the biblical ideal with the fallen reality described by Paul. The sermon also alludes to Jesus' teaching that anger is equivalent to murder in the heart, reinforcing the depth of human sinfulness, and references Ephesians 2 ("even while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, made us alive together with Christ") to highlight the gospel's power to transform.

Embracing Grace: The Hope Beyond Our Sinfulness (Desiring God) references several biblical passages to expand on Romans 3:9-18. Ephesians 2:3 is cited to support the idea that humanity is “by nature children of wrath,” reinforcing the concept of inherited corruption. Colossians 3:2 is mentioned to illustrate that disobedience is so ingrained in human nature that it is as if “Disobedience were our father.” The sermon also references Genesis 15:6 (“Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”) to show that righteousness is imputed by faith, not by nature. Psalm 51:5 is used to highlight David’s awareness of his own inherent sinfulness, and Psalm 5 is examined to show that David attributes his ability to enter God’s house to God’s mercy, not his own merit. 1 Timothy 3:15 is invoked to describe the church as the “pillar and foundation of the truth,” emphasizing the church’s responsibility to uphold the doctrine of universal sinfulness.

Humanity's Sinfulness and the Hope of the Gospel (SermonIndex.net) draws on multiple biblical cross-references to reinforce the message of Romans 3:9-18. Romans 2:5 is cited to explain that the impenitent are “storing up wrath,” connecting the diagnosis of sin to the coming judgment. Matthew 7 is referenced to highlight Jesus’ teaching that “few there be that find” eternal life, supporting the claim that only a small minority are capable of doing good. Ephesians 2 is used to describe humanity as “dead in trespasses and sins,” following the “course of the world” under the influence of Satan, the “prince of the power of the air,” and being “sons of disobedience.” Isaiah 34 is read to illustrate God’s fury against the nations, reinforcing the theme of divine wrath. The sermon also references John 3:36 to assert that those outside of Christ are already under God’s wrath, not just awaiting future judgment. James is mentioned regarding the tongue as a fire and an untamable evil, supporting the focus on the mouth as a window to the heart’s depravity. The preacher also alludes to the “way of the master” evangelism method, which uses the law to expose sinfulness, and to the story of Jesus healing the lepers to illustrate Christ’s tenderness in contrast to human rejection.

Romans 3:9-18 Christian References outside the Bible:

Universal Need for Christ: Righteousness Through Faith (David Guzik) explicitly references Charles Spurgeon, quoting him on the phrase "let God be true and every man a liar." Spurgeon is cited as saying, "It is a strange strong expression but it is none too strong if God says one thing and every man in the world says another God is true and all men are false... We are to believe God's truth if nobody else believes it. The general consensus of opinion is nothing to a Christian; he believes God's word and he thinks more of that than of the universal opinion of men." This reference is used to reinforce the supremacy of God's truth over human opinion, even over one's own feelings.

Romans 3:9-18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing God's Grace: Breaking Boundaries in Ministry (Victory Christian Fellowship) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Romans 3:9-18. The preacher recounts personal experiences with music and bars, describing how attending a jazz club in Austin and interacting with people in a bar environment challenged traditional Christian boundaries, paralleling Peter's vision in Acts 10. He also tells the story of a family involved in dirt bike competitions on Sundays, explaining how they hold church services at the track, illustrating the need to break out of conventional ministry settings. The sermon references the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" and the Via 313 pizza business to show how relationships can be built in unexpected places. The preacher further uses the example of Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" as a metaphor for different seasons in ministry, and humorously discusses the cultural taboo of eating pork and crawfish before Peter's vision, connecting it to the breaking of religious boundaries. Additionally, the preacher shares a story about a man named Jesse, whose transformation from addiction to evangelism brought many others to faith, illustrating the redemptive power of grace for even the most marginalized. The sermon also uses the analogy of rotten fruit (kiwi and pigs) to discuss how God can redeem what appears unclean or undesirable, and references the Commodores' song "Easy" to comment on cultural attitudes toward church attendance.

Humanity's Sinfulness and the Hope of the Gospel (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Romans 3:9-18. The preacher describes the exponential growth of the world’s population, noting that there are now more people alive than have ever lived, to underscore the vastness of humanity under sin. He uses the analogy of a doctor diagnosing cancer to explain the necessity of confronting people with the bad news of their spiritual condition, arguing that a doctor who withholds a terminal diagnosis is not kind but cruel—just as preachers who avoid the topic of sin are unfaithful. The sermon references the “way of the master” evangelism approach, which involves asking people if they consider themselves good and exposing their self-righteousness, to illustrate the universal tendency to deny one’s own sinfulness. The preacher recounts a story of a woman in a Dairy Queen who rejected the biblical God in favor of her own conception, highlighting the common rejection of the true God. He also discusses the behavior of Nazi concentration camp guards and doctors, noting that ordinary people can become murderers when given legal and social permission, as seen in the Holocaust and in legalized abortion in America, where “tens of millions” of babies have been killed. The preacher references the breakdown of law during Hurricane Katrina and the chaos in the Superdome as evidence that when external restraints are removed, human depravity is quickly manifested. He also mentions the experience of visiting Huntsville, Texas, where executions take place, to illustrate the reality of judgment and the consequences of sin. Finally, the preacher tells a story about an AIDS help program in which participants were sent to a witch for incantations, resulting in demonic oppression, to contrast the world’s false remedies with the church’s responsibility to proclaim the truth.