The Entire World Guilty of Sin

9 What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just as it is written,

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

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

There is no one who practices kindness;

there is not even one.d

13 Their throat is an opened grave;

they deceive with their tongues;

the venom of asps is under their lips,e

14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.f

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 destruction and distress are in their paths,

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

18 The fear of God is not before their eyes.”h

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. 20 For by the works of the law ⌊no person will be declared righteous⌋i before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith Revealed

21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—22 that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christj to all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God made publicly available as the mercy seatk through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins, 26 in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faithl in Jesus.

27 Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a lawm of faith. 28 For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, 30 since God is one, who will justify ⌊those who are circumcised⌋n by faith and ⌊those who are uncircumcised⌋o through faith. 31 Therefore, do we nullify the law through faith? May it never be! But we uphold the law.