Romans 3:19-20
New International Version
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Tuesday - November 2
In Romans chapters 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul argues to his fellow Jews that they are no better than the outsiders (“Gentiles”). They thought that they were special because they had God’s Law! But as Paul shows the Law of God was never given to make anyone righteous, just, or innocent before God. Instead, the Law was given to expose sin. The Law was given to “stop up” every mouth, hold every person accountable to God and give the “knowledge of sin.” How would you know that stealing was wrong if God did not say, “Thou shall not steal”? As Psalm 14:3 says, “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” But this good news. We can stop pretending and posturing. We can “die”! After all, God’s favorite activity is raising the dead!