1. The Privilege of the Jews and the Faithfulness of God
Romans 3:1–2 begins with the question, “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?” Paul immediately answers, “Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.” In other words, the Jewish people enjoyed a special providence and calling from God, the essence of which was being “entrusted with the words of God.” This truth applies similarly to Christians today as an important spiritual lesson. After all, it was because Israel preserved that Word in the Old Testament era that we, too, regard the Scriptures as precious, inheriting that tradition.
On this point, Pastor David Jang emphasizes:
“God chose a specific people in the grand design of His salvation for humanity and entrusted them with His Word. That was both the Jews’ privilege and mission. In the same way, today’s church has been given the duty to cherish the Bible, to find God’s plan of salvation and His love within it, and to spread that message to the world.”
In Romans 9, Paul enumerates several privileges of the Jews: their adoption, the glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship, the promises, and, above all, the glorious fact that the Messiah was born of their lineage (Rom. 9:4–5). Hence, Paul implies that “Jews are not to be dismissed unconditionally”; rather, he points out that the real issue is that they failed to live according to their calling and ultimately chose not to receive the Messiah. Although this stance does not stray far from Paul’s Jewish roots, at the same time it is revolutionary in that it highlights the door of the gospel now open to every nation.
Then comes the question, “Does Jewish disobedience mean that God’s plan has failed?” In Romans 3:3–4, Paul firmly answers: “Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” Even if the Jews fail in faith or disobey, their “unbelief” does not nullify God’s faithfulness. For instance, Pastor David Jang, preaching on this text, states,
“Humans are always prone to wavering, but God never wavers or engages in falsehood. His faithfulness cannot be canceled or voided by any human failure.”
Paul thus reaffirms, referencing such passages as Psalm 51:4 and Psalm 100:5, that God is good, merciful, and that His faithfulness endures through all generations. The phrase “so that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge” suggests that even if human beings try to hide their sin, complain against God, or argue back, ultimately God’s righteousness will be revealed. No matter how much people blame Him—asking, “Why does God do this or that? Why did He create us like this and then abandon us?”—God’s perfection and righteousness remain unchanged, and He will triumph in the end.
In Romans 3:5–8, Paul expands this reasoning further. Some might say, “Our unrighteousness actually highlights God’s righteousness, so wouldn’t it be better if we sinned even more?” or “Let us do evil that good may result.” Paul vehemently rejects such absurd conclusions, asserting that those who distort and malign the gospel in this way will be justly condemned.
Pastor David Jang similarly warns:
“To suggest that God planned evil or deliberately allowed evil to bring about good is a misinterpretation of God. He does not desire evil; rather, He values human freedom and loving relationships. Even when evil occurs, God, in His absolute sovereignty, can turn it for good, but that by no means implies that ‘evil itself is God’s plan.’ Hence, we must not grant ourselves a license to sin by saying, ‘In the end, God will make it all work out.’”
In summary, Romans 3:1–8 teaches the following main points: The Jews certainly possessed a privilege—chiefly, “they were entrusted with the words of God.” However, their unbelief does not damage God’s faithfulness. Moreover, claiming that human evil simply serves to reveal God’s goodness more dramatically, or that therefore one may freely commit evil, is entirely wrong. God is ultimately the Judge and is righteous.
According to Pastor David Jang, this same lesson applies to today’s church. Even if the church’s failure to fulfill its role as salt and light in the world is exposed, God’s authority or faithfulness is not thereby diminished. Yet we must repent of such failures and once again cling to the Word of God. Just as chosen Israel faced destruction when it failed to keep its holy mandate, so too can the church not guarantee immunity from the judgment we see in the Old Testament if we persist in the same disobedience without repentance. This is the tension of “privilege and responsibility” emphasized at the start of Romans 3; Paul sets God’s absolute righteousness and faithfulness firmly upon this tension.
Thus, from the first theme, we can summarize: The Jews (Israel) did indeed receive a special privilege. But even though they failed to use that privilege rightly, God’s faithfulness was not undermined. Human unbelief and disobedience cannot nullify God, yet we must not justify such disobedience as “a necessary step in the plan of salvation” or “we can sin freely because God will use our evil for good.” The same principle applies to the faith of churches and believers today.
2. Misunderstandings Concerning Human Sin and Unrighteousness
In Romans 3:9–18, Paul takes a further step to declare that “in the end, all mankind is under sin.” Previously, in chapters 1 and 2, he addressed the sins of the Gentiles and then those of the Jews, who had boasted about their privileged position. He now concludes: “What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all!” (Rom. 3:9). This means that not only the Jews but Paul himself—and indeed all humanity—are equally under the dominion of sin.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly highlights this point in his sermons:
“It is easy for us to condemn others when we see their sins, yet we want to ignore the deep roots of sin that lurk within ourselves. Paul teaches that sin is found not only among Gentiles or Jews; it is the common fate of all humanity. No one is exempt.”
From verses 10–18, Paul uses the famous “charaz” technique, stringing together quotations from various Psalms and prophets to paint a comprehensive picture of human sinfulness. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (v. 10) is drawn from Ecclesiastes 7:20 as well as Psalms 14 and 53. Put simply, there is no basis at all on which any human being can declare themselves righteous. Paul backs this claim by “stringing” together (charaz) diverse Old Testament texts.
Human sin manifests chiefly in three realms.
Thought and Heart: Paul states, “There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God” (Rom. 3:11). It means that people consider themselves wise but live in pride, ignoring God. If we depart from God and live according to our sinful nature, our hearts and minds become corrupt and come to detest or disregard Him.
Speech: Paul continues, “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:13–14). These expressions, frequently seen in the Psalms, underscore how easily human language can be filled with malice, lies, and cursing. James 3 even links the tongue to the fires of hell, so serious is the issue of speech. Preaching on this passage, Pastor David Jang says:
“If we use the same mouth to praise God and to curse or lie to others, then our tongues are no different from an ‘open grave.’ Once sin takes root in the heart, it pours forth in words that kill, wound, or deceive.”
Actions: Paul laments, “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know” (Rom. 3:15–17). When the human heart is corrupted and the tongue becomes venomous, it ultimately shows in one’s actions—murder, violence, conflict, war, and all manner of personal and societal corruption. Though not everyone may go so far as murder, when one is ruled by selfishness, hatred, and greed, evil inevitably bursts forth in deeds.
Finally, Paul declares, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18), which reveals that all these sins ultimately stem from “ungodliness,” namely the arrogant denial of God. By making themselves their own masters, denying God’s reign, people reveal the reality of sin. Thus, subject to the power of sin, humanity cannot achieve salvation by its own strength. At this juncture, Pastor David Jang remarks:
“Even within the church, because we lead religious lives or know a bit of Scripture, we can easily fall into the illusion that we have become righteous. But Paul declares that there is no one righteous, not even one. Only by recognizing that we are sinners does our dire need for God’s grace become clear.”
However, at this point, people often fall into yet another misunderstanding: “If all humankind is sinful and can only be saved by God’s absolute grace, is it really so important how we live?” Some will even argue, “The more we sin, the greater grace becomes,” descending into licentiousness. But Paul has already debunked that argument in Romans 3:8 by asking, “Why not say—‘Let us do evil that good may result’?” and dismissing it as absurd. Pastor David Jang likewise reiterates:
“While it’s true that God can bring good out of evil, that never justifies or glorifies the evil itself. Joseph’s case, for instance: his brothers’ evil was turned into salvation for many, but we cannot argue that their wicked act was somehow ‘part of a good, premeditated plan.’”
In conclusion, the main point of Romans 3:9–18 is that “all humans are under sin, and no one can regard themselves as inherently righteous.” This is the foundational starting point of salvation. The first stage of the gospel is confronting sinners with their own sin, showing that we cannot be saved without grace. Pastor David Jang explains that the church should not begin by simply teaching “how sinful humanity is” but rather “how desperately humanity needs salvation.” Yet if people remain oblivious to their own sin, the message of salvation has no meaning. It is the role of the Word to awaken people to their sin. True repentance and the door to salvation open from that moment.
Hence, the second major theme underscores “total human depravity” and that only when we acknowledge we are all sinners do we truly perceive our need for the gospel. One must not distort this to say, “Since a greater amount of sin brings greater grace, we may sin as we please,” nor to claim that “evil is an indispensable component of God’s saving plan.” When we stand before God’s absolute holiness, we must all bow. This powerful message is the central pillar of Paul’s teaching on sin in Romans and a theme Pastor David Jang repeatedly addresses in his preaching and expositions.
3. The Law, the Recognition of Sin, and the Path of Salvation
Romans 3:19–20 concludes Paul’s discourse on sin (3:1–18) by once again clarifying the role and limitations of the Law. He states:
“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. 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.”
The Law, in which the Jews took such pride, was never a perfect avenue to righteousness. Certainly, the Law is a holy message given by God, containing the righteous path for humanity to walk. Yet because humans are fallen and sinful, they cannot perfectly keep it. In the end, the Law mainly “exposes and indicts” our sin. In other words, the Law helps us realize how lacking and sinful we are. The critical point is that this realization does not stop merely at “I cannot keep the Law,” but it awakens us to a deeper need—“How, then, can we be saved from our sins?”
Paul also regards the Law as a sort of “mirror” that can lead to sanctification. Without the Law, people might not even recognize their own sinfulness. Jews who boasted, “We have the Law, so we rank above the Gentiles,” are confronted by Paul’s conclusion: “Even with the Law, you cannot fully obey it, so you remain under sin and judgment.” Thus, no one can be considered righteous by the works of the Law, establishing a bedrock principle of the gospel.
In many of his sermons and writings, Pastor David Jang highlights this message from Romans:
“This is not to say the Law is bad. The Law is a precious revelation of God’s justice and will. However, it does not provide us with the power to cleanse our sins or grant new life. Only the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross can accomplish that. The Law simply exposes our sin and serves as a ‘tutor to lead us to Christ.’”
Romans 3:19–20 is the transition to Paul’s teaching on “justification by faith,” which begins in verse 21. Having thoroughly discussed the Law and sin, Paul is about to conclude that “there is no answer except to be declared righteous by faith.” After presenting the hopeless reality of sin, he moves immediately to the only remedy for that sin: the righteousness of Christ, secured by His blood.
Indeed, if we read only these verses, humanity appears to stand mute before the Law, fearing judgment. But Paul’s intention is not to proclaim a message of despair. Rather, it is the necessary premise for “the new way of hope.” If people do not truly grasp how desperately sinful they are, they will never understand why the cross of Jesus is needed. If the church preaches Jesus Christ without providing a clear diagnosis of sin and judgment, the gospel loses its power. Only when people recognize deep within themselves—“I am a sinner. There is no way I can be righteous by my own effort. Even knowing the Law doesn’t fix this”—do they realize the glory of the gospel.
Pastor David Jang points out:
“In our current era, people often dismiss ‘guilt’ and the ‘fear of judgment,’ thinking they can continue their religious lives without genuine repentance or change. But Paul stresses the need for piercing conviction in the human heart. The Law assists with that conviction. While no one can become righteous through the Law, discovering our sin through it and ultimately turning to Christ is the good outcome of the Law’s function.”
So is the Law then unnecessary? Paul never says so. In Romans 7, he insists that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good” (Rom. 7:12). The real problem is our sinful nature, which is unable to measure up to the Law. The Law condemns us, leaving us no choice but to cry out, “What a wretched man I am!” and thus deny ourselves and seek the grace of Christ. This is precisely how Romans explains the order of the gospel.
Following Paul’s argument, no human can present any righteous works of their own. In both innate and learned ways, humans are corrupted in every aspect. Yet once a person grasps this, a way opens. The cross of Christ secures the forgiveness of our sins, and through His death and resurrection, God has proclaimed His plan to make humanity a new creation. The one who, through the Law, discovers “I am a sinner” can put on “the righteousness from God” through the grace of the cross, being reborn.
Pastor David Jang underscores this pivotal point:
“The gospel indeed begins with despair, but that despair is the doorway to true hope. When the Law discloses sin and we realize we cannot make ourselves righteous, we fall at Jesus’ feet. That moment is the threshold of salvation. This message must resonate deeply in the church today. If each believer daily repents and stands again before the gospel, the church will shine as a true light in the world.”
Thus, Romans 3:1–20 weaves together “the privilege entrusted to humankind (for the Jews, it was the Law and the covenants; for the church today, it may be the gospel and the presence of the Holy Spirit),” “the universal dominion of sin,” and “the fact that the Law allows recognition of sin but cannot save.” Paul will proceed from verse 21 to reveal God’s astonishing good news of justification through Jesus Christ. Yet this crucial prerequisite is the awareness of sin. We must first acknowledge that within us lie “hearts that do not seek God,” “pride that lacks the fear of God,” “lips filled with malice,” and “feet that run toward evil,” epitomizing a comprehensive and universal depravity.
In summary, the core of the third theme is: “While the Law reveals sin, it cannot establish one’s righteousness; only the salvation given through Christ can.” The true purpose of the Law is to display “God’s righteousness” and at the same time awaken our conscience of sin, leading us to Christ. Without the cross of Jesus, no one can satisfy that standard. For believers confronting this truth about sin, the only appropriate confession is “not by my merit, but by God’s grace alone.” This is the conclusion Paul drives at in his letter to the Romans, and it resonates with the preaching of many throughout church history, including Pastor David Jang, who repeatedly teaches this same gospel message.
Ultimately, we can condense all these points into a single sentence: “There is no one righteous—no, not one; yet in Jesus Christ, by faith, we are declared righteous.” Romans 3:1–20 forms the prelude to that declaration, forcing us first to examine sin closely so that we can truly appreciate the sheer greatness and absolute nature of the joy we have through faith. Understanding Paul’s logical flow deepens our gratitude for the gospel.
(Note: Paul does not attack or abolish the Law but presupposes that we must live a new life in the One who fulfilled it—Christ. Jesus Himself laid this foundation in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets” [Matt. 5:17]. The Law is the reflection and standard of God’s nature and righteousness. Nonetheless, by exposing human sin, it proves that no one can meet that standard apart from the blood of Jesus.)
Hence, Paul’s core message is: “All are under sin and cannot achieve righteousness through works of the Law, but there is hope in Christ.” Pastor David Jang also passionately underscores this truth of the gospel, urging the church to repent humbly and live together under Christ’s grace, which alone enables us to be salt and light to the world. Indeed, Romans 3:1–20 starkly contrasts sin and grace, reminding us of the unchanging fact that to be saved, we must face our sin and repent. This is the heart of Paul’s teaching and what Pastor David Jang, like so many preachers before him, continually proclaims.
By dividing the exposition of Romans 3:1–20 into subtopics, we have seen, first, the privilege of the Jews and the faithfulness of God; second, the universal sinfulness of humanity and related misunderstandings; and third, the relationship between the Law and the recognition of sin, along with the necessity of Jesus Christ for salvation. All of this climaxes in the decisive announcement of the gospel: “There is no one righteous—no, not one, but God is true and faithful, and has granted us righteousness through Christ.” By no human work can anyone be justified before God, but Romans 3 emphatically testifies that the only answer is to recognize our sin, turn away from it, and draw near to Jesus. And as with countless other preachers across generations, Pastor David Jang persistently urges believers today to cling to this message.