世人都犯了罪
罗马书三章9至12节，19至23节
9这却怎么样呢？我们比他们强么？决不是的！因我们已经证明，犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。
10就如经上所记：没有义人，连一个也没有。
11没有明白的；没有寻求神的；
12都是偏离正路，一同变为无用。没有行善的，连一个也没有。
19我们晓得律法上的话都是对律法以下之人说的，好塞住各人的口，叫普世的人都伏在神审判之下。
20所以凡有血气的，没有一个因行律法能在神面前称义，因为律法本是叫人知罪。
21但如今，神的义在律法以外已经显明出来，有律法和先知为证：
22就是神的义，因信耶稣基督加给一切相信的人，并没有分别。
23因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；
信息分享
首先，保罗指出人是不义的；人无法达致神所要求的善，也无法按照神所要求的正道而行。人若没有基督所赐予的义，根本无法站立在神的面前。
有些人或许会说：「别人比我更差」。这可能是事实；但即使是世上最好的人，也不能在圣洁的神面前站立得住。
保罗在第11节指出，人靠着自己是不能明白的。人可以拥有很多知识，但如果他不能够明白神的心意，他的知识对他根本毫无帮助。
这里的每一节经文都描述了人的境况，也责备了人的罪。结论是：「没有义人，连一个没有」。第18节指出，这样的人不惧怕神，因为他根本不承认有神。
保罗在第20节进一步指出，没有人可以靠着守旧约的律法得救。律法就如一面镜子，反照出我们脸上的污秽，但镜子却不能把污秽除掉。我们必须用其他东西来清除污垢。
律法的作用是要显明我们的罪，让我们看见自己离开神的标准多远。正因我们无法达致神的标准，基督才要来到拯救我们。祂过了完全无罪的一生。祂的死为我们的罪担负了刑罚。如今，我们是借着基督的义而非自己的义来得着神的悦纳。
让我们静下来细想神的恩典和慈爱。祂要我们成为义人，但祂却借着祂的儿子耶稣基督把义赐给我们。祂要我们为着本身的罪受罚，但祂却让祂的儿子耶稣基督代替我们受罚。神的爱真是何等浩大，是我们所不配得的。
ALL HAVE SINNED
Romans 3:9-12; 19-23
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.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Message
Firstly Paul says that man is unrighteous. He is not able to do what God says is right and proper to do. Man would never be able to stand before God without Christ's righteousness.
Sometimes people say, 'There are people who are a lot worse than I am', and that may be true. But none of us are good enough to stand before a holy God.
In verse 11 Paul says that man by himself lacks understanding. Man may know a great deal but if he cannot see what God is trying to tell him, then his knowledge has not helped him at all.
Every phrase in this section describes and condemns man. The conclusion is repeated 'There is none who does good, there is not even one'. Verse 18 says that such a man does not fear God, because he will not acknowledge God.
Paul further states in verse 20 that no-one can be saved by trying to keep the law of the Old Testament. The law is like a mirror which can show us a dirty spot on our face but the mirror can't wash it off. Something else must do that.
The law shows up our sin and its purpose is to show us how far short we fall of God's standards. This is why Christ came to meet our need. His life was perfect. His death paid the penalty for our sin. Now we can be accepted before God, not by any right of our own, but by the righteousness of Christ.
Stop and think about the goodness and love of God. He demanded righteousness. He provided it for us in Jesus Christ. He demanded that a penalty be paid for our sin, but he paid it himself in the person of his Son. Isn't that tremendous? Isn't that good news?