Romans 3: 1-20

Paul reasons with his readers.. Jews and  Gentiles.. showing that all are under the same God.. with the same expectations.. and the same need.. to be justified.  The Jews had the Law, they were... ."entrusted with the oracles of God".. but, their unrighteousness and their unbelief would no more save them from God's wrath than the Gentiles in their ignorance of the Law. 

"There is none righteous, not even one.. " Paul cites from Psalm 14.. "The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one." 

The Law "speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God.. "  Doing the works of the Law, Paul writes, is unable to save.. the Law just simply teaches what sin is.. 

What a powerful statement.. "all the world"  is  "accountable to God"!  To understand that truth  really does shut our mouths!  We live in a culture that no longer believes they are accountable to anyone.. let alone God. They don't believe the Bible has any say in how they live.. they don't even know what the Bible really says....

As Christians, we have also been "entrusted with the oracles of God".. we have been given the Word of God and we know these truths.. that all have sinned, that all are accountable to God, that all are under the wrath of God unless they are justified by God through faith.  Perhaps we need to speak up more about the reality of sin and judgement. There is a lot of criticism for "hell fire and brimstone" preachers.. but they are not  wrong.. A world that does not recognize what sin means.. does not know that they even need to be saved from it; they have no idea the price that they will pay for their sins. 

Father in heaven, forgive us for trying to make Christianity about anything less than the full truth.. that every man, woman, and child is sinful, unrighteous and headed for a judgement that will be perfectly just.  We all have sinned and fall short of Your glory.  We are all accountable to You and will stand before You.  Our only hope is Jesus.. Praise You Lord for the free gift of salvation by the grace You have poured out on us through Christ Jesus. May the good news of Jesus be made known throughout our world today.. Send forth Your workers, Lord! Send us.  Grant us the open doors.. and the right words to speak up to those who need to hear these truths. Thank You, Lord God. Amen.