Romans 3:19-20 Part 2 of 2

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.

 

and the whole world held accountable to God 

Romans 3:9  What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 

 

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law 

Acts 13:38-39  "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses."

Galatians 2:15-16  "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified." 

 

rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin 

Romans 4:15  ... because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

Romans 5:13  To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law.

Romans 7:7-12  What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." (Exodus:20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 

 

(parentheses are mine) 

 

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