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Nobody can be counted righteous by observing the Law because nobody observes it perfectly enough.

BibleGateway: Romans 3:9-20

ESV Text: Romans 3:9-20


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:58 and ends at about 2:17

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9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

     19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them 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 there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 377:
Salvation unto us has Come

Hymnary.org

— Organ Audio

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1. Salvation unto us has come 
By God’s free grace and favor; 
Good works cannot avert our doom, 
They help and save us never. 
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone, 
Who did for all the world atone; 
He is our one Redeemer. 

2. What God did in His Law demand 
And none to Him could render 
Caused wrath and woe on every hand 
For man, the vile offender. 
Our flesh has not those pure desires 
The spirit of the Law requires, 
And lost is our condition. 

3. It was a false, misleading dream 
That God His Law had given 
That sinners should themselves redeem 
And by their works gain heaven. 
The Law is but a mirror bright 
To bring the inbred sin to light 
That lurks within our nature. 

4. From sin our flesh could not abstain, 
Sin held its sway unceasing; 
The task was useless and in vain, 
Our gilt was e’er increasing. 
None can remove sin’s poisoned dart 
Or purify our guileful heart,- 
So deep is our corruption. 

5. Yet as the Law must be fulfilled 
Or we must die despairing, 
Christ came and hath God’s anger stilled, 
Our human nature sharing. 
He hath for us the Law obeyed 
And thus the Father’s vengeance stayed 
Which over us impended. 

6. Since Christ hath full atonement made 
And brought to us salvation, 
Each Christian therefore may be glad 
And build on this foundation. 
Thy grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, 
Thy death is now my life indeed, 
For Thou hast paid my ransom. 

7. Let me not doubt, but trust in Thee, 
Thy Word cannot be broken; 
Thy call rings out, “Come unto Me!” 
No falsehood hast Thou spoken. 
Baptized into Thy precious name, 
My faith cannot be put to shame, 
And I shall never perish. 

8. The Law reveals the guilt of sin 
And makes men conscience-stricken; 
The Gospel then doth enter in 
The sinful soul to quicken. 
Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live; 
The Law no peace can ever give, 
No comfort and no blessing. 

9. Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone 
And rests in Him unceasing; 
And by its fruits true faith is known, 
With love and hope increasing. 
Yet faith alone doth justify, 
Works serve thy neighbor and supply 
The proof that faith is living. 

10. All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise 
To Father, Son, and Spirit, 
The God that saved us by His grace,- 
All glory to His merit! 
O Triune God in heaven above, 
Who hast revealed Thy saving love, 
Thy blessed name be hallowed.