Being UNDER Sin

Romans 3:9-18

Romans 3:9b.. "...both Jews and Greeks, are under sin..."

Many times thoughout the scriptures we see this idea of being "under sin," but what does it actually mean? Paul here in Romans speaks of all people, both Jew and Gentile (Greek) being "under sin," but what does this entail?

Think of the word under for a second. What does it mean to be under something? What first comes to mind may be a geographical context. We are under a roof right now, and the floor is under our feet. However, that was not at all what Paul was talking about. Rather, he was talking about authority. Think of being under more as "lining up under in authority to." A child is under his parents, an employee is under his boss, and we were all under our sin.

Paul is trying to show that all men are under the dominion of sin. Not only are all men simply sinners in need of a Savior (as Romans 1:18-3:8 showed us), but they are all enslaved sinners in need of a Savior. Men, in their natural state, are bound to sin with no way of escape. They cannot get out of their sin, no matter how hard they try.

In order to make his point, Paul creates a beautiful collage out of old testament scriptures. The first few show us man's state before God (Romans 3:10b-11). "No one is righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10b). He then explains man's situation in a variety of ways (Romans 3:12-18). Man has turned aside from God, become worthless, used their tongues to decieve, are swift to shed blood, do not know the way of peace, and ultimately have no fear of God (Romans 3:12-18). In short, all men are under sin.

In sum, not only are men sinners, but they are enslaved by their sin. Not only are men sinners, but they are helpless sinners who cannot rescue themselves from their own dillemna. Men, by themselves, are without hope.

...if only there was a way to be saved...something from outside of us...something that of God...