The following text is centered on Pastor David Jang’s expository sermon on Romans 3:9–20. In this passage, the Apostle Paul proclaims that all humanity is under sin and powerfully teaches the relationship between the Law and grace, as well as the way of salvation. Particularly through the phrase “destruction and misery are in their paths,” it becomes starkly clear how pitifully human reality plunges into ruin when God is not kept in mind. This text includes a full exegesis of Romans 3:9–20, as well as references to Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Genesis, the story of Noah, Jacob’s prophecies, the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16, and James 3. It focuses on the theme of “the total depravity of humanity” and “the necessity of salvation.” Particularly, Pastor David Jang proclaims the true nature of sin, the destruction of life that has departed from God, and the grace that can be found only in Christ, all the while stressing the need for believers to “wash their garments” (i.e., deal with sin) daily.
1. All Humanity Is Under Sin
In Romans 3:9, the Apostle Paul states, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.” This verse is a key statement indicating that all humanity is under sin. Here, when Paul says “we,” he is not only addressing the Jews and Gentiles who heard the gospel in the 1st-century Roman church but also all believers living today. In the preceding chapters of Romans 1 and 2, Paul has already pointed out the sins of the Gentiles and then the sins of the Jews, and now, looking at the entire Roman church community, he asks, “Are we better? Certainly not.” This reminds even believers—those who have received salvation through Christ—that they remain under sin’s influence.
Pastor David Jang, explaining this text, emphasizes that although we have “already” received salvation, we are simultaneously in a state that is “not yet” fully sanctified. Indeed, the structure of Romans itself shows this: in chapters 1–5, Paul proclaims the gospel that one is “justified by faith,” then in chapters 6–7, he explains the process of sanctification, and finally in chapter 8, he mentions the hope of glorification. Notably, at the end of chapter 7, Paul cries out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24). This exclamation exemplifies that even believers who have been justified still wrestle with the remnants of sin. For church communities and saints in the thick of this battle, it would be misguided to conclude hastily that there is no need to speak of sin simply because “we are now declared righteous.” Pastor David Jang firmly points out that “the moment we underestimate sin, the sinfulness dormant within us once again begins to seize our hearts and actions.” Therefore, Paul’s teaching on sin in Romans 3:9 and onward serves both as a valid warning and a vital lesson, even for those who regard themselves as already saved.
Paul then quotes Ecclesiastes 7:20, Psalms 14 and 53, and various prophetic texts, declaring, “There is none righteous, not even one.” The manner in which Paul employs these passages follows the rabbinic technique known as charaz—stringing together multiple Old Testament verses like beads on a thread to strengthen his argument. By successively citing familiar psalms and prophetic statements, he reaffirms with “the very words you already know” that “all humanity is sinful.” Representative examples include:
- “There is none righteous, not even one” (cf. Ps. 14:1–3; 53:1–3)
- “No one understands good and evil, no one seeks for God”
- “Their throat is an open grave, their tongue is filled with the poison of asps, their lips are full of cursing and bitterness”
- “Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their paths”
- “There is no fear of God before their eyes”
These descriptions of sin expose the existential state of “humanity without God.” When Pastor David Jang explains this, he particularly highlights three aspects. First is sin that begins in our thoughts and hearts. Sin starts with humanity’s distaste for retaining God in their mind. This directly aligns with Romans 1:28, “They did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer.” The relationship between God and humankind is, in essence, inseparable, yet human arrogance drives people to declare, “God, leave my life alone—I’ll take care of myself.” The ultimate outcome of that self-will is “destruction and misery.” Pastor David Jang teaches that the event of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3 and the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 leaving his father’s home both have their root in “wanting to live without God.”
Second, sin that begins in thought and heart surfaces through language. That is precisely what the phrases “Their throat is an open grave,” “The poison of asps is under their lips,” and “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” convey. If the heart rots, foul speech issues from the mouth, thereby revealing humanity’s total depravity. Pastor David Jang references James 3 to underscore the destructive power of the tongue. Though the tongue is a small part of the body, it is like a spark capable of setting one’s entire life ablaze. Jesus also sternly admonishes, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out… if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off,” urging us to be on guard against the eyes, hands (actions), and especially the tongue (speech) that serve as conduits for sin.
Third, sin moves into action, steering our footsteps. “Their feet are swift to shed blood” illustrates how quickly humanity rushes into evil when God is not kept in mind. Pastor David Jang points out this irony: “We are so quick-footed to commit sin, yet we hesitate and hold back when it comes to doing good,” and he challenges believers to check daily where their footsteps and actions are heading. The path Jesus walked to the cross was one of suffering and self-sacrifice, yet in our nature, we are far more inclined to plunge eagerly into the pursuit of personal gain and pleasure. Against such a backdrop, “destruction and misery are in their paths” most succinctly captures the final outcome of life without God. Pastor David Jang stresses that “continuing down this path inevitably leads to the ruin of one’s soul and unending torment.”
Additionally, Pastor David Jang notes that having no “fear” (reverence) of God is the ultimate evidence of sin. By citing Psalm 36:1, Paul states, “There is no fear of God before their eyes,” a sobering revelation that sinners disregard God and have no fear of His judgment. This applies universally—whether one is a Gentile living in lawlessness, a Jew in possession of the Law but resorting to hypocrisy, or even someone in the church who takes sin lightly despite knowing about grace. After his heavy proclamation that all humanity stands under sin, Paul transitions to discussing the function of the Law: “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God” (Rom. 3:19). This clarifies that “the Law does not function as a shield that exempts sin but rather a tool that exposes and condemns it.”
Indeed, the Jews assumed they had a special privilege of salvation simply because “they possessed the Law,” yet Paul essentially retorts, “If you have the Law, you must keep it entirely—can you do that?” Pastor David Jang stresses that while we should acknowledge both the “positive function of the Law” and “the limitations of the Law,” we must also see that the Law, though it restrains and reveals sin, cannot be the fundamental means of salvation. Instead, the Law “closes our mouths” so that none can claim their own righteousness before God. This is the essence of Romans 3:20, “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Thus, the declaration that all humanity is under sin is not merely a statement of despair. Rather, it is the opening act of the gospel, because it leads us not to rely on ourselves but to lift our eyes to Jesus Christ. Pastor David Jang notes that Paul immediately turns to the way of salvation—the “way of grace”—in Romans 3:21 and following, but that before one can genuinely experience grace, one must first acknowledge oneself as the “chief of sinners.” Even if we have already been justified, we must not become complacent; we must daily “wash our sin-stained garments” (cf. Rev. 22:14) and examine ourselves in the light of the Holy Spirit and the Word.
The story of Noah in Genesis offers a telling example. Noah was an “upright man” rescued from the Flood, yet after his salvation, he became drunk on wine, exposing himself shamefully. Ham saw his father’s nakedness and covered it, but in the end was cursed. Superficially, one might ask, “He covered his father’s nakedness—why was he cursed?” but one line of interpretation holds that Ham regarded his father with arrogance or mockery. Pastor David Jang uses this to illustrate that even if we are saved, we can, like Noah, fall back into sin if we are not vigilant about it daily—or like Ham, we can become ensnared by pride. Hence, we must remain ever on guard when it comes to dealing with sin.
Meanwhile, Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49 includes a statement to Judah—“He washes his garments in wine”—which many interpret as foreshadowing “holy cleansing.” Judah is the tribe destined to wield “the scepter” (the rod of rulership) and eventually becomes part of Christ’s lineage. Prefiguring this, Judah’s prophecy mentions “He washes his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes,” which in the New Testament context symbolizes the “atonement” through the blood of Christ (represented by wine). Pastor David Jang sees in this scene a call for believers to “wash their sinful garments in Jesus’ blood every day.” He criticizes certain denominations or groups that claim there is no longer any need for repentance after salvation, insisting instead that those who persevere in cleansing their sins are the ones who receive the blessing spoken of in Revelation 22:14—“Blessed are those who wash their robes.”
Ultimately, human beings were created to live inseparably from God, but that relationship was broken by sin. Nevertheless, humans continue to reject God, foolishly asserting, “I’ll be fine without God,” and thus end up on a path strewn with “destruction and misery.” We see with our eyes the lure of sin, we speak it with our tongues, and our feet run toward it—this is the picture of total human depravity. What then must we do? Pastor David Jang’s conclusion is unequivocal: “Cling only to the grace and blood of Jesus Christ.” Yet, before we can truly reach this grace, there must be a prior step of “repentance that acknowledges oneself as a sinner.” Paul’s anguished cry in Romans 7:24, “Who will set me free from the body of this death?” marks the beginning of true faith. Without that confession, there is no gospel. Where sin is finally recognized as sin, grace is then rightly recognized as grace. That is the foundational argument of Romans 3:9–20.
Specifically, the parables in Luke 15 (the Prodigal Son) and Luke 16 (the Rich Man and Lazarus) offer a striking contrast. The prodigal son abandoned his relationship with the father but was ultimately saved when he returned to his father in utter despair. By contrast, the rich man, feasting daily in fine clothes, ignored Lazarus who lay at his gate longing for mere crumbs. After death, he found himself in torment, begging that someone would dip even a drop of water on his tongue, only to be denied. He pleads for his living brothers to be warned not to end up in his torment. It is a powerful illustration of how tragic the end can be for those who choose sin in their hearts, commit it with their tongues, and walk the path of evil.
Here, Pastor David Jang again points out the role of the “tongue.” The tongue can be a tool for spreading good or a tool for spreading evil. Our tongue can be a “spiritual carriage” that carries the Word of God and gives life, or it can be “the fire of hell” that tears others down through lies and curses (cf. James 3:6). That the rich man in the story of Lazarus suffers in hell with a “burning tongue” at the center of his torment underscores the crucial place that speech and the tongue occupy between sin and salvation. In conclusion, recognizing that “all humanity is under sin” must be our first step toward opening our hearts to the truth that God’s grace and the path of salvation are indeed necessary.
2. The Law and Grace, the Way of Salvation
Romans 3:19–20 says, “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” Here, Paul formally declares that “the Law cannot resolve the problem of sin.” The Jews took pride in being “the keepers of the Law,” and while it is true that the Law is “God’s Word,” the problem lies in the fact that “possessing the Law does not make one righteous.” Pastor David Jang repeatedly highlights that whether through the Law, reason, morality, or any human effort, sin cannot be dealt with at its root; hence, we must look toward God’s “grace,” which Paul begins to present.
The Law serves two main functions. First, it makes sin known (Rom. 3:20). Second, it restrains sin (Gal. 3:19). By teaching people “This is sin,” the Law provides a measure of warning and thereby holds back some measure of wrongdoing. But the Law does not uproot sin entirely, for the root of sin lies in a heart severed from God. This core of pride and darkness in the heart cannot be fully healed by mere adherence to legal prescriptions. Indeed, Paul confesses in Romans 7 that “through the Law, I recognized my sin, but the more I realized it, the more strongly sin seemed to flourish in me” (see Rom. 7:8–11). This paradox shows the depth of human corruption and the limitations of the Law.
So how then is a way of salvation opened? In Romans 3:21 and onward, Paul proclaims, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested,” unveiling the “righteousness of God” that comes through Jesus Christ. It is that righteousness of God, imputed to us through faith, that enables us—sinners—to be declared righteous (Rom. 3:22). Pastor David Jang passionately underscores that this section is not only the heart of Romans but also of the entire gospel. Grace, by definition, is “freely given,” and we receive it not through any merit or qualification of our own but only by depending on the “merit of Christ’s cross” through faith.
Hence, Paul unequivocally states that “we cannot be justified by works of the Law.” If salvation could be obtained by our deeds, “anyone could boast,” but given that all humanity stands under sin and that the Law cannot fundamentally eradicate that sin, it is only “by faith” that salvation is made possible (cf. Rom. 3:27). When explaining “faith,” Pastor David Jang describes it as our “acceptance” and “trust” from the human side. While God’s grace flows from His unilateral love, for that grace to be applied to us, we must respond with “Amen” and “Yes.” This takes place through the “foolishness of preaching,” through confession of repentance, and through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Pastor David Jang references Romans 5:12 and onward, where Paul lays out, “Sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and salvation came through another man, Jesus Christ.” He asserts that this is the clearest and most concise articulation of the problem: Jews and Gentiles alike became sinners in Adam, but through Jesus Christ we can now receive grace—this is the bedrock principle of the gospel.
The challenge then arises regarding life after salvation. Even saved believers continue living in the world where they wrestle with the “power of sin.” Just as Noah, having been rescued from the Flood, was later found drunk and exposed, so too can we trip and fall the moment we become overconfident in our salvation. Hence Paul discusses “sanctification” (chapters 6 and 7) and then “glorification” (chapter 8). Pastor David Jang summarizes, “If justification is the start of salvation, sanctification is the journey, and glorification is the completion.” And he reiterates that none of these steps can be achieved without the grace of Jesus Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit.
The reference to “washing one’s garments in wine” in Genesis 49 is a foreshadowing of the atoning grace Christ would later provide, as well as a call for those who are already saved to continually “wash” themselves (be cleansed). Revelation 22:14 declares, “Blessed are those who wash their robes,” indicating that this refers not only to people without any sin, but to those who confess and repent of their sins and strive to be washed by Jesus’ blood day by day. Some denominations claim that once you are saved, you need no further mention of sin or that the “forgive us our debts” part of the Lord’s Prayer is unnecessary. However, Pastor David Jang points out that such a stance runs counter to the foundational spirit of Scripture concerning salvation, sanctification, and repentance. “Believers must continually live with the humble cry, ‘Lord, have mercy on me!’ That is the honest and appropriate attitude of those who have recognized the gravity of sin,” he insists.
Moreover, if humanity trivializes sin, “destruction and misery” will soon reappear. Just as after Noah, people again grew arrogant and built the Tower of Babel, so we too might forget grace and revert to the mindset that “my life is my own” at any time. In such moments, the phrase “destruction and misery” sounds an alarm to our souls. Pastor David Jang clarifies that “destruction and misery” do not merely signify earthly suffering; they refer foremost to “spiritual ruin and fundamental anguish,” the dire condition of a soul separated from God. Since humans are utterly dependent on God for life, created to find true peace (shalom) only in Christ, there can be only despair and desolation when separated from Him.
James 3’s warning about the tongue also makes an ongoing appeal to believers on the path of salvation. “The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity” warns us of the tongue’s tremendous destructive capacity when misused. At the same time, if the tongue is used “to proclaim God’s Word,” it can impart life and illuminate the world. Pastor David Jang observes that reading James 3 in conjunction with Romans 3 reveals how the “tongue under sin” must be transformed into a “tongue under grace.” Even in the church, conflicts abound over words, and verbal violence can be as devastating as physical violence. Thus, those who have been saved should aspire to cultivate a “new language” and a “new tongue.” This pursuit goes beyond the legal requirements of the Old Testament, as Jesus commands us to “love one another,” a new commandment that we must embody in our relationships.
Finally, the gospel message Paul delivers in Romans 3:21 and onward is that of “the righteousness of God revealed apart from the Law,” fulfilled through Jesus Christ’s atoning work. Pastor David Jang reiterates the central tenet of salvation at this point. After meticulously exposing sin in chapters 2 and 3, Paul shifts to “grace, not the Law,” simply because no one can perfectly keep the Law and because external adherence to it cannot address the sin entrenched in the heart. Jesus taught that “You shall not commit murder” refers not only to a literal act of killing but also to harboring hatred or contempt in one’s heart. He also taught that “You shall not commit adultery” applies to anyone who “looks at a woman with lustful intent,” thereby reminding us again that “the root of sin is in the heart.”
Hence, salvation does not arise from the Law, which partially corrects outward behavior, but from “atonement” and “rebirth” through the blood of Christ and the indwelling Spirit that renews our heart. Pastor David Jang stresses that this necessarily entails “spiritual repentance” that acknowledges one’s sinfulness. Once Paul cries out in Romans 7, “Oh wretched man that I am!”—acknowledging his own helplessness—he then breaks into the song of salvation, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25). This is the pattern repeated in the life of faith: again and again we discover sin, again and again we return to Jesus for forgiveness and power. Through this repeated cycle, our souls progressively walk the path of sanctification.
Therefore, the statement “destruction and misery lie in their paths” describes the fate awaiting anyone without God, while simultaneously representing God’s earnest appeal to “turn from that path.” In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the rich man led a life of ease on earth but after death was confined to a hopeless place where he was denied even a drop of water on his burning tongue. But the Prodigal Son, though he strayed far from his father’s house, did not persist down that path to the very end—he repented and returned, thereby experiencing restoration. Pastor David Jang concludes that “the power of the gospel is that you can turn back right now. As long as you have breath, you have the opportunity to repent and return to the Father.”
From this perspective, the key points in understanding the Law, grace, and the way of salvation are as follows:
- The Law is a precious gift from God, but it does not hold the power to save.
- Acknowledging the reality of sin that the Law illuminates, and seeking release from that burden, we must trust that only the grace of Christ can solve this fundamental problem.
- Even after we are justified by faith, the battle with sin persists. Hence, we must daily “wash our garments in wine” (symbolized in Gen. 49:11), seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, and strive for holiness in our “tongue,” our “feet,” and our “eyes.”
- The only One who enables all these processes is the Spirit of God, and we must stand before Him with the humble confession, “Lord, have mercy on me.”
Pastor David Jang advises that when a church community confronts the doctrine of sin in Romans 3, it should not stop at merely recognizing its own sin but should also pay attention to those around it who are suffering and proclaim the gospel of life to them. With our tongue, we should declare “the good news of salvation,” with our feet, we should follow “the path of sacrifice and service that Jesus walked,” and with our eyes, we should look toward “the spiritual vision God shows.” Indeed, it is true that the sin deeply rooted in humankind is vast. Yet the love of Christ’s cross and the power of His resurrection are far greater. That is why Paul can boldly proclaim, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1), and this is the very foundation on which we also can hold the same hope.
In conclusion, Romans 3:9–20 vividly depicts the reality of human sin and its disastrous end: it announces that “destruction and misery lie in their paths,” showing how certain is the final outcome for those who choose sin and forsake God. On this, Pastor David Jang repeatedly reminds us, “Even believers who have received salvation should ask, ‘Are we better?’ The answer: ‘Certainly not,’” urging us to return daily to the place of grace. While the Law exposes our sin, no one can keep it perfectly enough to achieve righteousness; thus, we must rely on the “righteousness of God” through Christ’s atonement and resurrection. Only when that grace comes do our hearts, words, and deeds begin to be transformed, leading us away from the path of destruction and misery and onto the road of peace (shalom). This path cannot be attained by any human wisdom or effort—it is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.
Pastor David Jang concludes that today’s church, through this passage, must break free from the tendency of “being quick to judge other people’s sins” and instead press into “spiritual renewal” by first confessing its own sins and repenting. In that process, believers should give life to one another and present the gospel of life to the world—sharing God’s Word through our tongues, serving in humility through our footsteps, and fixing our eyes on Him. When that posture is restored, the work of salvation that transfers us from “destruction and misery” to “peace and joy” will overflow in both individuals and the community.
In short, Romans 3:9–20 meticulously reveals the ugly reality of human sin and its pitiful fate, thus heralding a clarion call to “turn back from the path without God and return to the path of grace.” Pastor David Jang’s message mirrors this invitation. “Even after we are saved, we are not entirely free from sin. So let us look carefully at our condition, come daily to the foot of the cross, and be cleansed by Christ’s blood. Then, and only then, can we be liberated from sin’s dominion and live under God’s rule and grace, ultimately running toward the path of ‘glory and hope’ instead of ‘destruction and misery.’” Such is the conclusion of the text and the crucial point in understanding the Law and grace, sin and the way of salvation.