There is None Righteous, No, Not One

Over the previous two and a half chapters, the inspired apostle has prosecuted the case of the condemnation of the Gentiles as well as the Jews. It is now, in this passage, where he begins to make his closing argument in the case. One may be tempted to think that the Gentiles were more unworthy than the Jews; the apostle destroys this argument in the previous section. Some may be tempted to think that the Jews were more unworthy than Christians since they were given both the revelation appearing in nature (as the Gentiles), and the Lord's particular and special revelation in the prophetic word in the Old Testament; the apostle begins to destroy that position as well. He summons to his argument verse after verse after verse. In the overwhelming evidence presented, there is only one possible conclusion: "There is none righteous, no, not one." His conclusion is inescapable, yet, the verdict is yet to be given and the judgment has not yet been revealed. When the verdict is pronounced, there is no surprise. But when the sentence is eventually pronounced, we find it falls, not upon us, but upon the only, sinless, sin-bearing Savior, Jesus Christ. – Pastor Schlegel