Unlimited: Every Mouth Silenced

Jun 9, 2022 1318

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 (Romans 3:19).

Paul usually divides the people into two groups: those “under the law,” i.e. the Jews; and those “without the law,” i.e. the rest (the Gentiles). It would be reasonable to think that that is the distinction he is making here. But he isn’t.

The point that the apostle Paul is making is that since the whole world “knows” the law (whether in written form or not) and does not keep it, therefore the whole world is “under” the law. By this he means that the whole world is condemned by the law.

Every mouth will be silenced.

We are usually quick to justify ourselves and make excuses. However, Paul tells us that there is no excuse. Every mouth will be silenced. This reminds us of the magnificent Pauline passage in Philippians 2, which points to a day in the future when,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10–11).

In my own life, my real conversion to the Gospel only happened when I realised that my mouth was finally silenced before God. Then, and only then, with completely empty hands, was I able to fully accept the grace of God.

Spiritual Application

We’ve all given excuses to God. What are the excuses that you’ve given to God for your wrong choices in the past? Are you willing to repent and be silent before him?

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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