The words of Romans 3:19-20 are all too clear. “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

All are Lost

The book of Romans begins by demonstrating that all are lost. All have fallen under the penalty of sin. Especially those who have the Law—the Old Testament Law given through Moses. We are told that the whole world will be held “accountable to God” (3:19).

The word translated “accountable” or “guilty” (KJV) only occurs here in the Greek New Testament. It is defined as: “The state of an accused person who cannot reply at the trial initiated against him because…