Romans 3:20

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

This is because no human being can be considered right with God by [obeying] the requirements of a law. [Note: It is difficult to determine the exact sense in which “law” is used in these verses. It may be law generally, or the Law of Moses specifically. See Bruce, pages 52-58]. For the knowledge of what sin is comes from the Law of Moses.

Cross References

Acts 13:39

and [it is] by Him that every believer is made right with God in every way that he could not have been made right by [observing the requirements of] the Law of Moses.

Romans 2:13

For [it is] not those who hear the Law of Moses who are right with God, but [it is] those who obey [the requirements of] that law [perfectly] who will be considered right with God.

Romans 3:28

For we conclude that a person is made right with God by faith [in Christ], apart from [obedience to] the requirements of a law [or, the Law of Moses, See verse 20].

Romans 4:13

For it was not through [obedience to] law [See 3:31] that the promise to Abraham or his descendants of inheriting [the best of] the world [was made], but through their being considered righteous because of faith [in God].

Romans 4:15

For the law brings [God’s] wrath [i.e., because of man’s failure to obey it perfectly], but where there is no law, there is no [responsibility for] sin.

Romans 5:13

Yet [physical] death ruled [over mankind] from the time of Adam to Moses, even over those people who had not sinned the way Adam did. [Now] Adam prefigured the coming of Jesus.

Romans 5:20

This was so that just as sin ruled [over mankind], causing [physical] death, even so God’s unearned favor would rule [over mankind], providing [them with] righteousness, and leading to never ending life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7:11

For by means of God’s commandment [against sinning], sin found an opportunity to deceive me and [even] kill me [spiritually].

Romans 9:32

Why? Because they did not [attempt to do it] by faith [in Him], but by trying to fulfill all the requirements [of the law]. So, they stumbled over “the stumbling stone,” [i.e., the Jews refused to become obedient to Christ. See I Pet. 2:6-8].

1 Corinthians 15:56

The [harmful] sting that causes [physical] death is sin [See Rom. 5:12]; and the power of sin [to do this] comes from the law. [See Rom. 8:2].

Galatians 2:16

still we know that a person is not justified [i.e., made right with God] by [perfect obedience to] the Law of Moses, but rather through faith in [the person and work of] Christ. [Knowing this] we have trusted in Christ Jesus [to save us], so that we might be made right with God by trusting in Him and not by [our compliance with] the requirements of the Law of Moses. Because by such law-compliance no one can be made right with God.

Galatians 2:19

For it was by means of [this system of] law-keeping that I [realized I] was dead. This was so I could find life through a relationship with God.

Galatians 5:4

Those of you who seek to be right with God by observing the requirements of the Law of Moses have severed yourselves from [your relationship with] Christ; you have fallen away from God’s unearned favor.

Hebrews 7:19

(since the law did not make anything [i.e., anyone] perfect), but on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope [which did bring perfection through Christ], by which we draw near to God.