What is sin according to Romans 3, and who is guilty of it?
According to Romans 3, sin is disobeying the revealed will of God. Paul writes that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, meaning every Jew and every non-Jew who has ever lived has been guilty of disobeying God's revealed will. Therefore all people are guilty.
Les explains that Romans 3 compares Scripture with Scripture, agreeing with Genesis 3 and Ezekiel: the soul that sins shall surely die. In Romans 3:9, Paul asks whether Jews are better than Gentiles and answers, "No, in no wise," because both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. Les teaches that this means every Jew and every non-Jew who has ever lived has been guilty of disobeying the revealed will of God, and that disobedience is what Scripture calls sin. The passage then continues through Romans 3:12-20 to develop this universal guilt.
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;