Why can simply reading Romans 3:19-20 without any comment affect someone so strongly?
Because the plain text of Scripture declares that the Law stops every mouth and finds all the world guilty, leaving no flesh justified by deeds of the Law. The Spirit applies that written Word directly, exposing human guilt and the futility of works religion without needing any human comment.
Les teaches that he likes to use those two verses and had a young pastor in class. When he read Romans 3:19-20 without commenting, the pastor's mouth dropped open, and it was evident he had never seen this before. Les says all he did was read them, and he thinks the Spirit just blew his mind. The text says the Law speaks to those under the Law—Jews, Israel—but its ramifications did not stop at Israel's borders; they reached the whole human race. The purpose was that every mouth be stopped and all the world be found guilty. The Law could only pronounce guilt on every human being, so by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified. Les notes that works-religion people close their eyes to this, saying their church or religion will do it, but the Bible says no; if they are held to something they must do, there is no justification, only condemnation.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
More Questions
Does Romans 3:19 apply to the whole world or only to Israel?
Although only Israel was under the law, Romans 3:19 is addressed to the whole human race and stops every mouth, so the law condemns all mankind, not just Israel.
To whom is Paul speaking in Romans 3:20?
Paul wrote the words of Romans 3:20 to the church at Rome as well as to believers today.
Does Romans 3:19 say the world becomes righteous or guilty before God?
According to Romans 3:19, what the world becomes before God is guilty, not righteous; many people wrongly think keeping the law will let them make it.
Who is the Law speaking to in Romans 3:19?
The Law speaks to those who are under the Law, and that refers to Israel.