3:9 What does it mean that "all are under sin?
3:9 What does it mean that "all are under sin?
It means that every human being possesses a fallen, sinful nature; the sin nature of Adam, originating with Adam's fall from grace for disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit (CP Ge 2:17; Ro 5:12).
This is not implying that Christians remain bound in sin or that they sin wilfully, but that all people in their natural state are sinners (CP 3:10-17, 23). It is because they have no fear of God (CP V18 with Pr 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 16:6; Ac 5:11).
Christians can and do spontaneously sin, but they no longer habitually sin, which is what is meant in Ro 3:9 (CP 1Jn 3:5-10; 5:4, 18).
See also comments on Ro 5:12-14, 5:15, 6:1, 6:3-5, 6:6-11, 6:12-14, 6:15, 6:16, 6:17-20, 6:21-23, 7:7-23, 8:1-2, 8:3-4; Ga 5:17; 1Jn 3:6-9 and author's studies Romans 6 - a Study on God's Empowering of Believers through Jesus Christ to overcome Sin in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), The Power of God in Christians to Overcome the Devil and The Doctrine of Grace in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).