"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:11
This passage of scripture verses 9 - 20 is a conclusion to what has been written before it. God through the Apostle Paul wanted the Jews to understand their standing before Him. But He was also speaking to the entire world because God also told us that there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile or non-Jew. Romans 10:12a "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek..." We are all condemned the same way and we are all saved the same way, Jesus is Lord over all. Romans 10:12 "...for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." God also said in Romans 3:9b "... for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;" Therefore we conclude that while this conclusion is written to the Jews it is also written to the Gentiles. In these scriptures here in Romans 3 we find a very awful description of mankind, we find a description that tells us that man on his own will never understand, seek, nor find God. But it also tells us that man on his own will never understand God. God also describes man as so awful that " Their throat is an open sepulchre...", and that "...their tongues they have used deceit...", and their "...mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:" and He goes on to describe man as "Their feet are swift to shed blood...Destruction and misery are in their ways...And the way of peace have they not known...There is no fear of God before their eyes." And then God concludes with verse 19b "...all the world may become guilty before God." This is why God said in verse 20a "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight..." How could there be? If what we read here in Romans 3 includes all of mankind then there is no way a Just and Righteous God could ever allow anyone to be righteous unless it was a gracious and merciful act on His part. Folks, do not be deceived by the deceivers and believe God, all mankind are rotten throughout, it is known as total depravity. Total depravity is defined just as God has done here in Romans 3. People have delusions that man is really good, that deep down all mankind is good in some way, but God's record tells us it is not so. If you ever wondered why people hate God so much, hate His people, and His churches, this is why. People, no matter how they look to us, they are truly evil, and all people. God told us in Philemon 1:6b "...every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." out side of Jesus Christ "... There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans 3:10. This is why people are evil in everything they do. We only see a few things but the heart and intent we cannot see, only God can see that. We are now in the 21st Century starting to see exactly what God is talking about. We see the exact things in mankind that God has described here. I know preachers want to talk about the good in people, the willingness to accept God/Christ and to live and work for Them, but they are wrong. Mankind may want to be religious, they may want to serve a god, they may think they want to be righteous, but in reality they are thinking and living in a mirage and not reality. When God says there are non righteous, then believe me there is none, no not even one. We can only be righteous in Jesus Christ, only our sins can be forgiven and us made whole and holy in Christ Jesus. No amount of works, no amount of trying, no amount of religion will ever save you or make you holy. If you are not saved then you are exactly whom God is talking about. Jesus Christ said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls...For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28 - 30
