“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;” Romans 3:9.
People are described by God as miserable, unholy, wretched, and sinful beings. Mankind, which includes all human beings are not good in any way. God gives a very ugly description of people right here in Romans 3. He says He is talking about both Jews and Gentiles, “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;” Romans 3:9 People are only good in their own eye’s or other peoples eye’s but not in God’s eye’s, we are “…men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” Romans 1:18, in verse 21 God said, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”, in verse 22 God said they think of themselves as wise but are only fools, in verse 23 God said, “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” God is Sovereign, all wise, all powerful, all gracious, all saving, and ETC. nothing like man, but people make God out to a lesser than them, God said in verse 24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…” God don’t want them therefore God cast them to believe the devils doctrine in their own hearts. God went farther in verse 25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator…” They deny the True God and worship the lesser god that is humanism, “I can do this on my own”. Verse 26 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections…” They can have their Paganism, their self-salvation, they can hate the true God and Saviour and worship themselves, God gave them up, no hope for them. Why, why did God give them up, verse 28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” God said in verse 31 people are “Without understanding…” that is of the True God, True Saviour, or the workings of the True Holy Spirit, therefore they worship a fake humanistic god that Satan has set in their evil hearts instead of the True God. People are totally depraved, God said, “I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.” Ecclesiastes 3:12 God went on to describe people this way “…There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10, verse 11 says “There is none that understandeth…” they do not understand God in any way, so they reject the trye God. Then still in verse 11 God said, “…there is none that seeketh after God.” They do not even want God. God went on in verse 12 “…they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” And in verse 17 God said, “…the way of peace have they not known”. This is a description of total depravity that many rejects, although these same rejectors also are the ones God is talking about. We must recognize that in us is not good, we are unable to save ourselves, we need a Saviour and that Saviour is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) 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. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28 – 30 So, what is man, worthless outside of Jesus Christ and a child of God in Christ Jesus!
