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Are humans basically good or bad? An article from 2012 in the Scientific American ran this headline: “Scientists probe human nature—and discover we are good, after all.” Early in the church age, theologians discussed the effect of Adam’s sin on his posterity. This was one area Augustine (354-430) got right – man inherits Adam’s sin and is born guilty and a slave to sin. Augustine said we sin because we are sinners. Pelagius (354-418) was a contemporary of Augustine and said, “No, man is born neutral, unaffected by Adam’s sin, and has freedom to sin or not to sin.” Pelagius’ view was condemned in 418 at the Synod of Carthage. However, these two basic views of man’s nature continue to our day.
Paul has something to say about all this, and it is of paramount importance. He’s already told us in Romans 1 and 2 that God’s wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, we exchange God’s truth for a lie, God has turned us over to our own lusts and desires, and that both Jews and Gentiles, the moral and immoral, the religious and irreligious are all under wrath.
Now in Romans 3 Paul, serving as God’s prosecuting attorney, brings his case to a close. I want to bring you into the courtroom this morning. We have a judge (God), the prosecutor (Paul), witnesses (the Bible), and the accused. The accused represents every one of us in our natural condition in Adam, not as a Christian. What we have here is the entire human race on trial. God’s attorney has a charge against us and witnesses to prove his case with a fourteen-count indictment. We’ll have opportunity for a defense, and then we’ll hear the verdict.
THE CHARGE – “All under sin.”
Romans 3:9, What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.
The charge is not that we are ignorant or impoverished or of an oppressed or oppressive group, or that we need a better environment or higher self-esteem. It’s not that we need reeducation or rehab; we’re not just broken. It’s far worse than that. The prosecutor levels the charge in one simple phrase: “We’re all under sin,” as if we’re under gravity or under a weight like that heavy burden of sin on Christian’s back in Pilgrim’s Progress. We’re under sin and unable to escape. Jesus called it slavery in John 8:34, “Whoever sins is the slave of sin.” Galatians 3:22 describes it like a prison: “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin.” Being under sin means we’re under sin’s guilt, rule, and pollution. And we are helplessly captive to sin. Like a drop of food coloring in a glass of water, sin has colored every aspect of our being. That’s what total depravity means. We’re not all as wicked as we can be, but we’re all infected with sin in every part of our being. So, the prosecutor levels the charge: “All under sin.”
THE WITNESSES
“Mr. Prosecutor, do you have witnesses to substantiate your charge?” Paul knew the Jews wanted Scriptural proof of his charge. So, Paul reaches back into their Scriptures and calls forth witness after witness to prove his case, bringing a fourteen-count indictment against the accused. Many are in the Psalms, some in the prophets, and with compelling force they speak directly to us, proving the universality of the charge and the corrupting power and intensity of sin in man. Psalm 14:1-3 leads the way.
Psalms 14:13, The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
#1 Is this man righteous?
Romans 3:10, as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE.”
God’s standard is perfect righteousness, like a perfectly straight line, with no flaws. To be accepted by God you must be perfectly righteous. Has anyone conformed perfectly to God’s standard over the entire extent of his life? No one. Not one person measures up except the One Jesus Christ our righteousness. There are many people who think they are at least somewhat righteous, but their righteousness is like monopoly money. You can take your monopoly money to the bank to make a deposit, but the teller will probably hit the button for the police or consider you flat out crazy. You have no righteousness that God accepts.
#2 Does he understand God and spiritual truth?
Romans 3:11a, THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS.
Sin has darkened the minds of all men. 1 Corinthians 2:14, But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. His mind is twisted, deranged, and darkened spiritually. Sin turns out the lights. He has no understanding of God’s holiness, his own sin, God’s wrath, God’s way of salvation in Christ, or his own eternal destiny. He may think he knows, but Proverbs 16:25 says There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. He may be a brilliant scholar and even an expert in theology who may be able to explain the Reformation and the gospel, but he doesn’t spiritually understand it in his own natural power. There is none who understands. No exceptions.
#3 Does he spend his time seeking the true and living God?
Romans 3:11b, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD.
Seeking God means desiring God above everything else, like that deer in Psalm 42 panting for the water brooks. This man may be religious and claim to be seeking God in different churches or religions. He may talk about God and even write about God and say prayers to God. But all he seeks is a God of his own making, a God he is comfortable with, a God who gives him nice religious feelings and allows him to live his own life without condemning him. He likes smooth preachers who tickle his ears. This man, along with every other unsaved person, does not truly seek God any more than a thief seeks a policeman. When confronted with the holy and sovereign God of the Bible you’ll often hear this person react like this: “That’s not the God I worship.”
#4 Has he obediently stayed on God’s path?
Romans 3:12a, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE.
Are you getting the point here? None, none, none. Not some, some, some. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” He doesn’t like God’s way; his way is better. He’s not a champion of God’s truth. He may agree with some of what the Bible says, maybe with the ten commandments, but if you trace his daily walk, he isn’t in God’s path. You see this is Israel’s history. How quickly they turned aside from following God. How quickly they worshipped that golden calf in the wilderness. King Manasseh not only built pagan altars in God’s house, but he made his son pass through the fire and practiced witchcraft and divination. Today the cultural mantra is “Follow your own road,” “Have it your way,” “Be true to yourself,” “Be your own authentic self.” “Be you!”
Let’s take a break here to see how this whole passage in Romans magnifies the grace of God. Here’s where we are when God finds us: unrighteous, ignorant, seeking our own desires, going our own way. But then like Paul on that Damascus Road, God turn us 180-degrees around and gives us a new heart! More of that later.
#5 Is he useful to God?
Romans 3:12b, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS.
Would you serve sour milk or rancid meat to your guests? That’s the idea in “useless.” He is useless for the purposes God created him. Think of a bow and arrow. The bow is designed to shoot the arrow, but when you pull back on the string, it breaks and is useless. God made us for His glory, but we are like that bow string. Both the Jew and Greek are under sin – useless to God. If you’re going to bring glory to God and produce the fruit of the Spirit, you need the Spirit of God in you! God doesn’t save us because we are useful or worthy of being saved. He saves us while we are without strength, ungodly, enemies, and sinners. When we recognize our sinful condition, we are ready for God’s saving grace.
#6 But hasn’t he done some good?
Romans 3:12c, THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
“Now you’ve gone too far. I know plenty of people who do good things for others and they’re not even Christians.” Ah, you’re using the wrong measurement for good. Jesus told the rich fellow in Luke 18:19, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “All man’s actions are polluted at the source. Sin is in control.” All their good is coated with pride and self-righteousness rather than out of a heart of humility and obedience to God.
Friends, this is us. This is our spiritual character: none, none, not even one does good. And we’ve been this way from birth. In Psalm 58:3 David said we speak lies from our mother’s womb. Proverbs 22:15 says foolishness is knotted up in the heart of a child. No one must be taught to sin. It comes naturally! We’re sinners at our core. It gets worse. Shall we go on? Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns, “This is the most terrifying mirror that you have ever looked at in your life.”
#7 What’s his throat like?
Romans 3:13a, THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE.
When he opens his mouth, which is the vent for his wicked heart, it smells like a grave that’s been dug up with a rotting corpse lying there, emphasizing that the man’s depravity is deep seated. Out of the mouth come evil thoughts that stink like spiritual halitosis. Think of all the filthy, corrupt, rotten, godless talk going on right now. Psalms 73:9, “They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.” What a picture of man in his rebellion against God.
#8 Look at his tongue.
Romans 3:13b, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING.
He has consistently told lies and deceived others, even in little things, speaking falsehoods and flatteries. Psalm 58:3 says we speak lies from birth. Lies and deceptions spew out from pulpits, social platforms, politicians, and the godless culture. President Johnson was known as a pathological liar. We have a president today who can’t seem to make a public speech without lying. We live in a sea of lies. We ourselves are not innocent. We may have told a lie or two this morning.
#9 What’s behind his lips?
Romans 3:13c, THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS.
These words are from Psalms 140:2-3: Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. 3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Little bags of poison are under the lip of this snake and when he bites, venom is injected into the victim. Have you ever been on the receiving end of this poison? It may be hidden behind smiling, appealing lips. How easily and quickly men and women commit character assassination. Spurgeon said, “It is sadly wonderful what hard things even good men will say when provoked.” Many relationships have been poisoned by these lips.
#10 What fills his mouth?
Romans 3:14, WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.
Not just a little, but full of cursing and bitterness. Here you hear the depths of the sinful heart: cursing God and hating and holding bitterness against anyone who offends. Open your mouth wide and what should come out? Thanksgiving, praise, encouragement, kindness. Instead, out gushes verbal vomit of cursing and bitterness. We heard a brief clip of a talk show guy on the news this week just spewing out vulgarity after vulgarity. The beeper beeped so much we could hardly hear what he was cursing about.
Jesus said, “Out of the heart the mouth speaks.” From the heart through the throat and tongue and lips, here it comes, lies, complaining, slandering, gossiping, cursing and bitterness. The mouth alone is enough to condemn us. But Paul’s not done. There are four more indictments.
#11 How has he used his feet?
Romans 3:15, THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD.
Swift means eager. The record of the horrors of atrocities by human beings makes you sick. I mentioned the slaughter of so many Jews throughout history last week. Everywhere on the globe there are graveyards of millions upon millions of humans mercilessly slaughtered, not to mention the millions of infants slaughtered in their mother’s womb. From Cain in Genesis to the Antichrist in Revelation, human cruelty stains every page of history. Don’t think you are innocent of this charge. Remember, to hate someone in your heart is murder before God.
#12 What’s in his history?
Romans 3:16, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS.
Has he left a trail of loving his neighbor and blessing the people around him? From little on up he has said and done things that caused heartache to others, to parents, to a spouse, to friends. Think of the words, the actions, even physical or sexual abuse so rife among men and women, and the broken relationships littering their trail. We can’t begin to imagine the misery caused by vicious butchers of mankind like Herod the Great, Attila the Hun, Genghis Kahn, Stalin and Chairman Mao. Martyn Lloyd-Jones comments on this verse 16: “History is really summarized, for me, in these few words.”
#13 Has he been a peacemaker?
Romans 3:17, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.
He’s argued and offended and been too proud to go back and deal with it. He fails to admit his own faults and forgive others who offended him. His heart is hard toward others.
#14 Does he reverence God?
Romans 3:18, THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.
Here we come to the root problem with this man on trial. He has no fear of God. Calvin says, “Every wickedness flows from a disregard for God.” When we have no fear of God, we feel at liberty to indulge every kind of licentiousness. He has hardened his conscience so he can pursue his own immoral course without a care. He can arrange for a sexual tryst with a secretary and return home to his wife without a twinge of conscience before God. He has convinced himself his main purpose in life is to please himself. He doesn’t realize everything he does is under the judging eyes of God Almighty. Proverbs 5:21, For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths.
There you have it, fourteen counts straight from the divine record. What does the accused have to say?
THE DEFENSE
Romans 3:19-20, Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
What does the accused have to say for himself? The infidel philosopher Rousseau declared, “I will stand before God and defend my conduct.” He’s not saying that now. Every mouth stopped. No defense. All the prattling noise of men’s tongues finally silenced. Like that man at the wedding feast who tried to get in on his own without the wedding garment. When the king called him out, he was speechless. This is every human being’s final defense – their mouth stopped. All the boasting, cursing, vulgarity, attacking others, shooting off his mouth – now closed by God. No defense. No debate.
One of the great marks of regeneration is when God shuts your mouth and you start listening to Him. Lloyd-Jones asserted, “You do not begin to be a Christian until your mouth is shut, is stopped, and you are speechless and have nothing to say.”
THE VERDICT “Guilty!”
All the world, every single human being, will be accountable and guilty before God. Paul circles back to the law. It was never given to save people; only Jesus can do that. The Law’s greatest value is showing people their sin and pointing them to Christ. I worked on a farm as a youngster, and in the cellar was a large egg sorter with a candler built in. You held the egg up to the quarter-sized hole with a light behind it. The candler revealed two things: blood spots and cracks. The law is like that candler – the light of the law held up to our character reveals our sin.
SO WHAT?
We are all under sin and there is no escaping the wrath of God unless someone comes and rescues us and pays to get us out of our desperate situation. Against this black background of universal sin and depravity comes the beautiful, wonderful grace in Jesus Christ, the perfect One, to redeem us and provide propitiation; God’s rescue operation to save us by faith alone. Praise God. And if you’ve taken to heart Romans 1-3, you know full well that God gets all the glory in your salvation. Is this a reality for you? Do you realize that your Christian life is purely the result of God’s grace drawing you and giving you that new heart that enabled you to understand the gospel and trust in Christ alone?