H ow bad is man’s spiritual condition? It is only the extraordinarily arrogant person who has the temerity to claim he has no sin. Most people would admit that they are not perfect, but they are not all bad. Romans 3:10-18, however, paints a devastating portrait of the sinner. The sinner is hopelessly lost. In theology, this is known as the total depravity of man. Paul says that the sinner is dead in his trespasses and sins [Ephesians 2:1]. In other words, the sinner, like a corpse, is unable to respond. Paul has said that as far as man’s moral nature is concerned, there is none who is righteous. With regard to the mind of the natural man, there is none who understands. This inability to understand is not due to a lack of intelligence. It also does not mean that the natural man cannot have a rational understanding of the Christian faith. And it certainly does not mean that the doctrines of the Christian faith are difficult to understand. Rather, man’s inability to understand is due to his moral bankruptcy which in turn affects his ability to receive God’s truth. Without concealing his sarcasm, Paul asks, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?” [1 Corinthians 1:20]. The answer is that they are nowhere to be found, and the reason is – as Paul points out – “the world by wisdom knew not God” [1 Corinthians 1:21]. The sinner turns away from God’s truth because it does not fit the scheme of his life. Here is the warning: in turning away from God’s truth, we do not become more enlightened. Like a man who turns away from the light, his pathway will become increasingly darker, so sinners who reject God’s truth will become “vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart (will be) darkened” [Romans 1:21]. Do you know the Lord Jesus or do you just know about Him?
LESSON
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
THOUGHT
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