THE HUMAN CONDTION OF MANKIND ROMANS 3:9-18
THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS NO NOT ONE
Study Notes: Charles e. Whisnant
These texts show that all human beings share the common burden of sin. They are linked together by mention of organs of the body: throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes.
9.
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.
"Are we in worse case than they? The Gentiles, or Greeks. "Are we not preferred?"
"Not at all" I Corinthians 5:10.
"We have already laid down our case: Romans 1:18-23 the Greeks and 2:1-29 the Jews.
"All are under the curse of SIN." Galatians 3:22 and Romans 7:14.
Now the Apostle had summoned all mankind universally before the court of God, that he might include all under the same condemnation: and it is to no purpose for any one to object, and say that the Apostle here not only brings a charge, but more especially proves it; for a charge is not true except it depends on solid and strong evidences. who, in a certain place, distinguishes between a charge and a slander.
We must add, that to be under sin means that we are justly condemned as sinners before God, or that we are held under the curse which is due to sin; for as righteousness brings with it absolution, so sin is followed by condemnation.
10.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: A general statement of the condition of mankind.
Then Paul spells out the details of the effects or fruits of mankind unrighteousness.
As in Psalms 14:1-3 and Isaiah 53:1-3. These statements were indeed suggested by particular manifestations of human immorality occurring under his own eyes; but as this only showed what man, when unrestrained, is in his present condition, they were quite pertinent to the apostle's purpose.
The proof-texts is as follows.
11.
There is none that understandeth, (and therefore) there is none that seeketh after God.
Which means man has no knowledge of God.
Present active participle. Man can not grasp or comprehend.
12.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
They have all gone bad, became sour like milk. Luke 17:10, Matthew 25:30
How does this human condition affect the different members of the body. As if to show more affectingly how "from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness" in us. There is limited information of any significant about God. Is there any part of the body that is not affected by this SIN? Is any part of the body free from wicked behavior?
13.
Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Psalms 5:9. What proceeds out of their heart, and finds vent in speech and action through the throat, is like the deadly, very harmful morally, breath of an open grave. Stink like a newly opened grave.
Psalms 5:9. That tongue which is man's glory (Psalms 16:9; 57:8) is prostituted to the purposes of deception. That is, somebody who uses a skill or ability in a way that is considered unworthily, usually for self gain. 2 Corinthians 11:13. They smoothed their tongues.
Psalms 140:3. Those lips which should "drop as an honeycomb' and "feed many' and 'give thanks unto His name (Song of Solomon 4:11; Proverbs 10:21; Hebrews 13:15) are in use to secrete and to dart deadly poison. A small poisonous snake that caused the death of Cleopatra.Egyptian cobta. The poiseon of the snake lies in a bag under the lips.
14.
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Psalms 10:7. The mouth which should be 'most sweet' (SOS 5:16) being 'set on fire of hell' (James 3:6) is filled with burning wrath against those whom it should only bless.'
15.
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Proverbs 1:16; Isaiah 59:7. The feet which should 'run the way of God's commandments' (Psalms 119:32), are engaged to conduct men to deeds of darkest crime.' An aorist active verb.
16.
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
To rub together and to cdrush.
17.
And the way of peace have they not known:
Instead of peace which they should, they do not know such a life, only destruction and misery of themselves and others. Their path leaves a trail of woe and desctruction.
18.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalms 36:1. There is no reverential awe of God.
These verse are so graphic, a picture of human depravity, and finding this condition in every organ of the body, and into the way of life. How 'desperate wicked' as in Jeremiah 17:9 speaks, 'proceedeth out of the heart of man.' Mark 7:22-23 and Psalms 19:12.
I mean they are downright atheists, at least practically such. There is no fear of coming judgment.
The evil of the vast mass of mankind delight and live. From the beginning of time to now. Millions are killed for the pure evil of mankind. ]
The destruction of millions, and the misery of hundreds of millions, have been the consequence of Satanic excitement in the fallen men.
- There is no fear of God before their eyes - This completes their bad character; they are downright atheists, at least practically such. They fear not God' s judgments, although his eye is upon them in their evil ways. There is not one article of what is charged against the Jews and Gentiles here that may not be found justified by the histories of both, in the most ample manner. And what was true of them in those primitive times is true of them still. With very little variation, these are the evils in which the vast mass of mankind delight and live. Look especially at men in a state of warfare; look at the nations of Europe, who enjoy most of the light of God; see what has taken place among them from 1792 to 1814; see what destruction of millions, and what misery of hundreds of millions, have been the consequence of Satanic excitement in fallen, ferocious passions! O Sin, what hast thou done! How many myriads of souls hast thou hurried, unprepared, into the eternal world! Who, among men or angels, can estimate the greatness of this calamity! this butchery of souls! What widows, what orphans, are left to deplore their sacrificed husbands and parents, and their own consequent wretchedness! And whence sprang all this? From that, whence come all wars and fightings; the evil desires of men; the lust of dominion; the insatiable thirst for money; and the desire to be sole and independent. This is the sin that ruined our first parents, expelled them from paradise, and which has descended to all their posterity; and proves fully, incontestably proves, that we are their legitimate offspring; the fallen progeny of fallen parents; children in whose ways are destruction and misery; in whose heart there is no faith; and before whose eyes there is nothing of the fear of God. http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28010/eVerseID/28010/RTD/Clarke
Read more: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28010/eVerseID/28010/RTD/Clarke#ixzz0tHYabtob
These coming from Psalms 14
God looking at all mankind different conditions, could not find a righteous man, no, not one. What God sees is this evil pervaded mankind universally; The character of man is describe in these verses. The conditions of man are described in these verses. The total nature of man is totally depraved, showing great moral corruption or wickedness.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.vii.v.html
Romans 3:23
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28015/eVerseID/28015
Sin is universal, and perhaps this is one reason why the term is so frequently ignored. So many are sinning so frequently that it is a way of life! It has become acceptable because everybody is doing it!
Sin is not like a disease that some contract and others escape. Some may self-righteously think they are better than others because of outward appearance—living by sight—but we have all been soiled by it. "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). Perfection is gone. Because of sin, we have all come short of the glory of God.
The phrase in Romans 5:12, "And thus death spread to all men" can be translated into more modern English as, "When death entered the race, it went throughout." It means death indiscriminately affected all because all sinned. It almost seems as though sin is like an amoebic blob whose tentacles reach out to encompass all in its path, absorbing and sweeping everything to its death.
