graphic: Martha G. Brady

This passage is a reminder that there is nothing about us that naturally seeks after GOD and desires Him. Our hearts are sinful and dark and don’t naturally move toward GOD. Romans 1 sounds even more harsh than Romans 3 in some ways.

I know.  That isn’t something we easily accept, is it?  But the early part of Romans makes quite a strong case for that teaching by Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

For those of us who are parents, it doesn’t take long to believe this just might be true as we watch our children mature. We look at our sweet, innocent babies and find it hard to believe, but as they start walking and getting into things, saying “no!”, going their own way, hitting brothers and sisters, not sharing…we find it easier to believe.

None of us have taught them to want their own way or to be selfish with a sibling or peer…or even to disobey us! That’s the part that seems to come naturally. We have to teach them to share, to obey even when they don’t want to…and a host of other things as well.

We have to teach our children how to be good, to share, and all things about GOD and His love for them.

Most of all, we need to teach them about the GOD who loves them and will forgive them when they sin.  In fact, He loved them so much that He put aside the glories of heaven to come to earth and die for us…in order to pay the penalty for our sin, death.  It is a death that we deserved, but He died after living a perfect life before the Father.  Now, if we are “in Christ”, we can stand before the Father dressed in the righteousness of Christ!  How wonderful…and it is all of His grace to us.

So here is our starting place…” none righteous, no, not one!”  This is after the Fall, but before we have accepted the work Christ did on the Cross for us…and the gift of grace Christ gave us when he died and spilled His blood for us. Our sin is no small matter. Yes, we like to excuse it with names like, flaws, failures, mistakes, etc., but in order for our sin to be dealt with, Someone had to die!

We have no righteousness to offer GOD. I wish I could say we did. But we are morally bankrupt on our own. In Isaiah, He tells us:

“We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf, and
our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
Isaiah 64:6

Here is the passage to memorize this week. You may want to take only part of it. It certainly is clear!

“None is righteous, no, not one;
    no one understands:
All have turned aside;
together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”

Their feet are swift to shed blood
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known
There is no fear of God before their eyes.