This verse from Paul is a quote from the Psalms of David, Psalms 14.
Since my youth, this world's religions have told me that Paul is teaching that no man has ever been righteous, except Jesus, and they claim Jesus was God and that is the only reason HE was able to be Righteous. But when a person studies this for themselves, it appears Paul isn't teaching any such thing. So I would like to share what I found, when I studied apart from this world's religious influence. This isn't about me, or you, rather, it's about seeking Biblical Truth.
So leading up to Romans 3, Paul is exposing the Jews Religion.
Rom. 1: 21 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. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Paul continues.
Rom. 2: 1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
So Paul is hammering this group of religious men pretty hard. He doesn't stop in Romans 3.
Rom. 3: 1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (Jewish Religion) 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
These religious men persecuted the Church of God, they killed the Prophets, they Judged Paul and accused him of falsehoods.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Was Paul judged by God as a Sinner? Or judged by the Pharisees? Was Paul judging others but doing the same thing? Did Paul refuse to glorify God? Did Paul tell other not to steal, then stole? He used to, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience".
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;
Was Paul and the Body of Christ not under the same obligation to "Repent and turn to God", same as the "Circumcision"? Was Paul somehow "better than them" in that he didn't have the same exact standards of repentance? Is God then "Unjust" because HE took vengeance against the Jews, but not against Paul and the Body of Christ?
And then Paul quotes David in Psalms 14 and Psalms 5.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Paul quoted these Psalms, not to condemn himself and the Body of Christ, as this world's religions imply. But listen to David, who is experiencing the EXACT same Slander against himself as Paul was, is saying.
Psalms 14: 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Wait a minute here, we are told by this world's religions that Paul is teaching there isn't any difference between the Pharisees and the Body of Christ, "There is none righteous, no, not one", but here is David, who Paul quoted to drive home his teaching, telling us that those who reject God's Righteousness, "Eat up God's People". Who are God's People?
5 There were they (God's People) in great fear: for God is in "the generation of the righteous". 6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Continued in part 2
Since my youth, this world's religions have told me that Paul is teaching that no man has ever been righteous, except Jesus, and they claim Jesus was God and that is the only reason HE was able to be Righteous. But when a person studies this for themselves, it appears Paul isn't teaching any such thing. So I would like to share what I found, when I studied apart from this world's religious influence. This isn't about me, or you, rather, it's about seeking Biblical Truth.
So leading up to Romans 3, Paul is exposing the Jews Religion.
Rom. 1: 21 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. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Paul continues.
Rom. 2: 1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
So Paul is hammering this group of religious men pretty hard. He doesn't stop in Romans 3.
Rom. 3: 1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (Jewish Religion) 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
These religious men persecuted the Church of God, they killed the Prophets, they Judged Paul and accused him of falsehoods.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Was Paul judged by God as a Sinner? Or judged by the Pharisees? Was Paul judging others but doing the same thing? Did Paul refuse to glorify God? Did Paul tell other not to steal, then stole? He used to, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience".
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;
Was Paul and the Body of Christ not under the same obligation to "Repent and turn to God", same as the "Circumcision"? Was Paul somehow "better than them" in that he didn't have the same exact standards of repentance? Is God then "Unjust" because HE took vengeance against the Jews, but not against Paul and the Body of Christ?
And then Paul quotes David in Psalms 14 and Psalms 5.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Paul quoted these Psalms, not to condemn himself and the Body of Christ, as this world's religions imply. But listen to David, who is experiencing the EXACT same Slander against himself as Paul was, is saying.
Psalms 14: 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Wait a minute here, we are told by this world's religions that Paul is teaching there isn't any difference between the Pharisees and the Body of Christ, "There is none righteous, no, not one", but here is David, who Paul quoted to drive home his teaching, telling us that those who reject God's Righteousness, "Eat up God's People". Who are God's People?
5 There were they (God's People) in great fear: for God is in "the generation of the righteous". 6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Continued in part 2
