"Final Verdict" (Part 1)

All mankind is under the power of sin, the guilt of sin, the doom of sin (Galatians 3:22 “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”).

What do these scriptures tell us about mankind? (vv. 10-18)

List some things that make sense to you.

Some of these are said in their context about non-Jews, some are said about Jews. Paul strings them together applying them to both.

There does seem to be some overall order/structure (Paul could have chose others).

Natural Condition (vv. 11-12)

(Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 14:1–3; Psalm 53:1–3).

“Righteous” - right as God, if He is the standard, no one meets it (naturally - without God, Psalm 14:5 “....God is with the generation of the righteous.” see vv. 21-22)

“Understand” - What? What/Who they really need to understand (1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”)

“Seeks” - Why not? No desire. No interest. So then...

“Turned aside” - deviate, from right to wrong

“Worthless” - useless, live with no value

“Good” - though everyone does alot, no one does any good - ARE NOT good; DO NOT DO good.

There is emphasize here on how complete this condition is mankind. No one is left out.

Inevitable Corruption (vv. 13-17)

They have a degrading affect on everything (which is unavoidable) in two ways...

By speaking (vv. 13-14) (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7).

“Throat” - “Tongue” - “Lips” - “Mouth”

Their speach has a powerful and negative affect

By doing (vv. 15-17) (Isaiah 59:7-8; Proverbs 1:16)

“Feet” - “Paths”/“Way”

This is where they are going in what they are doing. This is their agenda in their activity.

(Mark 7:14–23 “And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.””

Fundamental Cause (v. 18)

(Psalm 36:1)

Why this condition? Why this corruption?

No respect/reverence for God. No true worship of God. No glorification of God.

Not matter how “moral” it is all for self, not for/because of God.

This is the root/core. And this is why mankind goes to all these extremes.

If you are a believer, think of yourself for a moment. Where would you be right now left to yourself, if God had not intervened?

You must believe that this is true, since it is scripture.

The entire human race is under sin.

The entire individual is under sin.

No one is left out. No part of each one is left out.

Essential World View

(Contrary to the typical, humanistic world view of many)

For your salvation

For others’ salvation

Benediction: Romans 11:33–36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”