Romans 3:10-18 (First, the bad news)

Romans 3:10-18 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 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."

The world says that man is basically good, but empirical evidence, such as the many millions of war and murder victims in cemeteries worldwide, proves this to be false. This does not count the approximately 50 million aborted babies that never received a grave. In this powerful passage, Paul sums up his explanation on the total depravity of man by saying that no one is righteous, does good, or even understands. This does not mean that men are as utterly depraved as they possibly could be, but it means that depravity is pervasive in our hearts, thinking, speaking, and actions. We sin by word, deed, actions, and inactions. We are all guilty and subject to the wrath of God. The following items are some of the problems and sins common to fallen man, and everyone has struggled with some items on this list:

murders, robberies, rapes, burglaries, cheating, lying, pornography, child abuse, wife abuse, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, nicotine addiction, pedophilia, abortion, sexual perversions, sexual abuse, lust, envy, coveting, character assassination, verbal abuse, gossiping, rudeness, polygamy, hate, self-righteousness, animal abuse, extortion, deceiving, Islamic fascism, racial hatred, organized crime, white collar crime, forgery, etc.

Although the fall of man rendered him depraved with a sin nature rather than basically good, praise God that he provided a way that man can become righteous and be reconciled to fellowship with Almighty God.