As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none righteous by nature, of himself, or in himself, and no one is good, guiltless, or perfect. All share the same sinful nature, are liable to make mistakes, and stand without righteousness before God. There is none who understands God, none who seeks after God, and none who does good by nature, with all turned aside out of the way and become unprofitable, useless, and worthless.
This condition is portrayed in speech and conduct as corrupt like an open grave, deceitful with the tongue, deadly like poison under the lips, full of cursing and bitterness, swift to shed blood and ready for violence, marked by destruction, ruin and misery in its ways, ignorant of the way of peace, and with no fear of God or reverence for Him before the eyes. All have gone astray and cherished evil by turning away from God, and envy, hatred, jealousy, strife, and bitterness are fruits and evidence of that sinful departure. Together with the verses that follow it, this declares the present terrible condition of both the world and the church, a universal unrighteousness brought about by making void the law of God.
Together with the declaration that all have sinned, it shows that people fall short of God's standard and cannot meet His requirements by their own righteousness, and that those who judge themselves by human standards fail to recognize their true condition. It describes the condition of people who were given freedom from the slavery of sin at the cost of Christ giving His own life to purchase it, yet dishonor Him by their words. It searches students at a school wholly dependent on God's abiding presence and blessing for success, whose cheap common talk and riotous actions offend God, asking what pleasure the Lord can receive from them, what real satisfaction they have received, and whether this will be the record borne to heaven about them.
Christ came to save, not to condemn, and died for the erring that they might be forgiven; He came to save all who recognize their need of a Saviour, not those who are righteous. Therefore no one has any right to condemn another or to spread reports of his fault, but one who thinks another is in error must go to him alone, tenderly and respectfully, without telling others or circulating surmisings and reports, giving him opportunity to explain, telling him of his danger, and seeking his restoration in meekness and love. Jesus Himself declared that no person is good in himself, and this applies to each one personally to admit he is not as good as he ought to be and to refuse praise from others.
There is none righteous by nature, of himself, or in himself, and no one is good, guiltless, or perfect. All share the same sinful nature, are liable to make mistakes, and stand without righteousness before God. There is none who understands God, none who seeks after God, and none who does good by nature, with all turned aside out of the way and become unprofitable, useless, and worthless.
This condition is portrayed in speech and conduct as corrupt like an open grave, deceitful with the tongue, deadly like poison under the lips, full of cursing and bitterness, swift to shed blood and ready for violence, marked by destruction, ruin and misery in its ways, ignorant of the way of peace, and with no fear of God or reverence for Him before the eyes. All have gone astray and cherished evil by turning away from God, and envy, hatred, jealousy, strife, and bitterness are fruits and evidence of that sinful departure. Together with the verses that follow it, this declares the present terrible condition of both the world and the church, a universal unrighteousness brought about by making void the law of God.
Together with the declaration that all have sinned, it shows that people fall short of God's standard and cannot meet His requirements by their own righteousness, and that those who judge themselves by human standards fail to recognize their true condition. It describes the condition of people who were given freedom from the slavery of sin at the cost of Christ giving His own life to purchase it, yet dishonor Him by their words. It searches students at a school wholly dependent on God's abiding presence and blessing for success, whose cheap common talk and riotous actions offend God, asking what pleasure the Lord can receive from them, what real satisfaction they have received, and whether this will be the record borne to heaven about them.
Christ came to save, not to condemn, and died for the erring that they might be forgiven; He came to save all who recognize their need of a Saviour, not those who are righteous. Therefore no one has any right to condemn another or to spread reports of his fault, but one who thinks another is in error must go to him alone, tenderly and respectfully, without telling others or circulating surmisings and reports, giving him opportunity to explain, telling him of his danger, and seeking his restoration in meekness and love. Jesus Himself declared that no person is good in himself, and this applies to each one personally to admit he is not as good as he ought to be and to refuse praise from others.