How does Psalm 14:3 describe humanity's spiritual condition before God? Verse in Focus Psalm 14:3: “All have turned away, all alike have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” Key Observations • “All” leaves no exceptions—every human being is included. • “Turned away” pictures a deliberate departure from God’s path. • “Become corrupt” conveys moral and spiritual decay, not merely weakness. • “None who does good” underscores total inability to meet God’s righteous standard. • The verse repeats the indictment for emphasis: “not even one.” What It Reveals about Our Spiritual Condition • Universal Sinfulness: Humanity in its natural state is entirely fallen. • Total Depravity: Sin affects every part of our being—mind, will, emotions, actions. • Moral Helplessness: We cannot produce genuine righteousness on our own. • Alienation from God: Turning away results in separation that only He can bridge. Confirming Witnesses from the Rest of Scripture • Romans 3:10–12, 23 – Paul cites Psalm 14 directly: “There is no one righteous, not even one… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” • Isaiah 53:6 – “We all like sheep have gone astray; each one has turned to his own way.” • Genesis 6:5 – “Every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was altogether evil all the time.” • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Implications for Us Today • No room for self-righteousness—every person stands guilty before a holy God. • Salvation must be by grace, not merit; only Christ’s righteousness can cover our corruption (2 Corinthians 5:21). • The gospel is universally needed; there is no class of “good people” outside its reach. • Gratitude and humility should mark believers who have been rescued from the condition Psalm 14:3 describes. |
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