How does Romans 3:11 connect with Psalm 14:2-3 on human righteousness? The Shared Declaration: No One Is Righteous • Romans 3:11: “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” • Psalm 14:2-3: “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” • Paul lifts Psalm 14 verbatim into Romans 3 to prove that Scripture has always taught the universality of sin. Paul’s Intent in Romans 3:11 • Romans 3:9-18 strings together several Old Testament passages; Psalm 14 is central. • By quoting the Psalm, Paul shows that the charge of human unrighteousness is not a new idea—it has been God’s verdict all along. • This anchors the gospel’s diagnosis (“all have sinned,” Romans 3:23) in God’s unchanging Word. God’s Perspective Versus Human Self-Assessment • Psalm 14 begins with God “looking down from heaven,” searching for any who truly seek Him—He finds none. • Romans 3 repeats the same verdict: from God’s omniscient vantage point, every heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and enslaved to sin (John 8:34). • The standard is absolute holiness; even the best human efforts fall short (Isaiah 64:6). Implications for Human Righteousness • No intellectual understanding (“no one who understands”) and no spiritual initiative (“no one who seeks God”) emerge from fallen humanity apart from grace. • This cancels all boasting and works-based claims (Ephesians 2:8-9). • The law exposes sin but cannot cure it (Romans 3:19-20). The Gifted Righteousness God Provides • Immediately after the indictment, Paul announces the remedy: “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22-24). • Christ fulfills the very righteousness Psalm 14 and Romans 3 say we lack (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9). • Through the cross, God remains just while justifying the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). Living in Light of This Truth • Humility: recognize every spiritual gain as sheer grace (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). • Gratitude: worship God for a salvation we could never initiate or earn (Psalm 116:12-13). • Urgency: proclaim the gospel, knowing every person shares the same need exposed in Psalm 14 and Romans 3 (2 Corinthians 5:11, 20). |
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