What is the meaning of Romans 3:12? All have turned away Romans 3:12 opens with, “All have turned away.” Paul echoes Psalm 14:3, underscoring the universal drift of every human heart from God’s path. This isn’t about a few isolated rebels; it’s every one of us. Isaiah 53:6 affirms, “We all like sheep have gone astray,” showing that wandering is humanity’s default. The idea is active deviation, not passive indifference—we choose self-rule over God’s rule. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) dramatizes this turning away, illustrating how sin always involves walking out on the Father’s household. They have together become worthless The verse continues, “they have together become worthless.” The word pictures something spoiled, no longer fit for its intended use—much like salt that has lost its savor (Matthew 5:13). Sin doesn’t merely stain; it incapacitates. When humans turn from God, the very purpose for which we were made—to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever—gets forfeited. Titus 1:15 notes, “To the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure,” highlighting how sin contaminates motives and actions alike. The collective sense (“together”) stresses that corruption is corporate, affecting families, societies, and cultures. There is no one who does good Paul presses on: “There is no one who does good.” Goodness, in God’s eyes, isn’t graded on a curve; it requires perfection (James 2:10). Outward philanthropy may impress people, but without faith it “cannot please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus, confronting the rich young ruler, said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18), underscoring that any genuine good must flow from God’s own character. This exposes our need for a righteousness outside ourselves, fulfilled in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Not even one The final phrase silences all objections: “not even one.” Paul shuts every escape hatch by excluding exceptions. Galatians 3:22 declares, “Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin,” so the ground is level at the foot of the cross. This sweeping indictment prepares the way for the gospel: after Romans 3:12 comes Romans 3:21-24, where “the righteousness of God has been revealed…through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Our inability becomes the backdrop for God’s grace. summary Romans 3:12 stacks phrase upon phrase to prove universal sinfulness: everyone has turned from God’s way, forfeited their created purpose, and is incapable of producing genuine good—without exception. The verse crushes self-reliance and drives us to the only remedy, the perfect righteousness provided freely in Jesus Christ. |
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