The Hard Truth About Us

Passage: Romans 3:9-18 NKJV

Key Verse: Romans 3:10 NKJV

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’”

Good morning, friends.

Today’s passage isn’t an easy one, but it’s necessary. It brings us to a moment of complete honesty, where all human claims to goodness are silenced. Paul lays it out clearly: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” That includes the pagan, the moralist, the religious, and the rebellious. Every single one of us is under sin.

Verses 10-18 string together quotes from the Old Testament, forming a kind of spiritual X-ray. Our minds don’t understand God, our hearts don’t seek Him, and our wills resist doing good. Our words cut, deceive, and destroy. Our feet rush toward conflict, and our lives are marked by unrest. And at the root of it all is a deeper issue: there is no fear of God before our eyes.

That last line of our passage, verse 18, says everything. It’s not that we just do bad things, we do them because we live as if God isn’t there, or doesn’t matter. And Paul isn't pointing fingers at “those people out there.” He’s talking about the human condition: my condition, your condition, everyone’s condition… when we’re left to ourselves.

But Paul isn’t trying to shame us; he’s trying to bring us to the end of ourselves so we’ll stop pretending. The mirror of Scripture doesn’t show us the truth to condemn us, but to prepare us for grace. We don’t seek God, but He seeks us. We’re not righteous, but He offers us His righteousness. This is the moment where the Gospel starts to shine.

Before grace can raise us up, truth must bring us low.

Today’s Reflection:

Can you think of an area in your life where you’ve been trying to prove yourself rather than admit your need? What would it look like to let go of that and let Jesus meet you there?

Closing Prayer:

Father, we come face to face today with a truth that’s hard to swallow: we are not righteous nor good. We fall short in every way. But thank You for not leaving us there. Thank You for showing us the truth so we might be ready to receive Your grace. Search our hearts, Lord. And as we stop defending ourselves, may we finally find rest in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.