In many church congregations today, we hear a doctrine being taught that should really disturb us if we listen to, and understand the teaching of the New Testament. Many church leaders and members teach that we are all sinners and that there is “none righteous, no, not one”. They use the words of the apostle Paul trying to justify themselves and their sinful lifestyle, without hearing all that he said.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
“As it is written“ where? In Psalm 14. The earth and her inhabitants were dull of hearing, and they were all gone out of the way. “For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” (Isaiah 29:10) “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge.” (Isaiah 5:13) Into captivity of sin, because they have no knowledge. Knowledge of what? Again, let the prophet Isaiah answer.
“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” (Isaiah 34:16) What book must we read to find knowledge? Let the word answer. “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” (Hebrews 10:7) The spirit testified that truth would come in the volume of the book. The word of God, “as it is written” and nothing else.
The words of the prophets brought forth Jesus, because “none shall want her mate.” Every word spoken found its mate, because Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13) His name is Jesus. No other name given in the law and the prophets, or in heaven and earth whereby we can be saved.
Then, if you apply these words, “There is none righteous,” to yourself, you must also apply the next words of this same verse, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
Again, in verse 13 Paul quotes scripture from the book of Psalm. “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.” Again, if you apply the first part, “There is none righteous,” you must apply “with their tongues they have used deceit.” Do you use deceit in your service to God? Is poison under your lips?
Once more Paul quotes a writer of the Old Testament, “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” This is found in Psalm 10:7. Is your mouth full of cursing and bitterness?
“Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:15-18) If you apply the portion of scripture that says, “There is none righteous,” you must apply the rest of these words.
All these quotations Paul used came from the law. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19) Are you under the law? So to them who were under the law, and to us today, the word says we are all guilty before God. We all have need of the righteousness of Jesus our Lord. Every mouth is stopped at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he alone is Lord. So, listen to what the New Testament teaches.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We were shaped in iniquity, as the word says. We were born with a carnal nature that continually strays from God. Therefore, Jesus said you must be born again. But we, like Nicodemus, could not know how to be born again except Jesus would show us. And he did, in his word.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed,” trying to mix a little sin into the word of God makes it corrupt, “but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Is there righteousness in the word of God? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Which one of his commandments gives us room for sin? If you know what your sin is, you also know not to do it. Jesus said that his word must abide in us, and we must abide in his word. John the apostle said, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)
The word “righteous” means, “acting in a just, upright manner. Morally right or justifiable.” (Webster’s) Unrighteous means, not acting in a just, upright manner. Not morally right or justifiable. Either we are righteous by abiding in the words of Jesus, or we are unrighteous by continuing to sin. We cannot be hot and cold at the same time. Darkness and light are incompatible. If we are clothed with the white robe of his word, sin causes stains in our garment.
The apostle James says to us, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
If there are none righteous after having been born again, then to whom did James write these words? We were sinners in need of Christ, “none righteous,” before being born again. But if we remain sinners, how can we say that we are born again? Where is the change? Lip service only? Jesus living in us, committing sin? The apostle James also said, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12) If no person can be righteous, to whom was Peter speaking? If you are still a sinner, the face of the Lord is against you. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18)
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10) Who among us can say that we have not sinned in our lifetime? Or who could say we have no need of Jesus because we trust our own righteousness? We cannot claim to abide in Jesus unless we first recognize that we are sinners and have no other hope. His word will cleanse us in his sight when we obey it and abide in it. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)
None made righteous by the word of Jesus, our Lord? Then what did his word accomplish, if this could be true? How could we claim to follow Jesus, who did not sin, and still live in daily sin? If you know what your sin is, then you also know not to do it! It is against the word of God to claim fellowship with the Son of God, then in the same breath say, “I sin every day.” Either we are righteous or we are unrighteous; we can’t be both.
