How Depraved Are They?

In this section of Romans Paul begins to expound upon the doctrine of total depravity which is best understood in two parts. First, man is morally corrupt in every aspect of his being gravitating toward that which is ungodly, and secondly man is incapable of changing his own character or choosing to please God.

The scriptures testify concerning the universal problem of mans depravity as stemming from Adam's sin. All who are born of Adam fall under this corruption, and no one born of Adam naturally seeks to please God. Paul goes on to argue that men are personally affected by this same corruption as evidenced by the wickedness of the tongue. The throat of man is described as filled with death and decay; the tongue is used to deceive through slander, lies and blasphemy; venom and poison lurk under the lips of men; and the mouth is full of curses and bitterness. This depravity of man extends harm to the society in which he lives resulting in broken homes, violence and all forms of human misery. Any honest study of history reveals this very doctrine of human depravity and the wake it has cut through society. Man's depravity presents a legal problem in that the written law has no mechanism to meet justification before the righteous Lord. The right use of the shows men the depths of their depravity and should encourage them to flee to Christ for justification.