All Have Sinned. None Are Righteous. Not One.

 

June 3, 2025

Even Christians who know very little about the Word of God are familiar with these passages of the Bible, as they are frequently quoted. These passages seem to fit very nicely with the dogma of Original Sin, which most Christians believe. The Original Sin dogma declares that all humanity, because of the sin of Adam, is born with a sinful nature, and not a few Christians also believe that they too are born guilty for Adam’s sin. This foundation of Original Sin serves as the basis for most Christian interpretations of the entire Bible, particularly the passages we are about to consider. But the truth about this dogma of Original Sin is a different matter altogether. Neither the Bible nor the early Christians (before Augustine in the 5th century) believed in the doctrine of Original Sin. (See my articles on Original Sin, if you are interested in the details.)

Before we examine these verses of scripture, let us read them. Romans 3:10-12 from the KJV, “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.” KJV. What is Paul actually saying?

• Is the apostle Paul saying that no person who ever lived was righteous, who sought after God, and did no good? What about Jesus, who was a man in every sense of the word? Was he not righteous? Of course, He was. Did Jesus not seek after God? Of course, He did. And the word of God claims that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are without sin. We must conclude, therefore, that “all” doesn’t mean 100% of humanity. Jesus was fully human, and He is an exception to Paul’s assertion, is He not? Hopefully, we can all agree on that.
• In other places in scripture where the word “all” is used, it is meant to describe a vast number, and it does not mean 100%, as many of us might think.
• Are there other exceptions to the statement by Paul there is none righteous, no, not one? Unless you have already been brainwashed into believing that babies are born guilty sinners, you might assume, like me, that babies are exceptions and Paul was not talking about them.
• The same applies to those who are not ‘all there mentally’. Are they not exceptions to Paul’s assertion that all are unrighteous and no one seeks after God?
• What about Old Testament saints such as Daniel, Job, Joseph, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Enoch, and Elijah? The Bible doesn’t declare that they committed any sin at all, except in these few passages in the Psalms and in Romans, where the Original Sin presupposition is assumed. Are we supposed to believe that these holy men of God aren’t exceptions to Paul’s statements? Are we to believe that all of these sacred prophets were actually unrighteous sinners who did not seek after God?
• Are there other such examples in the Bible? How about Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist? And Mary, the mother of Jesus? Please show me the scripture that declares their sins. If a Christian believes in Original Sin, they don’t need actual proof; they assume and infer everyone is born a sinner.
• In every generation, God has kept for Himself a righteous remnant. In Elijah’s day, when the prophet despaired that only he was left and faithful to God, the Lord rebuked him and said that He had 7,000 that had not bowed to Israel’s idols. Is the remnant not an exception to Paul’s assertion that there have never, at any time in history, been those who seek after God and are living righteous lives?
• What about born-again Christians? Are none of them righteous, and don’t any of them seek after God? Surely Paul did not mean to include saints, did he? Modern evangelicalism might actually deny that Christians are an exception to Paul’s assertions, but they are wrong.
• Or is Paul saying that no person, who is an actual moral agent (not an infant or mentally deficient), who has ever lived, has not sinned at least once?
• Paul seems to be saying that all Jews and Gentiles were, at one time or maybe still are, sinners and guilty before God. This passage is about the universal sinfulness of humanity. Are we to understand this in an absolute sense, meaning that Paul envisions it as applicable to 100% of all humans who have ever lived? We know that is not the case, don’t we?
• Or are we to understand this as meaning humanity, including born-again Christians, are still sinning and unrighteous in practice and state, but holy in position and standing before God? Many evangelical Christians probably believe just that because they have been brainwashed into believing that all humanity has been born with a sinful nature that will be with them until they die. The Bible doesn’t teach that, but they have been trained to believe it. And many zealously defend that false doctrine.

What this article will demonstrate

I intend to show that Paul in this Romans 3 passage is talking about the state of the unregenerate Gentile and Jew, and not the state of the born-again child of God. Children of God, they actually walk in righteousness and seek God constantly. This passage in Romans chapter 3 doesn’t apply to them but to all others, except as noted already. Are you with me thus far?

Where did Paul get this idea?

Paul is quoting from the Old Testament. These are the two primary passages from which he quotes.

Psalm 14:1-3 KJV, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one”.

The Psalmist is referring to the fool who claims there is no God. All these God deniers do no good, none of them seek after God, they are all gone aside, and none does good, no, not one. This passage is not about all of humanity or all of the Jews. This is about all those fools who claim there is no God and live as though God does not exist. Have I misrepresented the Psalmist?

Psalm 53:1-3 KJV, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” This Psalm is similar to the one just quoted.

These passages convey the universality of sin, in the sense that almost all moral agents have sinned and many continue to do so.  This supports Paul’s assertion that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that none are righteous, not even one, as stated in Romans 3. Paul is not talking about the repentant souls who are now walking with God.

But the Psalms also talk about the righteous. For instance, Psalm 1, which reads, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalm 37:23-25, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way. Though he fail, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Psalm 15. Who shall dwell in God’s holy hill? The righteous will.

Psalm 112:1-1,4,6, “Praise ye the Lord, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 6. Surely, he shall not be moved forever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance”.

Not one of these passages claims that we inherit a sinful nature from Adam and come into this world as sinners who can do nothing but sin. That is their presupposition for all of their interpretations about the meaning of these passages.

Other considerations

Many passages make it clear that Christians do not remain sinners for their entire lives, which would contradict what Paul and other apostles claimed elsewhere. Read these chapters and books and see for yourself. Read 1 Corinthians 6, Ephesians 5, Galatians 5, 1 John, Romans 6, 8, and many other passages.

In this short article, I will comment on just a few. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that those who walk in unrighteousness and sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Unfortunately, most evangelicals do not believe it.) Paul then lists the sins these deluded “Christian” folks are committing. At the end of the list, Paul says, ‘Such were some of you, not such are some of you.’ Thieves, murderers, adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals have ceased from their sins (such were some of you) and now walk in righteousness (such are some of you). If any man or woman is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things (sinful practices) have passed away, and all things have become new (walking in righteousness).

In Romans chapters 6 and 8, Paul makes it clear that Christians (saints of God) are no longer living in sin. For example,

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7.

“Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Romans 6:18.

“God forbid, How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2.

Therefore, Paul in Romans chapter 3 is most certainly not talking about genuine born-again saints of God who live in victory over sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil.

“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 from the KJV.

Paul is not talking about;

• infants,
• the irresponsible,
• Jesus Christ,
• Possibly some of the prophets and holy men and women of God in the past, and,
• The repentant remnant in every generation.

These last three bullet points describe individuals who are righteous (not absolutely perfect), who understood and sought after God. Paul was not referring to them, but only to the impenitent, in this passage in Romans 3:10-12.

Did I make the case? Do you agree that Romans 3 doesn’t mean 100% of humanity at all times in every generation is unrighteous and does not seek after God? Many evangelicals teach that even born-again Christians never stop sinning in this life and always remain, in part, unrighteous. But the Word of God teaches something vastly different.