1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

3 All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

— Psalm 14:1-3

10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

— Romans 3:10-12

We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

— Isaiah 53:6

But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

— Isaiah 59:2

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

What makes God’s gospel preached by Paul so radical is its universality. The Roman Empire with all its wealth, power, and knowledge couldn’t offer true hope or salvation but here Paul offers a message that transcends culture, language, and class, and brings salvation to everyone who believes. In the world where people are constantly seeking ways to improve, achieve and earn worth, Paul’s gospel turns the tables. Salvation isn’t something we work for. It’s a gift we received through faith.

Have you ever felt like you had to earn God‘s approval to somehow prove that you’re good enough for His love? The gospel shatters that mindset. Paul’s messages is clear there’s nothing we can do to earn God‘s love. He loved us first and He made a way for us when we couldn’t make a way for ourselves. This is why Paul is unashamed of the gospel. It’s not based on human effort or social status. It’s a divine gift rooted in God‘s grace given freely to all who will accept it.