I would like to share a very obvious biblical contradiction which many are not even aware of. Many want to use this verse that Paul wrote in Romans:3:10: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" to prove to people that nobody can be righteous, not just declared righteous (Justified) but be righteous (sanctified). What Paul writes is mostly about justification, which means to make be declared righteous. We are justified freely when we do what Peter tells us to DO in Acts:2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." and in Acts:3:19: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;". Contrary to what MOST of Christendom believe and teach, that we have nothing to do to "inherit" eternal life, what Peter wrote here says quite the opposite. The new testament, which many professors of Christianity will only use for their guide to salvation, is full of action. Words like repent, be baptized, be converted, blot out your sins. . . These four acts are HUGE! It would be a huge blessing for everyone to define all these terms. What does it mean to repent? Does this act precede baptism, or did Peter put this in random order?
The study of salvation should be the life of all churches. This is by far the most important study for Christians and MOST have it wrong. Even Seventh day Adventists.
Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." is the most important context in the whole bible, and most skim over it and leave it to their pastor to interpret to them. We should study this out as if our lives depended on it, and our spiritual life does depend on our correct understanding of this doctrine. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you search God's word for answers; What is grace, how do we get it, what is it for, what does it do for us? the answer to these questions can be found in the bible.
Most Christians do not even know what Paul wrote about grace in Romans:1:5: "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:". Do you know why grace was given??? Do you believe that grace was given FOR OBEDIENCE? Do you know how that works? If we study this out, like every Christian should do, in fact it should be our life study to make certain that we know what this means, it is a matter of spiritual life and spiritual death. Most, yea the majority which Jesus talks about when He states that many shall follow the broad road and few will enter the straight gate. That is the difference between the majority and the minority. Most Christians will say I am saved by grace I don't have to obey. I have been in every mainstream denomination in my quest for truth, and many of them, whole denominations teach that obedience is not necessary for salvation. I would not want to be in their shoes on judgment day, yet I always reach out to everyone struggling to find Jesus.
Grace was given for obedience, how does that work? When we look to the place where God displayed His grace, at the cross, we find what Paul wrote about 1Corinthians:1:18: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The cross, which is the very defining moment where God shewed mankind His grace, gives us the power to overcome every sin in our life. Just like we have the power of God's grace to believe that all our sins are forgiven when we confess our sins, we also must by faith grasp the power of God's grace, when we are tempted, to give us victory over that temptation. The cross is everything to us as
Christians. When we are tempted and we look to the cross quite often that temptation vanishes from our thoughts and sometimes we must kneel before the cross in the battle against spiritual wickedness in high places before we can overcome.
I will break it down a little further before I show the rest of the contradiction to Romans 3:10. Let's look at the difference between justified (declared righteous) and sanctified (be righteous.) When we break down Romans 7 we might be surprised, because most Christians believe that the man whom Paul is referring to is a converted Christian as he struggles with Romans:7:19: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." BUT when we follow along with the thread of this teaching we read in Romans:7:14: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." I ask this; can a carnal person, sold under sin be converted at the same time? The man of Romans 7 is an example of what every Christian goes through. The struggles might be different but nonetheless the principle is the same. We all struggle with the flesh at the beginning of our walk. It is not until toward the end of the chapter when this man cries out Romans:7:24: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Here is where he realizes his need. The battle against the flesh is coming to an end and then as he is converted he states, Romans:7:25: "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Here is where in fact his conversion takes place and this man is JUSTIFIED, declared righteous. This is just the beginning of the Christian experience because Paul does not end this journey at the end of chapter seven, but in Romans:8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." this man begins his "walk" of sanctification. At the moment this man cries out to Jesus for forgiveness and accepts him as his Lord and Savior he is perfect, justified and sanctified, and sinless all past tense. The reason I can be certain of this is because as we read on in verse 8:5-8: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." This is a very simple study which can be broken down in such a way that is a blessing to all. Most people I share this with come to me and tell me it felt like a huge load was lifted off their shoulders.
Romans 8:1 is proof that the "modern" translations are in fact deleting the doctrine of sanctification. Romans 8:1 is the proof text that begins the "walk" of sanctification. half of it is deleted from the "modern" translations.
Now for the verses that contradict Romans 3:10 which states that there is none righteous. Many already know this but when the Lord first showed me these verses, which I use to read over and over without putting them together, I was so excited that His word is so easy if we pray and ask Him to reveal it to us. Read along in 1John:3:7: "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." This verse is telling me that if we do "righteousness" we are "righteous". so if there are none righteous, then what does this verse mean? It also states that there will be much deception on this issue.
Or how about this one; 1Corinthians:6:9-10: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." If we are NOT righteous we will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. Many figure it out when I get to this point, but here is another verse from Isaiah:64:6: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." There is no self righteousness that will acknowledge. Also Paul writes: BE NOT DECEIVED. When we read a statement like that you can be certain there will be much deception on this point. Satan wants you to have 99% of the truth, but the most important 1% is this doctrine of salvation.