The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
2. Deeds of the Godless
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? (Psalm 53:1-4)
Atheists often say that they are good people, looking out for humanity, but the Bible says no one is good at heart. This passage is quoted in Romans 3 and is repeated in Psalm 14. This is an important part of theology called the doctrine of complete inability or, the older term: total depravity. People are not born innately good, they are born unable to find God, and are at their core … godless.
Verse 1b: They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
So their deeds are evil. Evil people cannot do good deeds.
Verse 2: God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Humans are evil. This is tough to deny. Just read some history, watch some news, and observe a few elementary schoolers interact with a disabled child. People are cruel, they don’t come any other way.
Am I generalizing here? Well, David makes it more clear for us:
Verse 3: They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
This is not a generalization, it is an undeniable fact. Everyone is evil.
Verse 4: Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
Ironically, it is unbelievers who deny that people are evil. Don’t they get news channels where they live?
3. Destiny of the Godless
There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (Psalm 53:5)
There is hope in this world. It is twofold. Firstly, there will be punishment for evil.
The guilt of the godless is tormenting and makes them paranoid. Because they know the evil in their hearts, they are suspicious of the evil in others. People often project their guilt onto others. Even if the dangers aren’t really there, they are anxious and suspicious.
But the punishment of the godless is not just their own perceptions, it is a judgment from God.
Verse 5 …For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
