Damning Lies

In his epistle to the Romans on the gospel, Paul first lays out the primary human problem -- sin. From Romans 1:18 all the way through Romans 3:20 he tells the depths of Man's depravity. In the culmination in chapter 3, he says things like, "No one seeks for God" and "no one does good" and "no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3:10-18). These are startling, but there is one section that appears to get missed often in this discussion. "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips" (Rom 3:13). Now that's a bit vague, isn't it? In what sense is "the venom of asps" under their lips? In what sense are their throats "an open grave"?

David wrote, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies" (Psa 58:3). It's a very clear representation of when the problem starts ("from the womb") and a shattering claim that there are no "innocent children." But is it true? Well, if we believe that Scripture is from the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21), then it is. In what sense, then, is it true? Well, obviously, the first lie is to self. We lie to ourselves all the time. We tell ourselves, "I'm the important one. I deserve better." The natural self-centeredness of even the youngest child is a lie because "I am not the center." And that lie produces other sins. It is, in fact, at the core of all other sins. Lying, then, is at the center of sin and sin is fatal (Rom 6:23).

Lying is a fundamental component of our sin nature, the first expression at birth to the last. It was Satan's approach in the garden (Gen 3:1-6). It remains the primary problem. John wrote, "Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4) If our faith is a dead faith (James 2:17) and we do not change externally from our faith, that, too, is a lie, the outcome of which is eternal death. Now, that would be worse than "the venom of asps."