Podcast Summary: "None Is Righteous"

Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Date: November 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Sinclair B. Ferguson continues a weeklong exploration of Paul’s letter to the Romans, focusing on its opening sections. Ferguson walks listeners through Paul’s argument on the universal condition of sin and the hopelessness of self-righteousness, setting up the need for God’s grace. His tone is thoughtful, pastoral, and clear—aimed at both explaining Scripture and helping listeners examine their own standing before God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Structure and Purpose of Romans (00:06–02:00)

• Fourfold Division: Ferguson suggests a "simple division" of Romans, particularly highlighting chapters 1:1–3:20 as the first major section.

• Paul’s Motivation: Paul wrote to explain "the gospel I preach," address misrepresentations of his teaching, and help the Roman church with its internal challenges.

• Paul’s Travel Hopes: Paul “long wanted to go” to Rome, hoping for support on his way further west, similar to how Antioch had previously supported him.

  "So one of his reasons for writing Romans was to present his credentials... He wanted to set the record straight."
  (Sinclair Ferguson, 01:15)

2. Introduction to Paul’s Gospel (02:01–03:00)

• Romans 1:16–17: Paul begins his exposition of “my Gospel”—the good news of "God’s saving righteousness."
• Central Question: Paul addresses, “How can a sinful man be righteous before a holy God?”
• Justification by Faith: The Gospel proclaims that "sinners can be justified by faith in Christ and by faith alone."

3. Universal Sinfulness: The Argument Unfolds (03:01–05:15)

• Devastating Human Diagnosis:

  • Romans 1:18–32: Humanity, though made for God’s glory, has "exchanged his glory for idols" and "truth for the lie," falling under "his wrath and judgment."
  • Romans 2:1–16: Paul targets self-righteousness and the assumption that others are more sinful—emphasizing that Jesus is the final judge, not "our good opinion of ourselves."

  "We've swapped His glory for my own idols and his truth for my own lie."
  (Sinclair Ferguson, 04:10)

• Equality of Jews and Gentiles Under Sin:

  • Gentiles (without the law) and Jews (with the law) are both subject to judgment; privilege doesn’t bring immunity.
  • “All who have sinned without the law will perish without the law.”
  • Receiving revelation or covenant signs (like circumcision) does not guarantee righteousness or security.

  "It's not having the law that makes me a sinner. It's the way I've rebelled against the God who has revealed himself in creation and providence..."
  (Sinclair Ferguson, 04:25)

4. The Culmination: No Room for Self-Righteousness (05:16–07:00)

• Romans 3: Hammer Blows:

  • Paul uses a series of Old Testament quotations with “hammer blows on the casket of our dead self-righteousness”:
    None is righteous. No, not one.

• Total Human Accountability:

  • “Every human being, the whole world, is accountable and guilty before God and condemned by Him.”
    • The point: “Every mouth will be shut.” (no defense or self-justification possible)

  "That's actually the first step towards discovering our need of God's grace, isn't it? When our mouths are shut, and we realize that we have nothing to plead, we are guilty."
  (Sinclair Ferguson, 06:38)

• Our Problem:

  • Humanity’s core issue: Guilt and a total lack of righteousness.
  • “We can't say we've done enough and we know we can't compensate. Our problem is guilt and nothing to say in our defense. There is no righteousness in us. That's the message. Righteousness is lacking in us. We have none.”

5. A Glimpse of Hope (07:01–end)

• Ferguson concludes not with despair but a teaser for the next episode:

  "Well, thank God that’s not Paul’s last word. There’s good news to come and join us tomorrow to hear more about it."
  (Sinclair Ferguson, 07:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Paul’s Motivation:
  "He wanted to set the record straight." (01:15)
• On Human Exchange of Truth:
  "We've swapped His glory for my own idols and his truth for my own lie." (04:10)
• On Accountability:
  "Every human being, the whole world, is accountable and guilty before God and condemned by Him... every mouth will be shut." (06:38)
• On Human Helplessness:
  "We can't say we've done enough and we know we can't compensate. Our problem is guilt and nothing to say in our defense." (06:50)
• On the Coming Good News:
  "Thank God that's not Paul's last word. There's good news to come." (07:16)

Important Timestamps

• 00:06 — Introduction to Romans’ structure and context
• 01:15 — Paul’s motivations for writing
• 02:01 — Introduction to the Gospel’s heart: justification by faith
• 03:01 — Begins exposition on universal sinfulness
• 04:10 — Humanity’s exchange of God’s glory for idols
• 05:16 — Paul’s Old Testament quotations in Romans 3
• 06:38 — The "shutting of every mouth" and realization of guilt
• 07:16 — Transition to the next episode and the hope of the Gospel

Tone and Language

Ferguson maintains a pastoral, earnest tone throughout—explaining complex theology in accessible, contemplative language. He frequently repeats core truths in fresh ways, driving home the utter necessity of grace while inviting listeners to continue the journey in future episodes.

Summary:
This episode serves as a sobering but necessary foundation, revealing the universal depth of human sin and the inability of self-righteousness to save. Ferguson encourages listeners to confront their own need for God’s grace, promising that the hope of the Gospel will unfold in upcoming episodes.