What is the opposite of the corrupt condition described in Romans 3?
The opposite is the righteousness of God, which covers the believer like a robe of righteousness and garments of salvation. Instead of human veneer, God provides His own covering, so a believer looks adorned in His sight. This righteousness contrasts with throats as open sepulchers, cursing, envy, and deceit.
Les explains that the corrupt condition described in Romans 3 includes throats like open sepulchers, mouths full of cursing, and hearts full of envy and deceit. The opposite of that is the righteousness of God. People try to put on their own veneer instead of God's covering, and that veneer can be worked on for a lifetime. He illustrates how reputation can take a lifetime to build but five minutes to destroy, and how the old Adam can get the best of someone, such as a successful wealthy businessman caught in sin, cheating, and ending up in federal prison with life destroyed. But when a person is covered with the righteousness of God, those things do not happen. Les clarifies that a believer can still sin, but it is a whole different ballgame. He connects this to the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, reading Isaiah verse 10 about a bridegroom decked with ornaments and a bride adorned with jewels. That is how a believer looks in God's sight when letting Him cover them. When we try to veneer ourselves, all He sees again is that open sepulcher.