Why does the Bible say every person is just as vile a sinner in God's sight?
All people stand equally guilty and vile before God because every person shares the same sinful condition; outward sins may differ, but no one is less sinful in His sight. Paul says, 'such were some of you, and such were some of us,' and Scripture's picture of humanity is not pretty.
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus was not saved because he was the worst, most wicked, or most vile sinner, but because he was the head of a line of sinners who would be saved like he was. Even if a person never persecuted anyone or put people to death, that person was still just as great a sinner in God's sight as Saul was, and so was everyone else. Every one of us were sinners, just as vile in God's sight, because the picture in Romans 1 and Corinthians is not pretty. Paul says, 'such were some of you, and such were some of us.' Les notes that many commentaries skip or ignore verses like this, but he must teach what Scripture actually says. In verse 16, Paul says he obtained mercy 'that in me first,' and 'first' means at the head of the line.