This short verse captures the root problem behind all the sin described in Rom. 3:10-17: there is no fear of God. In biblical language, the “fear of God” refers to a deep reverence, awe, and recognition of God’s supreme authority, holiness, and judgment. When people lose this reverence, moral boundaries collapse. Without the fear of God, sin becomes normalised, conscience is dulled, and divine accountability is ignored. The problem of sin is fundamentally a problem of misplaced worship—humanity has dethroned God in its heart.

In our modern world, the fear of God is often ridiculed or dismissed as outdated or unhealthy. Yet Scripture teaches that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). It is only when we acknowledge God’s rightful place over us that we begin to live rightly. The lack of this fear in our culture—and in our own hearts—leads to careless living, prideful self-reliance, and indifference to sin. But when we recover a holy reverence for God, sin will no longer have a hold over our lives.