Many passages in Scripture describe humanity as spiritually blind, rebellious, or unresponsive to God. Passages such as Psalm 14:2–3, Psalm 53:1–3, Isaiah 64:7, and Jeremiah 5:1–2 emphasize that “no one seeks God” or “there is no one who does good.” Calvinism uses these verses to argue for total moral inability, claiming that humans are intrinsically incapable of responding to God’s call.
2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
1 For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God,' They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
The Psalms describe mankind’s failure to seek God in a way that would satisfy the law or merit righteousness. This does not mean humans lack the capacity to respond when God reaches out.
- As an analogy, one may be unable to call the president of a country independently, but that does not imply an inability to answer the phone if the president calls. Likewise, humans cannot initiate salvation on their own, but they can respond to God’s initiative.
10 as it is written, 'THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.' 13 'THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,' 'THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS'; 14 'WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS'; 15 'THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.' 18 'THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.' 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law [comes] the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law [the] righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even [the] righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. [This was] to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, [I say], of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God [the God] of Jews only? Is He not [the God] of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
hnopl8Psalm 14 is quoted by Paul in Romans 3 to highlight that no one is righteous according to the law. Yet, Paul immediately points to Abraham "righteous" because he believed (Romans 4). If "no one seeking" meant a literal inability to have faith, Paul would be contradicting himself.
I have a whole section on Romans and TULIP here: Does Romans Teach TULIP (Unfinished)