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Uh, man is not wounded. He is DEAD. Demised. An ex-parrot. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can make him ALIVE (Quicken) to Christ to where he will choose Christ.

You may believe what you will, but the mainstream Protestant interpretation (I realize I am generalizing - not all Protestants hold to your idea of the totally corrupt man) is incorrect on Romans 3. One doesn't need to be a Catholic to figure that out. I have already detailed my area of disagreement.

As to man requiring the Holy Spirit, I do not believe I said man could EVER save Himself. There is no need for the false dichotomy - in other words, God saves man, but that does not exclude man. One does not have to be dead to require God's salvation.

There is no point in posting Scriptures on this issue - because there are dozens and dozens of them that tell of men being righteous (as a result of God, of course). I will take your word that you claim to be familiar with Scriptures and can find these yourself.

Merry Christmas

There is no point in posting Scriptures on this issue - because there are dozens and dozens of them that tell of men being righteous (as a result of God, of course).
Which is the point. We can only ever be righteous people as a result of God's work in our lives. The best of the best of us, our righteousness is still filthy rags. Our hearts are continually set towards evil. We are not wounded as a result of the fall. We are dead. I know you say not to post Scriptures, but it isn't my opinion that I am posting. My stance means nothing. Scripture means everything, so I will not adhere to that particular request. The Bible does not call the lost "righteous," but the saved. Only by the work of the Holy Spirit are we brought from death to life everlasting - and it is NOT of us. It's all about God. It's all Him.

Ephesians 2

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.