Graceful Truth

THE DEPTH OF OUR DEPRAVITY

September 20, 2024

THE DEPTH OF OUR DEPRAVITY

 

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (Genesis 6:5)

How sinful are we? The answer is: totally. Apart from God and His intervention in our lives, we are completely and totally spiritually depraved.

NOAH’S DAY

… proved it in bold relief. Mankind had been separated from God’s presence because of their sin for ten generations, and the result was decades of ever-increasing evil. Finally, we come to Noah’s day, and we have recorded the assessment of mankind written above: “Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Lest we think this is just an Old Testament phenomenon, listen to Paul’s description of every man in Romans, Chapter 3.

10 “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.”

 

SOBERING, BUT EXPLAINABLE

It’s not hard to understand, for we were created to live in dependency upon God. This was not added because of man's fall. It was how we were designed so that we would forever live in union with our Creator. Our sin explains why we are separated from God, and our separation from God explains our continuing, increasing sin. Without Him in our lives, we are “dead in our trespasses and sin” and have no capacity for godliness.

SOBERING BUT ENCOURAGING!

There is a beautiful reality here, though. Our sin is what pushes us to God. We must rely upon Him and experience His saving and sanctifying work to live aright. And it is freely offered to us through Jesus Christ. We can be clean, forgiven, and filled with His life. “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” Paul said. It is our confident assurance and practical experience that, united to Christ, we can be all we were designed to be! And one day soon set free from evil on this earth, we shall be as Christ is in glorious righteousness.

 



Also in Graceful Truth

MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISTREATED
MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISTREATED

November 22, 2024

Every man or woman comes to some point where they are faced with the big choice: Will I follow God and do what He says—even if there is a personal cost—or will I compromise and tell people what they want to hear so I can be liked?

Continue Reading

THE RELIABLE MERCY OF GOD
THE RELIABLE MERCY OF GOD

November 20, 2024

God’s mercy is His goodness poured out on undeserving people. It is God not giving people what they deserve but what He desires to give because He is God.

Continue Reading

FINDING GRACE IN THE WILDERNESS
FINDING GRACE IN THE WILDERNESS

November 19, 2024

“The people … found grace in the wilderness.” My, my. The summary of our lives in one verse. Amid this world’s darkness, the Enemy’s relentless attacks, and the weakness of our flesh, we are continually finding grace from our Father, even in the wilderness. In fact, especially in the wilderness.

Continue Reading