Secular society relentlessly proclaims, ‘Man is basically good.’ There is a presumption of innocence that associates the incessant display of human depravity throughout the world with ‘environmental influences’. If only we could create and maintain a utopian culture where the presumed goodness of the human race would be isolated from any negative or harmful forces.
But the fatal flaw in this thinking is that degenerate human behavior is at the core of every negative environmental influence. The defense of innate human goodness stands on an argument that claims man would be good if only it weren’t for the evil of man.
The Holy Bible has definitively addressed this issue. God clearly and unapologetically proclaims that because of Adam’s rebellion against God’s one restriction in the Garden of Eden, all humans are born with a sin nature.
Man is not ‘basically good’.
- Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
- Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
- Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
And unfortunately for all of us, our sinful nature is manifest through a tremendous Diversity of Perversity. Here are just two of the many portions of scripture that elaborate on just how bad we are.
- Mark 7:21-22 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
- Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But in His love, grace, mercy and justice, the Lord of the universe, the Creator of all things, the One and only true God has made a way that our sin can be dealt with.
- Psalm 103:10-13 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
God Himself came to earth in the form of man named Jesus.
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Jesus lived a sinless life so that He could pay the debt for our sin by dying on a Roman cross.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Surrender to Jesus to be saved from the wrath that God will poor out on those who have not had their sin debt paid.
- Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
The only way that man becomes good in the sight of God is through accepting the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
There may be a Diversity of Perversity when it comes to human nature, but there is only One way to a right relationship with God: Jesus Christ.
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, the answers are in His Word, the Holy Bible. Pray that God will give you access to His Word. Pray that God will guide you to a mature and faithful Christian who can explain these truths to you. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will draw you and guide you to the eternal truths about Jesus.
Prayer
Father in Heaven, I pray that You will shine the Light of Your Truth on broken and repentant hearts. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
