Update (10/12): Be sure to check out my lunch time post today. Yesterday, a black pastor compared John Kerry to King David, the prophet Jeremiah and Jesus Christ himself! I have a few things to say about that…
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A couple of days ago I blogged about the most recent beheading and touched upon why God allows evil. It’s a question even Christians ask while knowing the answer. But I believe the more appropriate question is, “Why is there good in the world?”
Some of you may have heard the phrase, “total depravity.” It means that man is sinful through and through, though not as bad as he could be. Despite what humanists think, man is not inherently good, committing evil acts only because of his environment, poverty, ignorance, racism or the latest fad-excuse. We are inherently bad. Every word, thought and action is tainted by sin because we are sinful. In our unregenerate and rebellious state, we do not seek after God nor do we want to please or obey him.
Some people believe they are “saved” from eternal damnation (if they believe in eternal damnation at all) because they are “good.” God tells us otherwise: “The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3)
The wicked are estranged from the womb. That’s a hard saying, isn’t it? While it may not be explicit in this passage, “the wicked” referred to is every human born. We don’t usually associate sin with a precious baby, but the fact is we are born sinners. The “good” we do, if any at all, does not meet God’s requirements.
In Ecclesiastes 9:3 we read:
Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
This verse may be more familiar to you:
There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Romans 3: 10-12
Not one man, left to himself, is righteous. Are you clear on what God thinks of us mortals and our plan to save ourselves? If you’re not, God certainly is.
I use the word “we” because although I’m a believer in Jesus Christ, I’m still a sinner just like you. But I’m a sinner who’s been forgiven and touched by grace. God, in his infinite mercy, chose to save me. Sometimes when I’m riding the subway or walking down the street or in the middle of a meeting, I’ll think about it. The exceeding abundance of God’s mercy toward me is too profound to express in this post.
You don’t need to consult the Bible to know how evil we can be, if we make an honest assessment of ourselves. Some believe that if the “good” they do outweighs the bad, they will go to heaven (if they believe in heaven at all).
I’m always amazed that some think a do-it-yourself salvation plan will get them into heaven, although I know why they deceive themselves. You see it all the time in movies and on TV. As long as they tried to be a “good person”, they will go to heaven. Do you really think Hitler will be the only one suffering eternal damnation?
God says: “[F]or we have sinned. In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” Filthy rags. That is what God thinks of the “good” we do apart from himself. You see, God’s standard is perfection, not “the best we can do.” The only righteousness we have is through Jesus Christ.
But finally we come to one of the answers to why there is good in the world: common grace. What is common grace? In Matthew 5:44-45 we read:
[L]ove your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Common grace is distinct from saving grace in that the believer and unbeliever alike share in God’s earthly blessings. Also, since the Bible tells us man is not as evil as he could be, something must be restraining evil. That restraint is also God’s common grace.
God is long-suffering with us, but his patience does wear out.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Romans 1: 18-27
As harsh as that may sound, it doesn’t have to be this way for you. More than common grace, you can have saving grace through Jesus Christ.
“[I]f 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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”
Addendum: A commenter asks: “Why is man inherently bad? Because God said so? And how do we know that?” I want to give others an opportunity to answer before I do. It’s a legitimate question and one that needs to be answered. The commenter wants evidence for my assertion that man is inherently sinful. A biblical response is required, although a mirror and a pair of eyes will suffice.
