The
Nature of the Fallen Man
Part Four
By Nick Bibile
As
we continue to study in-depth the fallen nature of man, we see very clearly the
total depravity of man. The word depravity means, wicked, corrupt and sinful.
When we see that the fallen man is totally corrupt, it means that he is totally
wicked, corrupt and sinful. Although the fallen man is alive physically but
morally he is dead toward God, he is spiritually dead. As a result, he has no
will to reach out for God, he is dead toward God and his will his opposite to
Gods will. However, the majority of the unbelievers and the majority of the churches
do not believe this position.
Pelagian was a British monk who did not believe in original
sin. The sin of Adam was only for Adam, all the rest of mankind are born
innocent without the original sin. As a result, man has the will to choose what
is right and wrong.
Semi-Pelagainism believes when man sinned, he was affected
by sin and as a result, he is morally sick, but not dead toward God. As a
result, man still have the will to choose good and evil. God and man both have
to cooperate in salvation. Roman Catholicism and the majority of the Protestant
Churches believe this view, although all the early church and the Reformers
deny this view in the light of scripture.
The majority of the modern churches have gone astray from
historical teachings of the Bible and as a result, they do not teach that man
is totally depraved. Oh! Lord bring back the truth to the church again is our
prayer. Did Jesus see anything good in man?
Joh
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he
knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he
knew what was in man.
Ro
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not
The natural man does not see himself as to be that wicked.
They do not see themselves as enemies of God. When they hear when we speak that
they are enemies of God they object to this teaching. They say, I do not hate
God because I know how I feel, in fact I love God. I know my self better than
you, and how can you know about my heart. If I hate one of my own fellow men I
know within myself that I hate that person in the same way if I hate God I know
that I hate God, but I know myself and I do not hate God.
Our answer is that you are blinded by the enemy and you do
not really know your own heart. If you truly love God, why you do not have a
high esteem toward God. You have despised the authority of God, that is His
word and commands or else have very little value of God. On the other hand, you
esteem highly the vanities of this world far above God. Yes, you are very fond
of the movies actors, singers the stars of Hollywood, the sports stars, you
love those material things in the world, but have no time for the Word of God,
and yet you say that you love God? How can this be possible? (James 4:4) You
are blinded yourself. If you love someone you will think of that person all the
time, but you do not meditate upon God, as you have no interest on him. In
reality when we speak of the Word of God, you feel uncomfortable. If you look
into your heart, you will see your will is contrary to Gods will and you have
been walking in opposition to Gods will.
If you had some kind of deep hate towards a man and he was a
great enemy of yours, then one day you heard that he died, then you do not feel
any more anger towards him, as he is dead. You do not have to worry of him; he
is gone, as your enemy is history. But if you received the wrong information
and you found out he is not dead, but alive and well, the hatred will come back
again, and you will feel the same hatred like before. It is the same with God.
Many wish there was no true God, and often think there is none. The reason is
they are enemies of God.
The true living God is infinitely holy, hate sin, he is just
and will not compromise with sin, and he will punish the sinners. But you do
not feel comfortable with the true living God, instead you have formed a god
that will suite your opinions and your religion, a god who will compromise with
sin, a god who is not infinitely holy, a god that will conform to your
thinking. Psalm 51:20 speak of you.
Ps 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such
an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before
thine eyes.
Read very carefully. It means these things you have done,
that is the sinful acts, but God was silent, you thought that I was like you
John Calvin explains this scripture.
..but in their secret and corrupt imagination they figure
God to be different from what he is, that they may take occasion from his
conceived forbearance to indulge a false peace of mind, and escape the disquietude
which they could not fail to feel were they seriously persuaded that God was
the avenger of sin. We have a sufficient proof in the supine security which
hypocrites display, that they must have formed such false conceptions of God.
They not only exclude from their thoughts his judicial character, but think of
him as the patron and approver of their sins.
You do not like the true attribute of the living God as you
hate his holiness and justice, His wrath and punishing the sinners, so you pick
up a religion that suits your opinion so you can have a peace of mind, and you
say that is my god, no my friend that is not the true living God, you are being
deceived.
If a serpent sees you far away, he will not spit poison at
you. But if you come very near to the serpent, he will spit poison and bite
you. In the same way, you may be a nice person, and they will be very
comfortable as long as God does not interfere in their lives. In Jesus time as
when ever he came to expose the sins of the Jews, they got very angry and
wanted to kill him.
You do not know your
own heart.
for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth..
(Gen 8:21)
The natural man seems to be good and peaceful as long as he
does not have much power in his hands, but what will happen if much power is
given to him? He will look like a dove but when the opportunity comes, he will
be like a ferocious wolf.
2Ki 8:12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered,
Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their
strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the
sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he
should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that
thou shalt be king over Syria.
Hazael at this time did not have any power and he seemed
harmless and good. But afterwards when he became the king of Syria his true
nature came out in colors.
2Ki 10:32 In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short:
and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
We see this in our life, as we see when someone is poor not
much money he is humble. But when he becomes rich or famous there is no more
humility but full of arrogance and pride.
The natural men appear to be good, but when the opportunity
comes, you will see their total depravity. The most religious leaders were the
Pharisees. They appeared to be very good, until Jesus came and exposed their
hearts. This shows they do not know their hearts, as the heart of natural man
cannot be trusted. God sees the heart and knows man in and out. Man is enmity
at God to the core but as we said, in our studies before, it is God have
restrained man, once God takes away the restrain then we see the true nature of
man. If there was a very wrathful man but he is under the power of an enemy who
is stronger than him, you will not see the true nature of the wrathful man. You
will only see his outward disguise and hypocrisy. But if his enemy is taken
away then you will see his true nature coming out.
In the same way, the natural man is under restraint since
infancy, but once that restraint is taken away, we see their enmity against God
in full strength. Many times the fallen man finds comfort in the church. Yes,
there are many fallen men in the church. Remember Jesus said the wheat and the
tares will grow together, and at the judgment day, he will separate the wheat
and the tares. The fallen man is comfortable in a warm fellowship where there
is a lot of love and hospitality.
Ac 28:1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the
island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for
they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain,
and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid
them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
When I was in the Philippines at the beginning of our
ministry we bought doughnuts for all the people who attended. As we ministered
in a very poor area and the poor cannot afford to eat doughnuts, there were
many people attending the church. Then later when our money ran out the
doughnuts also ran out, and people came but there were no doughnuts. The next
Sunday there were only a very few people. During the ministry of Jesus, many
came because of the bread that he fed him. Also we experienced in the
Philippines there were many who will try to take advantage of us when they knew
we came from America. Yes, the fallen man feels comfortable in the church. But
actions are the best interpreters of the heart. Behavior will show that they
are enemies of God. If you are walking contrary to Gods counsels, contrary to
his commands, contrary to his glory, setting him low in life and for his
authority and have a great interest of this world and living for your interest,
these are sufficient evidence of your enmity towards God.
Yes, many will look very religious, pious, and good people
in the site of others. They are like the snake in the church, they have much
hope from God, expecting much promises from God but when things does not work,
trials and persecutions hit you hard you will show you to be a viper. Before
you were praising God now filthy language coming from your mouth, there is
anger, hatred and evil thoughts. It is like a serpent you let the serpent to be
alone and as long as no one disturbs the serpent he is harmless, but if anyone
disturbs it, it will soon hiss and spit venom.
Therefore consider seriously your own ways, weigh your own
behavior in the light of the Gods word. Jeremiah said, How canst thou say, I am
not polluted (Jer 2:23)
Ps 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease;
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?
Mt 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Be honest before God, cry out before him for your sinful
ways and realize the how evil the heart is and ask the Lord in prayer to search
your heart.
Ps 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and
my heart.
Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and
know my thoughts:
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a
right spirit within me.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken
and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Ps 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth:
unite my heart to fear thy name.
Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against thee.