Unexpected Joy: Finding True Purpose in SurrenderIhe Atụ

Our Sin Nature

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture is consistent in its perspective on the condition of mankind. Apart from God’s saving grace and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit:

• Every part of every person is corrupted. There is nothing good about us.
• There are no exceptions.
• We are all slaves to sin and incapable of choosing good.
• Even our good deeds are, well, not good.

Even though Scripture is clear, this reality about ourselves is not easy to accept. Maybe Jesus can convince you. In asking a question, a “certain ruler” addressed Jesus as “Good teacher” (Luke 18:18), which, you would probably agree, was a very reasonable and respectful approach. Here is how Jesus replied: “Why do you call me good? ... No one is good—except God alone” (Luke 18:19).

Got it. We all suck.

Wait a minute. What about following your heart? If we are Christians, shouldn’t we follow our hearts? No. Again, not if you believe God’s Word to be true:

• “It is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22).
• “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).

It’s too easy to point to the Holocaust, slavery, genocide, human trafficking, or the caste system in India as evidence for the depravity of others or as a way to minimize the severity of our own actions. Ask yourself: are you truly content, or are you still chasing some version of the American Dream? Do you value everyone equally or is there a scale of good against which you judge the actions of others? Perhaps the most telling sign is our level of pride and how it shows up in all areas of our lives.

Consider the apostle Paul, whose self-awareness and understanding of his own sinfulness is well documented. He was so aware of the dangers of pride that he viewed any glory for himself as completely unacceptable. Here are two helpful translations of how he described it:

• “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

• “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14 KJV).

Maybe we could say Paul was a “good” Christian...?

Something to Remember:

Even as new creations in Christ, our sin nature persists and can’t be managed or lessened by human strength. Only in Jesus and with his strength can we overcome sin.

A growing respect for our sin nature is required if we are to mature to a right understanding of our brokenness. Without it, we will fail to receive the epignosis (experiential understanding) we need and will struggle to actually help others.