The Nature of Our Nature

In this season when everybody is showing outward goodwill to others, we humans are still evil within. Most folks don't want to believe that but it's true. Here's why it is.

According to the Bible, nobody is righteous without God giving it to them. Romans 3:9-11 (Bible in Basic English) says of wicked people, "What then? are we worse off than they? In no way: because we have before made it clear that Jews as well as Greeks are all under the power of sin; As it is said in the holy Writings, 'There is not one who does righteousness; Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God;'"

The only way a person can become righteous is to surrender to Christ's rulership. As Romans 5:19 (BBE) points out, "Because, as numbers of men became sinners through the wrongdoing of one man, even so will great numbers get righteousness through the keeping of the word of God by one man."

We also see that the righteous are protected by God from everlasting destruction. As 1 Peter 3:12 (BBE) rightly states, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Now some will ask, "what about Old Testament saints? How did they become righteous without Christ?" They gained it by lovingly obeying the Lord. Genesis 7:1 (BBE) tells us, "And the Lord said to Noah, 'Take all your family and go into the ark, for you only in this generation have I seen to be upright.'"

We also read all through the Bible that it's trust in God which saved the saints of old. They all sought after the Lord. As Hebrews 11:6 (BBE) explains, "And without faith it is not possible to be well-pleasing to him, for it is necessary for anyone who comes to God to have the belief that God is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who make a serious search for him."

Just as those faithful saints looked forward to the Messiah, we look back and know we're forgiven. Let's always ponder this great gift we've received.

In the event that Christ doesn't return for us by Thursday, I hope to post about how we're one year closer to Christ's glorious return.