Scripture Reading: Romans 3:9-23.
Memory Verse: All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
Article 5. MAN’S CONDITION
We believe man was created for immortality, but through sin he forfeited his divine birthright, and because of sin, death entered into the world, and passed upon all men. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we become partakers of His divine nature and live forever. (Romans 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54; 2 Timothy 1:10; 2 Peter 1:4)
Introduction:
“Sin is universal. All men are sinners; all of man is sinful. Sin is universal among men; it is total within man. If one drew a circle to indicate the righteous, it would be empty. All would be excluded. If one drew a circle to indicate sinners, it would be filled. All would be included.
“The universality of sin is clearly taught by direct statements in the Bible. All men by natural birth are sinners. it is apparent, of course, that Jesus is an exception. ‘We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away’ (Isaiah 64:6). ‘The whole world lieth in wickedness’ (1 John 5:19).” (Alva G. Huffer, Systematic Theology, The Restitution Herald: Oregon, Illinois, 1961, p. 191).
“Sin is a corruption of the nature of man, so that although by creation he was intended for fellowship with God and to reflect His nature (‘In God’s Image’), he now is not only unfit for that fellowship, apart from salvation, but without desire for it; indeed, he is in practice (though perhaps not consciously always) in rebellion against God. Sin is not a series of wrong acts or careless omissions, but the root of all these. Sin is not ugly ornaments hung on a Christmas tree, which can be removed one by one, it is rather what makes a poison bush produce poison berries. it is ‘the way we are.’ This human situation is universal; everyone is born into it. it is a predicament because man, left to himself, is more or less unaware of the actual trouble, and he is unable to help himself, because he lacks the perspective to see himself and the power to· set himself free from what destroys him. He is under the Impression that he needs to be saved from what makes him afraid-from danger, shame, failure, pain, and death. What he does not see is that he needs to be saved from himself.” (Ibid. p. 199).
“Some men deny human responsibility for sin by locating sin in society instead of in the individual. They declare that a person may be a sinner, but that he is not responsible for his sins. His sinful condition is the fault of society as a whole. They assert, therefore, that no one will ever have to answer for any personal sin. According to this teaching, guilt is not an individual matter; sin is merely an unfortunate condition of society.” (Ibid. p. 194).
The Bible, however, is very explicit on this point and states that we will each stand alone before the judgment seat of God to give an account of ourselves. We will be judged by the Word of God, and neither friends nor society can share our guilt or reward.
Lesson Questions:
- In what circumstances were Adam and Eve placed in the beginning? Genesis 2:7-15.
- How did they lose their right to paradise? Genesis 3:1-19.
- What has been man’s natural condition since Adam? Romans 5:12-14.
- What is man’s condition outside of Jesus Christ? Genesis 6:5; Romans 1:21-25.
- Are we all like this, or are there some exceptions? Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10, 23.
- What is our natural tendency when confronted with our own sinfulness? Genesis 3:11-13; 1 Samuel 15:13-15.
- At what point do we come under the penalty of sin? Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12.
- Where does this leave us regarding our relationship to God and eternity? Romans 1:32; Ephesians 2:1-3.
- Is it possible to change our carnal nature by ourselves? Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 7:14-23.
- What is our only solution to this problem? Romans 7:24-25; 8:1-4.