The Inability of man
And
The Provisionary work of Christ
“Depravity”
Totally and Radically
Psalms 14:1-7
I. Man’s Inability as governed by Adam’s disobedience (V. 1)
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The term “sin” must be defined and divided into two categories:
Sin defined: to miss or fail to hit the mark
Two distinctions of sin:
· Sin as a state of being (from birth)
· Sin as an action (outworking in the flesh)
1. Adam’s sin brought total ruin
Note: There are those who think Adam’s sin only smeared the image of God and others who think it was totally dispersed; but was does the scriptures say?
A. Adam’s sin brought Physical death
a. Physical death was passed on to every man
b. Physical death was passed on to all of creation
B. Adam’s sin brought Spiritual death
a. Spiritual death passed on to the human race
C. Adam’s sin brought moral ruin to humanity
Ephesians 2:2-3
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2. Mankind is “DEAD” in trespasses and sin
Ephesians 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
A. Man is born spiritually dead
a. Incapable of pleasing God on his on (Depraved moral nature)
Note: Mankind cannot do any act or acts of righteousness that will please God outside of Christ.
II. God’s observation of humanity (v. 2)
1. Is there any that understands: (The depraved mind)
A. Their condition, “spiritual state”
B. Their spiritual duty
C. Their destiny
Note: Mankind is totally lost wandering in a dense fog of death and never having the ability to find his or her way out of the dilemma until the awe inspiring light of grace shines through the haze like a beacon from a lighthouse.
2. Is there any that seek God: (The depraved will)
Note: The will of man prior to coming to saving faith in Christ is bound and held captive to sin (Satan) whose chains must be cut from the heart of each and every individual; we are slaves to sin, of which Satan is the taskmaster.
A. Man is incapable of making free choices that would gravitate towards God because:
a. Their hearts are depraved
b. Their minds are depraved
c. Their souls are depraved
d. Their spirit is depraved that dwells within the soul
III. God’s final conclusion (v. 3-4)
Scripture gives overwhelming evidence to God’s conclusion in the matter of man and sin: they are depraved, spirit, mind and body.
1. They have “all” departed from the way
2. They “all” are unclean (unrighteous)
3. There is none capable of doing good, no not one
4. There is none capable of understanding the pathway of God
5. There is none capable to call upon His name
IV. The ability of Christ through the Atonement (v. 7)
Note: Out of Zion came a savior, destroying all the works of the evil one, the mighty Christ of God.
1. The Atonement brought light to a depraved mind
Ephesians 1:17-18
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
A. Christ made It possible for one to see spiritually:
a. His desperateness apart from salvation
b. His spiritual need of salvation
c. His destiny apart from salvation
Note: It could be said that one knows not his direction in life until Christ gives light to a path darkened by sin, thereby enabling that person to see the end of the road and the detour that is just ahead atop a hill marked by a cross.
B. Christ made it possible for one to see the physical boundaries marked by sin
The cross is the perfect picture of the consequences of sin.
a. Sickness
b. Death
2. The Atonement brought life to a dead heart
Ephesians 2:1-22; 4:1-5:33
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
3. The Atonement broke the chains that bound the will of man:
A. By purchasing the slave with his own blood
Hebrews 9:12
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
B. By imparting faith through grace enabling us to believe the gospel
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
.
V. The Ability of Christ through the Resurrection
1. The Resurrection breaks the curse of death
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
A. Brings resurrection to all men
a. Sinners will be resurrected to the damnation of hell
Ref: Revelation 20:11-15
b. Believers will be resurrected to life eternal
2. The resurrection frees the soul of God’s elect
Note: Even in the state physical death, the soul of man is ushered in to the presence of God; what a salvation.
3. The resurrection solidifies the destiny of man
“For we shall forever be with the Lord”
