Carefully
Read the Warning Label
Depravity.
That is not a beautiful word. It means that the corruption of sin has
extended to all aspects of our nature, including our entire being. Because of that
corruption there is nothing man can do to merit or influence in any way a saving
relationship with a holy God.
The fallen person’s relation to a holy God has been radically
affected. Because of the effects of the fall, man’s original relationship with God
was broken and our entire nature was polluted. As a result of the Fall of man, no
individual can do anything, even religious things, that will merit salvation, or eternal
life, in God’s sight. There is nothing an individual can do to influence in a
positive way a right relationship with God. No action that man does, no matter how good or
religious can gain favor with God for salvation.
What was affected by the Fall? The mind (Rom. 1:28; Eph. 4:18), the
conscience (Heb. 9:14), the heart or inner being were all corrupted spiritually (Jer.
17:9; Mk. 7:20-23).
We see the depravity of mankind most clearly in the rejection of
Jesus Christ in John 1:11. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not
receive Him.”
Spiritual depravity is demonstrated by the willfulness and spiritual
blindness of everyone apart from the grace of God. The cross of Jesus Christ is the
response of fallen man to the goodness of God (1 Cor. 2:14).
How far did man fall? The Bible tells us that when man fell into sin
he fell all the way to the bottom and there he lies hopelessly lost, blind and spiritually
dead, unable to help himself until God reaches down by grace, lifts him up and gives him
spiritual life through the new birth (Rom. 3:9-18).
Left to ourselves we are not the least bit righteous. Sinful man has
no ability to save himself (Jn. 1:13). We are corrupted by sin and in rebellion against
God.
The apostle Paul tells us how our sinfulness affects a holy God.
“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). The wrath is
revealed against us because we are without excuse (vv. 18-32; cf.1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15;
5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4-5).
The reality and terror of the wrath of God is
emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Bible places emphasis on the wrath of God as a strong and settled opposition to all that is evil.
This holiness comes from God’s very nature. He is a holy and righteous
God.
The wrath of God is that in His character that is
in absolute opposition to all that contradicts His holiness.
God does not flare up with red hot anger as human beings do, but His
wrath is described in the Bible as a firm, fearful, hatred of all wickedness that builds
up and will one day result in eternal condemnation of all who reject His grace and mercy
provided through the atoning death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Robert Haldane said, “The wrath of God was revealed when the
sentence of death was first pronounced, the earth cursed and man driven out of the earthly
paradise, . . but especially by the reign of death throughout the world. It was proclaimed
by the curse of the law on every transgression and was intimated in the institution of
sacrifice and in all the services of the Mosaic dispensation. . . . The whole creation has
become subject to vanity and groans and travails together in pain. . . But above all, the
wrath of God was revealed from heaven when the Son of God came down to manifest the divine
character, and when that wrath was displayed in His sufferings and death in a manner more
awful than by all the tokens God has before given to His displeasure against sin.”
Biblical Christianity is God reaching down to save perishing sinners,
not men and women reaching out to Him. Jesus Christ died for those who deserve God’s
wrath. His death is fully adequate to cover all our sins and depravity and to reconcile us
to God (1 John 1:6-9; Rom. 3:21-26; 5:12-21).
Jesus Christ is our only hope. Be sure and read the label. There is a
day coming when men are warned to flee the wrath of God (2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2:11-12; Heb.
10:29-31). The coming of Jesus Christ a second time will be suddenly and unexpectedly.
Some will meet Him as their Judge and other as their Savior.
If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life I
pray that you will right now. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved
today from the wrath of God for all eternity.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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