7 Key Points of the Gospel (Taken From Paul’s Letter to the Romans)預覽

Key point 4: Humans are evil

“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness…” (Romans 1:29)

The above Bible verse makes no bones about it. Humanity that does not acknowledge God as Creator is evil through and through. Paul doesn't say that to sneer at others. In another letter he says of himself, “We all… were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” He, too, was “dead in the trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-3). But Paul was saved and renewed by the Lord Jesus. We will discuss this more tomorrow.

Paul's analysis of humanity answers the universal question of why there is so much strife and misery on earth: man is evil. We do not come into the world in a blank state, but are under the influence of the devil, who “has been sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:8). This has dramatic consequences for life on earth, but also for our position before God. If we humans are so depraved, we deserve God's judgment and punishment. So, we have a fundamental problem!

It can’t escape anyone that all kinds of things are wrong on earth. That the real problem is deep within us is less easy to accept. Do you believe that you are inherently evil, or do you think this statement is too negative?