AFTER EDEN

Man naturally is conceived in iniquity- born in sin. His thoughts are continually evil. He has never become better and neither in his state of deadness will he change. What man has become! When we look at the world, we see bloodshed, hate, malice, robbery, envy, murder, and jealousy. Was it like this when man was first created? Was there such thing as pain, death, and suffering? No, the Scripture says that everything God had made was very good. (Genesis 1:31, 6:5)

So whence cometh all these things? The Bible has not left mankind in the dark to follow cunningly devised fables of the mere mortal creatures about this subject. It is the effect of fall. When Adam and Eve fell, sin entered the world. All kinds of sin and wickedness have been found in Genesis; lying, murder, adultery, homosexuality, jealousy, revenge envy, etc. (Genesis 3). When Adam fell, we also fell with him for we were in him. We all proceed from Adam. Man is not what he used to be before the fall. We are born inclined to evil. See how children behave when they are young. Who teaches them selfishness, envy, and anger? Is it true that there is always trouble in the way of doing good? This shows man’s fallen state. He loves what he should hate.

Man is ignorant of his creator. He is drifting always from God. Man has worshipped the creature rather than the creator. Why has man worshipped reptiles, mountains, beasts, and rocks? Why has he sacrificed his children by fire and tortured himself to appease the work of his hands? (Romans 1:23, Jeremiah 10:2-5). He who was supposed to dominion over creation has turned creation to be his god and is determined even to die for! This sinks man far below the beast.

Man is destitute of any righteousness and any goodness. Man does not seek God and neither does He fear him.  He cannot understand the things of God for they are foolishness to him and he is carnal-and things of God are spiritually discerned. He loves darkness and he hates the light. (John 3:19, Romans 3:9-17).

How does it then God save? Only God can save such a spiritually dead man (Ephesians 2). He is unable to make a choice for salvation. Only God can save to save that man (Psalm3:8). Holy Spirit grants faith upon the proclamation of the gospel regenerating the heart. Thus salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone according to Scripture alone to the glory of God alone. Ephesians 2:8.