Part 4
Our Hopeless Condition
When we are born, we receive the consequences of Adam’s sin in our humanity. (The result of being literally related to Adam and Eve, below the line) This means we do not have a spiritual or divine nature, nor do we have eternal life.
When our time of probation has ended, we will die as a consequence of being literally related to Adam and Eve, not as a punishment for sin, but certainly a death sentence.
On the other hand, because God saw us ‘in Adam’, both before and after he sinned, God sees us as guilty and under the sentence of eternal death. However, this guilt and death sentence is not personally imputed to us until we choose to sin ourselves. By choosing to sin, we align ourselves with Adam’s guilt, and come under the same sentence of the second death. 16
According to the Bible, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. This refers not only to our inheritance in Adam, but also how we live, for everything we do is corrupt.
“There is none righteous, no, not one, there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12.
Every person over the age of understanding is personally responsible for breaking the Law of God, and is under the penalty of eternal death. No one can say, ‘I have not sinned’. “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10.
Of ourselves, we do not fully understand our condition. However, if we are willing for the Spirit of God to show us our true state, we will acknowledge, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death.” Romans 7:24.
We will be like the leper who came to Jesus with the plea, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Matthew 8:2.
We will be like the publican who stood afar off, and would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, “God be merciful to be a sinner.” Luke 18:13.
We will be like the prodigal who came to himself in the pig sty and said, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.” Luke 15:18.19.
We will be like the woman who spent her livelihood on physicians, and came to Jesus with a desire just to touch the hem of His garment. “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” Mark 5:28.
We will acknowledge being like Israel when Isaiah cried, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters… from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isaiah 1:4.6.
We will recognise that we are like the Ethiopian who cannot change his skin, like the leopard who cannot change his spots, and will know that it is impossible for us to “do good that are accustomed to (doing) evil.” Jeremiah 13:23.
We will believe God when He says our “sins are as scarlet… and red like crimson.” Isaiah 1:18.
And we will believe Jesus when He says we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17.
Not an encouraging picture, but according to the Word of God, it is the truth. Human nature does not like to accept it, and that is why the Laodicean boasts, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Revelation 3:17.
The human being is literally in a destitute condition, but of himself he does not know it. Ask the average person what they think of themselves. Usually they will say, ‘I am okay. I am not perfect, but I live a good life.’ Many believe they deserve to enter heaven!
When the Spirit of God left Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, man was without the divine nature. His descendants are therefore destitute of spiritual eyesight, and cannot see their true condition. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14.
“By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking.” 17
So by sin, man lost his connection with God. Of himself he has no means of salvation.
Remember, we are speaking of man literally, below the line.
SPIRITUAL
‘In Adam’
All mankind sinned
Man has guilt of sin
Man has death penalty
Lost
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LITERAL
All have sinned personally
All are without God or spirituality
All are deceived as to their true condition
No hope in himself
In this dreadful condition it appears we are without hope, and of ourselves it is true.
We live in a sinful world. We are sinful, and we lean towards sin. We have bodies that are aging every day, and when the time comes, we will die and turn to dust.
What God saw ‘in Adam’ before we were born is now a true picture of each one of us. God was right in judging us all as sinners. We have proved Him correct.
What can we do?
There is an impenetrable gap between this material, sinful, wicked world, and the pure, heavenly, spiritual world above.
SPIRITUAL WORLD
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SINFUL WORLD
No man is able to ascend into heaven. The distance is too great and the difference between the two worlds so immense, it is an utter impossibility. Thus, not one human being can enter the heavenly paradise.
But God so loved, He gave His Son…..
And “the Son of God volunteered to bear the punishment of disobedience. Only by the humiliation of the Prince of heaven could the dishonor be removed, justice be satisfied, and man be restored to that which he had forfeited by disobedience. There was no other way….
No one less holy than the Only Begotten of the Father, could have offered a sacrifice that would be efficacious to cleanse all – even the most sinful and degraded – who accept the Saviour as their atonement and become obedient to Heaven’s law.
Nothing less could have reinstated man in God’s favor…. On the cross of Calvary (Christ) paid the redemption price of the race. And thus He gained the right to take the captives from the grasp of the great deceiver…” 18
By Christ becoming the second Representative of mankind, He legally won back everything lost by the first Adam. This victory was full and complete, and it is as secure as the throne of God.
However, for man to be able to reach up from his sinfulness to the abundant provision ‘in Christ’, God has to perform a supernatural act.
This He wants to do for every man, woman, and child.
“And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed, and her seed; it shall bruise thy (Satan’s) head, and thou shalt bruise His (Christ’s) heel.” Genesis 3:15.
This text was fulfilled in Christ as the ‘Seed of the woman’, but a secondary application relates to all mankind as the human ‘seed’ of Eve, the ‘mother of all living’.
“The enmity referred to in the prophecy in Eden was not to be confined merely to Satan and the Prince of life. It was to be universal. Satan and his angels were to feel the enmity of all mankind…” 19
This enmity is not automatic at birth. It is performed on the heart of man in response to the working of the Spirit of God. If it were not for this converting and renewing power, man would remain the captive of Satan. Jesus Christ is continually drawing men and women to repentance. He does this by His Spirit, by the work of the holy angels, His Word, influences, impressions, questions, the atmosphere of grace surrounding the earth. God has a thousand ways to speak to us, but if we persist in ignoring His call to repentance, the conscience will be “seared as with a hot iron”, and the voice of God silenced. 1 Timothy 4:2.
Paul tells us that “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. This gift is for the Christian – the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Galatians 5:22.23. As we exercise the gift of faith, it is multiplied.
Therefore, let us respond in penitence, and LOOK UP.
“God would not have us remain pressed down by dumb sorrow, with sore and breaking hearts. He would have us look up and behold His dear face of love. The blessed Saviour stands by many whose eyes are so blinded by tears that they do not discern Him. He longs to clasp our hands, to have us look to Him in simple faith… His heart is open to our griefs, our sorrows, and our trials…
We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace.” 20
Praise God He has changed our hopeless condition into one of hope and peace. We can keep our eyes on the problems and heartaches of the world, or we can choose to look to Jesus.
“Many make a serious mistake in their religious life by keeping the attention fixed upon their feelings and thus judging of their advancement or decline. Feelings are not a safe criterion. We are not to look within for evidence of our acceptance with God. We shall find there nothing but that which will discourage us. Our only hope is in ‘looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith’…
Those who look within for comfort will become weary and disappointed. A sense of our weakness and unworthiness should lead us with humility of heart to plead the atoning sacrifice of Christ. As we rely upon His merits we shall find rest and peace and joy.” 21
So let us ‘remember’ to look by faith above the line.
When we study the Scriptures, read good books, pray, meditate, listen to messages of inspiration, claim the promises, sing hymns of praise, play sacred music, write words of encouragement, paint scenes of glory, share our faith with others, our faith can ascend to the heights of glory.
“Look unto Me, and be ye saved”, is the gracious invitation.
Our Glorious Representative
Christ our Representative