What are your beliefs regarding the natural state of humans at birth and our inherent relationship with God? Would you describe it as good, neutral, or bad? One further question remains: On what basis did you reach your conclusion? Was it shaped by accumulated experiences, a logical deduction, or perhaps an instinctual inclination?

In contrast to any subjective conclusions, the Bible is the authoritative repository of objective truth (Jude 1:3). Its teachings, spanning diverse categories of knowledge, are characterized by both reliability and trustworthiness, culminating in ultimate authority. As Jesus asserted, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

This article aims to explore the insights offered by the Bible regarding the condition of humanity. Romans 3:10-18 serves as a window into the intricacies of this topic, stating,

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18

A Terrible Tapestry

Our opening passage is located within an extended argument, where the apostle Paul has already stated that the Righteous shall live by faith. Additionally, he has emphasized the manifestation of God’s wrath upon the unrighteous, and he has charged both the Jew and the Gentile with being under the weight of sin.

In this segment, Paul masterfully crafts a striking, metaphorical portrayal of the human condition, akin to a shocking zombie-like vision. He achieves this artistic rendering by skilfully integrating the voices of various Old Testament saints – a technique employed in this analysis. The result is a comprehensive depiction of humanity as a morally corrupt entity from head to toe.

None Is Righteous

Note that verse 10 commences with the phrase “as it is written,” indicating Paul’s intention to argue from Scripture. In it, he uncovers rich portrayals of the human condition. He quotes from Psalm 14 and Psalm 53, in which King David contemplates the folly of those who reject the existence of God. These Psalms underscore the universal sinfulness of humanity and the repercussions of turning away from God. According to David, none naturally desires to know the one true God; in fact, all willingly pursue an alternative path. If one were to assemble a room full of people who, by nature, actively seek God, that room would remain void. The repudiation of God’s existence unveils a state of corruption and moral decay, echoing Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 6:23: “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

They have all fallen away;

together they have become corrupt;

there is none who does good,

not even one.

Psalm 53:1, 3

The Autopsy

A comprehensive scrutiny of the pervasive decay that has taken hold ensues, offering a meticulous examination from head to toe. Paul compels us to inspect individual body parts to grasp the extent of the decomposition. Starting with the throat, he draws a vivid parallel, likening it to an open grave emitting noxious gases and a putrid odour, assaulting the senses. The imagery of using tongues for deception evokes a serpent-like gustatory deceit, emblematic of their propensity for lies and manipulation. The tableau painted is undeniably grotesque. James 3:6 expands on this, stating, “The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue (Psalm 5:9).

Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent the mouth and lips serve as conduits for venom, expelling curses and bitterness. John Calvin, in his Commentary on Romans, aptly states, “what they breathe out is infectious; so that what they speak tends to death; so that what they mutter is deadly.” They lie in ambush, ready to unleash their mischief on any passerby, targeting their heels with malicious intent. Should they find none, they hunt. As Jesus said in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning.”

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,

and under their lips is the venom of asps.

Psalm 140:3

 

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;

under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

Psalm 10:7

Finally, the lens is focused on their feet, where King Solomon attributes to the swift pursuit of evil at the earliest opportunity. There is a rush, an urgency in their actions, as they are determined to unleash chaos and spill blood. Prophet Isaiah, too, affirms that the sought-after blood is innocent. This acceleration towards evil, coupled with the rejection of wisdom, gives rise to moral and societal decay, unveiling a stark absence of justice, peace, and righteousness. The resulting state is one of utter misery and distress, a condition vividly described by Jesus in Mark 7:21-23, where he declares, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

for their feet run to evil,

and they make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:16

And,

Their feet run to evil,

and they are swift to shed innocent blood;

their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

desolation and destruction are in their highways.

The way of peace they do not know,

and there is no justice in their paths;

they have made their roads crooked;

no one who treads on them knows peace.

Isaiah 59:7-8

The Heart of the Issue

This section culminates with a profound assertion about the fundamental cause of humanity’s fallen state is the absence of a genuine fear of God. The Book of Proverbs succinctly encapsulates this truth, stating that the fear of the LORD is the very foundation of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). Thus, the absence of this reverence sets the stage for calamity. The intricate machinations of the wicked prominently feature a deficiency in acknowledging God with due awe. This underscores the pivotal role of the human heart in moulding not only individual actions but also moral decision-making. This vital understanding underscores that the root issue is not solely a lack of desire but, more profoundly, an inability to reverence God genuinely. R.C. Sproul put it this way, “To be spiritually dead is to be diabolically alive”. As a consequence of the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), the nature of humanity is juxtaposed against its Creator.

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

Psalm 36:1

Man in God’s Image

This does not imply that every sinner reaches the utmost depths of depravity, completely devoid of any qualities that might be deemed pleasing to others. Nor is every individual predisposed to every conceivable form of sin, nor are they as diametrically opposed to God as they could potentially be. Notably, Jesus recognizes commendable qualities in certain individuals (Mark 10:17-22). Even towards the Scribes and Pharisees, there is a measured acknowledgement of their efforts by Jesus (Matthew 23:23). The apostle Paul observes that among the Gentiles, there are those who, though lacking the law, naturally adhere to its principles (Romans 2:14). The narrative of Abraham, being informed about the Amorites, suggests a recognition that the degree of iniquity will intensify over time (Genesis 15:16). Moreover, Paul anticipates a progression of moral decline, asserting that “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:13).

As image bearers (Genesis 1:27), humanity inherently holds immeasurable value and dignity, representing the pinnacle of God’s creation. In the reflection of its Creator, the intricate facets of human existence unveil the profound brilliance inherent in God’s design. Delving into the intricate faculties of humanity illuminates the multifaceted intelligence embedded within God’s own nature. It is crucial to retain recognition of the Divine Mind that intricately fashioned humanity, even when contemplating the fallen state that humanity currently experiences.

The Way of Peace

Behold the stark reality that defines our human condition: We find ourselves condemned, burdened by the weight of inherited guilt and the pollution of deeds that stain our lives. This is not a matter of subjective interpretation but an undeniable truth that demands our acknowledgement and reflection (cf. James 1:23-24). Let us not shy away from confronting what we see in the mirror, for it reveals our need and produces hope.

We must remain acutely aware that we are incessantly challenged and accused before God, as stated in Revelation 12:10, and thus, our ultimate assurance resides solely in the sacrificial atonement provided by the Lamb. Our lives should be marked by a commitment to repentance and mortification of sins through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, conforming us to the likeness of Christ. Rather than viewing obedience to the Law as a means to earn salvation, we recognize it as a manifestation of the victory secured for us by Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this profound understanding should ignite a fervent passion for evangelism, driven by mercy and compassion toward those who remain in rebellion to the Triune God. As James reminds us, in James 5:20, the act of guiding a wandering soul back to the path of righteousness not only rescues them from spiritual death but also covers a multitude of sins.

In conclusion, if you find yourself still wandering on the wide path that leads to destruction, I implore you to consider the compassionate heart of Jesus, who “yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us” (James 4:5). Recognize that you stand in desperate need of this Savior, for He is not only able to save you in this very moment but, more profoundly, He is willing to save you to the uttermost (cf. Matthew 9:27-30 & Hebrews 7:23-25). This invitation to the Way of Peace is not a distant call but one extended to you right now:

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”

Matthew 11:28-29

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For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:17 KJV

Tug of War! That’s the first thing that came to mind when I read this text. I trust you know what a Tug of War is? It is a sport where two opposing sides are at each end of a rope, with a line drawn and they are struggling for dominance to pull the other team across the line to win the game. If you consider the text again, a picture of a tug of war is plainly painted. In every Christian, there is an intense ongoing battle between the desires of the indwelling Spirit of God in the believer and their sinful nature for dominance. It is a tug of war.

The phrase “lusteth against” simply means the flesh, our sinful nature, desires things that are against the Spirit’s desire. You will notice the text also speaks of the Spirit having desires that are against the desires of the flesh: “and the Spirit against the flesh.” Notice what the next phrase also says: “these are contrary one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Do you see that? These—the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another. In other words, the flesh opposes the desires of the Spirit, and the Spirit opposes the desires of the flesh.

The Desires of The Flesh

Though Christians are “washed…justified… sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV), we still live in a sinful world and a sinful body with residues of the sinful nature hanging around waiting to strike at the least opportunity. We live with an ongoing battle with the desire to sin. Often, unfortunately we actually do sin. If not regularly. So, there is a battle for dominance over the believer: “So that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

The desire of the flesh is to sin; indulge the old nature and please ourselves.. Regardless of how long you have been a Christian, you can testify to this sad reality.. You have the indwelling Spirit with new desires according to the new nature, but sin still lingers on with its desires according to the old nature. And both are opposing each other, so that you will go along with their desires.The desires of the Spirit of God in you won’t permit you to succumb to the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the flesh are opposing the desires of the Spirit. As long as we live in this fallen body, in a fallen world, we would have sinful desires –indwelling sin–to deal with. Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon:

“When we believe in Jesus Christ all our sins are pardoned; yet the power of sin, albeit that it is weakened and kept under by the dominion of the new-born nature which God doth infuse into our souls, doth not cease, but still tarrieth in us, and will do so to our dying day. It is a doctrine held by all the orthodox, that there dwelleth still in the regenerate, the lusts of the flesh, and that there doth still remain in the hearts of those who are converted by God’s mercy, the evil of carnal nature…”

Do you deny this? Can you honestly say this is not true of me? Look back your life just in the past hour? Consider the thoughts that may have run through your mind. And even, if possible, consider what you are thinking about while reading this article? Now the desires of the flesh are what lead to actual sins. The desires come, we don’t do anything about them, we follow them through, then boom, we sin.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death

James 1:14-15

Now, nobody can read what goes on in another  person’s mind. But those desires manifest by the way we live our lives. Paul calls this “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21). You may argue “I do not do these things”. What we must understand is that the list in Galatians 5:19-21 is not the list of all sins in the world but a fair representation of almost everything. The phrase “and such” is like our modern use of etcetera.

Winning The Tug of War

Dealing with the desires of the flesh means checking and bringing your sinful desires under the control of the Holy Spirit. It means not fulfilling or giving in to your sinful desires.

This I say then, walkin the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5: 16

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Galatians 5: 24

In verse 16, Paul is saying “do not fulfil the desires of the flesh.” In verse 24, he says “crucify the flesh”. Kill it. Deal with it. Don’t let your sinful desires master you. This is theologically called mortification of sin, that is killing sin. The prominent English theologian, John Owen, stated it this way:

“Mortify: put to death; a metaphorical expression, taken from the putting of any living thing to death. To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all his strength, vigour, and power, so that he cannot act or exert, or put forth any proper actings of his own; so it is in this case. Indwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called “the old man,” with his faculties, and properties, his wisdom, craft, subtlety, strength; this, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified,—that is, have its power, life, vigour, and strength, to produce its effects, taken away by the Spirit“

Hear what Scripture says on the matter.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 8:13

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1 John 3:9

A superficial reading of 1 John 3:9 may suggest a Christian cannot sin. But that will go against the teachings of Scripture. Already John has addressed the sin of believers in 1 John 1:8,10. So, “cannot sin” here simply means doesn’t make a practise or habit of sin.

How Do We Deal With The Desires of The Flesh?

It’s A Work of The Holy Spirit!

Dealing with the desires of the flesh is not mere character modification. It is not simply stopping to do the things you used to do. It is more than that. It is an inner work of the Holy Spirit.  When we become Christians, a monumental change occurs. Our heart is transformed, and new desires are implanted in us. Desires to obey God; to live holy lives ;to be conformed to the image of Christ; to forsake sin and embrace holiness.

Salvation does something to our soul. It reaches down into our hearts and changes our dispositions. We who once didn’t love God, begin to love him. Our sins become repugnant and revolting to us. We yearn to live our lives to please God. These new yearnings are all a work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. The Holy Spirit works in us to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Notice, there is a constant comparison in this text between desires of the flesh and desires of the Spirit. Paul speaks of the works of the flesh in vv.19-21, then contrasts it with the fruit of the Spirit in vv.22-23.

The Holy Spirit is constantly at work in us to produce these holy desires. This work of the Holy Spirit in us is theologically called sanctification. The Westminster divines articulated sanctification in this way:

“Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.”

Note, “That they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.” This simply means we are growing in holiness. We are having a distaste for sin. Sin is not having dominion and victory over us any longer. Look at the definition of sanctification again: “through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God”

The first thing to note in this journey of dealing with the desires of the flesh is that, it is a work of sanctification God applies to our hearts through the operation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s desire is to sanctify us and conform us to the image of Christ so that we become holy (2 Corinthians 3:18).

A look at the texts (Galatians 5:16;18;25) shows that this is all the work of the Holy Spirit in us. As Christians, our desire is to be holy, please God, and be honest in our dealings.  The desire to avoidsin is not something we produce by ourselves. These are desires according to the workings of the Spirit of God. “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13). God the Holy Spirit is at work in you dear believer: “not by might nor by power but by my Spirt.” (Zachariah 4:6)

The Cooperation of The Believer

If dealing with the desires of the flesh is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, does it then mean the believer is passive? There is nothing left for the believer to do? No! The believer actively engages with the Holy Spirit. The believer yields to the Holy Spirit.

The believer responds outwardly to God’s inward work of grace.

You will notice right from the beginning of Galatians 5, the believer’s active involvement is stated. Paul outlines certain responses the believer must have toward the work of Christ: “Stand fast, be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage… don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” in verse 1; and, “use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another,’ in verse 13.

J.I Packer, in his book concise theology, says “God calls his children to sanctity and graciously gives what he commands.” In the same verses where we see the work of the Holy Spirit at work in the believer’s life, we see the necessary cooperation of the believer with the Holy Spirit: “Walk in the Spirit” (v.16); “Led of the Spirit” (v.18); “Led” of shows that “we follow”; “Live in”, “walk in” (v.25).

All these are verbs calling us to do something. We are not passive in the work of sanctification. “Walk in…live in…” These verbs are a picture of an ongoing process. It means that you and I must not become stagnant in our Christian walk. We must grow. We must mature. And how are we going to do this? Brethren, there is nothing new here that I will propose. Avail yourself to the ordinary means of graces God has given us to grow. Pray often, repent daily, fellowship with the saints, study and read your Bible regularly.

If you are walking in the Spirit, then you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (v16). That is, you will not give in to the desires of the flesh. This is an active process of choosing obedience over disobedience. Again, Look at verse 24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires. This basically means we have tamed the flesh. We have put it under control. We have killed it. Victory comes through death.

The Consequences of Not Dealing with The Desires of The Flesh

If there is no evidence of you dealing with the desires of the flesh and nothing about your Christian life shows the fruit of the Spirit, there are two possible options.

Firstly, you might not be saved. If you are giving in to the desires of the flesh joyfully, it may be a sign that you are not saved. I am drawing this inference from verse 24. If you are not dealing with the desires of the flesh, then you may not belong to Christ since “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.”

Secondly, you are not growing. You truly may be a believer, but not putting in the necessarily spiritual disciplines to deal with the desires of the flesh. The common means of grace are at your disposal.

Do you find yourself dear believer in a tug of war over your sanctification? Be encouraged. The Holy Spirit is on our side. Victory is ours in Christ alone. The flesh shall not have the final say. The flesh shall not win

Notes:

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I believe John 3:16 is the heart of the Christian message. It is the most beautiful summary of what Christians believe. Martin Luther, the Magisterial Reformer, calls this verse “the gospel in miniature.” The core idea expressed in John 3:16 is God’s boundless love:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The Greatest Love

Love is arguably the most discussed topic in the entire world. It’s the theme of many songs and poems and engages a lot of discussions. Two complete strangers meet and unexpectedly fall in love; parents love their children; siblings express love toward one another and neighbours love each other. Human beings, indeed, have the capacity to love one another. Scripture commands it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:25-30).

However, every form of human love pales in comparison to God’s love. God’s love surpasses all human love, making it the greatest love of all. Human love is fleeting and conditional; God’s love is everlasting: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3). One of the strangest occurrences in a marriage takes place when two people who previously loved one another so much become the worst of enemies. Unfortunately, we hear of such stories quite often.

Isaiah 49:15 reminds us that even mothers can forget their babies. This is evident in stories we hear of abandoned infants found in places like forests or dump sites.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

Such is the fleeting nature of human love, yet God’s love for us is so great that he will never forget us.

The opening words of John 3:16 introduces us to what can be considered “The Definition of Love”: “For God so loved…” The love of God is a deep subject we cannot exhaust. It is vast. It has breadth, it has height, and it has depth. And it surpasses all knowledge (Ephesians 3:18-19). The apostle John describes love as the very essence of God. Love is God’s nature. “God is love” (1 John 4:16).

There is a common practice of discussing the subject of love under four Greek words: Agape, Philia, Eros and Storge. But the New Testament, in reality, only uses two of these words (Agape and Philia) to describe love. In its strictest sense, Agape describes God’s love, and Philia describes brotherly love—love shared among one another. Agape is God’s unconditional love. It is not earned, neither can it be bought. It is unconditional.

The Greatest Enemies

Now love must be expressed. We don’t only talk about it, but we show it. And love has an object. Often, we love people who love us back. It’s human nature to be nice to only those who are nice to us. But God’s love is unlike ours. The Bible teaches that God first loved us (1 John 4:19). In fact, the ones God loved are rebels who have trampled His law. His enemies (Romans 5:10).

If you have come to faith in Christ Jesus, I pray you appreciate the depth of the love of God that has been lavished on you. “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). Our salvation was bought and purchased long before we were born. It has nothing to do with your deeds —good or bad (Romans 9:11). Notice how God’s love is captured in the past tense, “For God so loved the world”. This means God’s love was displayed long before we were born. There is nothing in us that merits God’s love. Yet he loved us all the same.

Notice that ‘the world’ is not here referring to the trees, vegetation or the natural environment. Though there is a sense in which God loves the natural world and will redeem it one day (Psalm 19:1), the world in view here is the inhabitants. It is sinful humanity. And this world is a world of darkness, evil and wickedness. Jesus put it this way:

“And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20).

This is a clear picture of the world. Sinners hate the light and love darkness, and they do wicked things.

In John 3:16, an analogy is drawn from verses 14-15 of this chapter. It recalls an incident in Numbers 21:4-9, where the Israelites rejected God. They murmured and complained. In judgement, God sent serpents among them. The snakes bit them, and some died.

The reality is that all human beings have rejected God and been bitten by sin. Who is without sin? Apart from Jesus, who lived a sinless life, the word of God knows no such person. In fact, real human experience tells us there is nobody in existence who has never sinned. All humans have rebelled against God. We were conceived in sin. We were born into sin. Sin is our very nature. We live our lives in sin. And this sin has affected our whole lives. In theology, this is called Total Depravity. It means our whole nature has been affected by sin due to the fall of Adam in Eden. (Romans 3:23).

The Greatest Sacrifice

Herein is the love of God displayed; it is shown to the “vilest offender”. What is your sin? Perhaps, you are among those who think their sin is so great it cannot be forgiven. No, God’s love is greater than any sin, no matter how grave. God’s love is the greatest because he loved the unlovable: Sinners, liars, fornicators, idolaters, complainers, the ungrateful and wicked, murderers, drug peddlers, thieves, the sexually immoral, hypocrites – think about all these and more. God showed his love to such.

How did he do it? He provided The Greatest Sacrifice in human history: “that he gave his only Son.” When the Bible says God gave his only Son, it conveys the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus for the sins of his people. The narrative of the Bible is one of a Holy God on a mission to rescue sinners. God gave his son to pay for our sins in order to bring reconciliation between God and humanity.

Love gives: therefore, God gave us a great sacrifice to pay for the sins of his greatest enemies, sinners. It is only by understanding God’s attitude towards our sins that we can truly comprehend the nature of our rebellion.: “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11 KJV).

Love is not cheap talk. Love is expressed. God didn’t just talk about his love. His love moved him to act. Love is shown by what we do for one another and how we care for one another. Imagine someone saying they love you. But they don’t show it, and they don’t care about your well-being; they only keep talking about it. They show nothing to prove they love you. Would you believe they do?

The Greatest Promise

God, the Greatest Lover, showed his love by giving us his Greatest Sacrifice, Jesus Christ. In the love of God, there is forgiveness of sin and pardon from sin. There is reconciliation with God. In Jesus Christ, God has made to sinners The Greatest Promise. The promise of eternal life: “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In Jesus Christ, God is merciful towards sinners. They are pardoned for their sins.

In his first advent, that is his first coming, he came to offer salvation to sinners. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). Mark Johnston notes,

The primary purpose of Christ’s coming in the incarnation was to bring redemption to a fallen race. Though it is true that Jesus, at the end of the age, will be the Judge of all the world…yet the main purpose of his coming was to be the supreme expression of God’s saving grace…Here is the gospel in all its simplicity —the good news that there is forgiveness from God for all who put their faith in his Son. There is nothing a person can hear more precious than this.

Dear friends, God has given us his Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in him will not perish. “Whoever believes.” This is the free and universal offer of the gospel. This is the gospel offered far and wide. The door is open for people of all races, backgrounds, gender, ethnicity, colour etc. There is no Greek, no Jew, no Gentile, no male or female. No American, European, or African. The offer is open to all: Sinners are everywhere called to repentance.  

The Greatest Danger

When the Scripture says, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”, it also means that whoever doesn’t believe will perish. If one doesn’t believe this Greatest promise, The Greatest Danger awaits them. They will perish. They will die in their sins and be condemned to eternal damnation.

In John 3:18 we are told that “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” If you don’t believe in God’s sacrifice for your sins, you are condemned already. I doubt anyone will reject a precious gift from someone who loves them. But that is what those who do not believe are doing – they are rejecting God’s love.

If you haven’t yet contemplated the depth of God’s love for his greatest enemies—a  love that was demonstrated through the greatest sacrifice in human history and is accompanied by the greatest promise ever made—then I implore you to do so. Failing to recognize the magnitude of God’s love could lead to the greatest danger of all: the risk of eternal damnation. Take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice that God made on our behalf and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the immense love that he has for all of us, even when we were his enemies.

Notes

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