I'm Fallen and I Can't Get Up: Humanity's Radical Corruption

Let’s face the facts here. We are born with a disease . This isn’t just any old normal disease. No, this disease is forming and dwelling in the center of our hearts even before we are born. The infection has already taken place, and from the moment it entered into the world all things in existence were radically altered due to it’s devastating effects. Life became shorter, the world began to literally decay, and pain and suffering became common to all. What is it? What is this disease that has plagued creation more than any cancer or fatal virus? It’s been called many things, but the best description I have found is “Humanity’s Radical Corruption.” There is something about the human nature that is at the core of it’s existence, evil and corrupt. From the moment that Adam and Eve rebelled against God (Genesis 3), a wave of erosion has swept across all of creation. The result from this catastrophe was that every child from birth would have only one passion and pleasure: Sin (Ecclesiastes 9:3). John Macarthur says it like this:

“It means children do not come into the world seeking God and righteousness. They do not even come into the world with a neutral innocence. They come into the world seeking the fulfillment of sinful and selfish desires.”

Where is this doctrine rooted Biblically, and how could anyone say something so terrible about one of the most precious and innocent gifts that is given by God?
Psalm 51:3-5
(3) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. (4) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. (5) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Although children are one of the greatest gifts given by God, maybe they are not as innocent as we think. I remember at the age of two when I first came into contact with Pepsi-cola. My mom had given it to me in a baby bottle and it wasn’t but a matter of minutes before I had guzzled down every last drop. The following day my mother gave my baby brother an identical baby bottle. From previous experience, I was inclined to believe that Pepsi-cola was in that bottle. Therefore, being driven by my sinful and selfish nature, I stole my brother’s baby bottle only to find that the beverage inside was baby formula and NOT Pepsi-cola. Not only did my sin surface in the act of stealing, but I also expressed a very nerve wrecking temper-tantrum after discovering that my loot did not consist of Pepsi-cola. The uniqueness of this story is that no one had taught me to be selfish, it came as natural to me as breathing and blinking.

Scripture goes on to even further say that we are spiritually dead in our sins. This is consistently seen through out scripture.
- Colossians 2:13
(13) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin,
- Ephesians 2:1-3
(1) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (2) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (3) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Imagery of this spiritual death is seen in Ezekiel 37:1-14. Ezekiel the prophet comes across a valley of dry bones in which the “Sovereign LORD” commands him to prophesy to the bones declaring, “'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'” (vv. 4b-6). After prophesying to the dry bones, they come to life. The Sovereign LORD then speaks to Ezekiel, “"Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' " (vv. 11-14).

In light of these scriptures, especially Ezekiel 37:1-14 where God claims “I have done it, declares the LORD,” man is unable to save himself or choose life solely upon his own ability. A dead man cannot bring himself back to life, nor can a spiritually dead man make himself spiritually alive; for a spiritually dead man is nothing more than dry bones. Rather, it is “God who made you alive with Christ.” (Colossians 2:13).

If we are indeed sinful from the time of birth, radically corrupted in the inner-most parts of our being, and spiritually dead in our sins; does this mean we can do no good? This is a tough question to answer. The answer is actually yes, and no. In and of ourselves, we are capable to do some good but it will ultimately be a rebellion against God. Let me explain. If you are looking at it in relation to the perspective of man, yes we are able to perform acts of civil virtue. Meaning, we can do “good” things from the perspective of man. This means that a non-believer can donate to a charity, care for the sick, or feed the hungry. However, in relation to the perspective of God, man can do no good apart from Christ. In and of ourselves (meaning apart from Christ), every deed performed by man is a violation of God’s law because it was not done in submission to Him. Romans 14:23 says, "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." In addition, even our greatest works are considered to be filthy rags before the righteousness of God (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, man is capable of civil virtues but completely incapable of doing good in the sight of God, apart from the work of Christ.

What significance does this doctrine of Humanity’s Radical Corruption have for us? To start, we are a completely defiled and evil people. There is not an ounce of good in us apart from the saving grace of God (Romans 3:9-26). From the moment of birth, sin is just as present in our veins as blood. At the core of who we are, we love darkness (John 3:19) and are hostile toward God (Romans 8:7-8). Unless God cures a man’s blindness to sin and draws him to Christ, he will never find in his own desires to repent (turn away) from sin and devote his life to supremely valuing and following Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:3-7); for we are slaves to sin (John 8:34). For the unrepentant heart there will sadly be nothing but eternal, just, and holy punishment (Romans 2:5). Those who the Father draw unto Him, believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and repent of their sins will have eternal life (John 6:44, Mark 1:15, John 3:16).