We Believe in the Creation, Test, and Fall of Man

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 (CSB)

We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain divine righteousness apart from God.

Most people believe that they are better than average. In fact, surveys consistently show that people believe that for the most part, they are good. This makes the doctrine of total spiritual depravity a bitter pill to swallow. As a result, most people, even Christians, give this doctrine very little consideration.

We might ask, what is the benefit of having a doctrinal statement if we just ignore it? Recent surveys underscore that the overwhelming majority (more than 90%) of Americans who claim to be “religious” in one way or another are “undogmatic,” “flexible,” or “non-exclusive” in their beliefs.

The Genesis account of creation and the fall of man seems to have little impact in today’s world. If people believe that they are basically good, can there be great urgency for the Savior? What motivates people to go to church, make a profession of faith, if they do not perceive their desperate need?

This doctrine is important because without the recognition of our absolute inability to obtain divine righteousness apart from God, there is little motivation to give more than lip service to the God and Creator of the universe. As descendants of Adam, we were born into sin and are lost and separated from God. Without the recognition of our spiritual condition, we will not recognize the seriousness of our mortal peril.

A Wretch like Me

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:24 (CSB)

For Paul, there was no ambiguity or uncertainty about the nature of sin or its impact in his life. Notice that he does not say, “What a wretched man I was.” Paul had not discounted God’s grace or his work in his life, but he recognized that we live in a fallen world. Earlier he said: For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. Romans 7:18 (CSB)

Without an acknowledgment of the sin nature, repentance cannot be accomplished. Ignoring our total spiritual depravity allows us to believe that there is redemptive good within us. We will regard Jesus as an insurance policy rather than our sole source of hope and life. In ancient times, it was quite common for people to add one more god to their panoply of deities. It was desirable to have a diverse portfolio in the hope that one of them would come through in our time of need.

Toward the end of his life, Paul told Timothy: This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 1 Timothy 1:15 (CSB). Again, notice the present tense. Paul recognized that apart from Christ, his own righteousness was worthless.

John Newton, who wrote the famous hymn, “Amazing Grace,” offered these words as an old man: “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” I thank God that he saved a wretch like me.

Loves Much

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47–48 (CSB)

If we are honest with ourselves, the idea of total spiritual depravity is not easy to embrace. As we have seen, the prevailing view of individuals is that they are basically good people. “Good people” have a difficult time seeing a need for a Savior. They believe that their own righteousness is sufficient. We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves— sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind. Isaiah 64:6 (MSG)

The modern church has much in common with the Laodicean church: For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17 (CSB)

We must never take God’s gift of salvation for granted. We never get to the place where we outgrow our need for redemption. If we find ourselves looking down at other people because they do not measure up to our standard, we have forgotten something very important.

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Isaiah 51:1 (CSB)

When we remember how much our redemption cost God, it should bring us to our knees and cause us to love him all the more. We have all been forgiven so very much; it should not be difficult for us to love much.

There Was Always a Plan

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. Ephesians 1:4 (CSB)

God created the world in perfection. But man’s sin and the fall did not catch God by surprise. In Revelation we learned that the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin was slain from the creation of the world.

Even though we might like to speculate what might have happened had sin not entered the world, God always had a plan. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. 1 Peter 1:19–20 (NLT)

We are helpless to save ourselves, but we have hope. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. 1 Peter 1:21 (NLT). God created, man sinned and fell, but Jesus saves.

Steve Ekeroth