GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

RADIO MESSAGE

WHAT DO THOSE PEOPLE OUT AT
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH BELIEVE?
Part 6

 

What do those people out at Grace Baptist Church believe? We believe in the TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN. We believe what the Bible says about the nature of man. In so far as his spiritual nature and condition before God is concerned man is guilty, depraved, and sinful. In fact, the Bible plainly tells us that all men are dead, spiritually without life toward God, in trespasses and in sins. Today we hear much talk about man's dignity, man's rights, and man's ability. Churches and preachers have capitalized upon the pride of man. Today we hear sermons on "Self-Esteem". "Self-Worth", and "Self-Love". These things are pleasant to the ear, but damning to the soul.

Hear the Word of God - Paul tells us that all who are now justified, saved, pardoned, and given eternal life in Christ, by nature "were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:1-3). "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). What does the holy Spirit tell us about Adam's race in these verses of scripture? Does he tell us that man is good?, Does he tell us that man is innocent? Does he tell us that man is a creature with moral ability? Does he tell us that man has certain rights and claims upon God? Does he tell us that man has hope in himself? Anyone who speaks in such a way speaks in direct opposition to the Word of God. God, in his Word, tells us that man by nature is FALLEN, SINFUL, GUILTY, CONDEMNED, WITHOUT STRENGTH, WITHOUT ABILITY, WITHOUT HOPE, AND WITHOUT LIFE. In other words, all men out of Christ are dead, spiritually dead, totally depraved. This is your condition by nature, and mine; we are totally depraved sinners.

We are all SINNERS BY BIRTH. Sin is not something we learn. It is not a disease we catch by association with others. Sin is the deadly plague of our race. Every person born in this world, since God created Adam and Eve was born in sin. What David said of himself is true of us all - "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5). All men, as soon as they are born, are sinners. They are "estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies" (Ps. 58:3). No mother ever had to teach her son to lie. No father ever had to teach his daughter deceit. These things are as natural to mankind as breathing. We are all SINNERS BY CHOICE. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way" (Isa. 53:6). The daily, willful, voluntary direction of man's life is sin. No one in all the world, left to himself, ever sought the Lord or sought true righteousness. Sin is man's chosen way of life. And we are all SINNERS AT HEART. Man's problem is a heart problem. In his heart he is evil. His heart is depraved. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9). Our Lord tells us, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies" (Matt. 15:19).

This is the condition of all men by nature. We are a basket full of rotten apples. There is not a good one among us. "There is none that doeth good, no not one" (Rom. 3:12). By nature, in yourself, you are a helpless, condemned, guilty sinner. Hell is your just reward. Unless God does for you what you cannot do for yourself, you will surely perish. But, if you can identify yourself as a sinner, guilty, helpless, and condemned by nature, I have good news for you - Christ died for sinners! God delights to save sinners! The Lord God will freely save every sinner who trusts his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - EVEN YOU! Trust him today and be saved! Amen.

 

Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, Ky.