## The Depravity of Man

## Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22-23; 5:3

In the beginning God created man in His own likeness, but now man is now in man's likeness with only the slightest resemblance to God.

One of the truths that theologians have wrestled with for centuries is the matter of human depravity. The liberal says, "man is basically good, not bad." The new evangelical says, "man is sometimes good and sometimes bad. The Bible says not that man is totally bad, but that "man is totally as bad off as he can be"

Depravity means marked for corruption or evil, perverted, morally crooked. We look good on the outside but we are depraved on the inside. Jesus said it best in Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

We need to see that our only hope for deliverance from our depravity is Jesus Christ, and the only hope a Christian has of keeping the depraved nature within from controlling them is to live in obedience to God's Word.

I. Our Depravity Did Not Come From God

(ROM 5:12) "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:"

A. We were created in the "image" of God (in Innocence).

B. Sin has brought corruption, evil, and depravity.

1. When man believed a lie sin came into this world. (Genesis 3:1-6).

2. The world's theory is that man is not depraved.

3. He is simply a product of evolution.

4. That is like believing that a new car in the show room just happened to come together and just happens to run.

II. Our Depravity Manifests Itself in Many Ways. (Genesis 3:7-13)

A. Running from God v8

1. Adam ran from the spiritual (God) to the material (trees)

2. There was no response to the voice of God, which indicated a breakdown in communication.

3. Note: Before God did anything, Adam was trying to hide himself from God.

4. He no longer wanted to fellowship with God.

B. Embarrassment and shame. V10

1. Being afraid of God.

2. God asked, "Who told thee that thou wast naked?"

3. Where did that embarrassment and shame come from?

4. Their depravity caused sinful thoughts.

(1 JOHN 4:18) "THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE."

5. Adam and Eve were not sure of God's love, because they had doubted His Word.

C. Believing the Lie. V11

1. This is the first time man is in tune to other voices.

2. Eve listens to Satan instead of God.

3. Adam listens to Eve instead of God.

4. The depraved heart is open to listening to anything, but God's Word.

Ill. Our Depravity Doesn't Mean We Are Without Hope

A. Is man really capable of any sin? Yes!

1. Noah was a righteous man. Cf Ge. 6:9

a. His faith saved the human race.

b. But one of the first things we read about after his getting off the Ark is that he got drunk! Cf Ge. 9:20-21

c. Was he a bad man? No...just depraved.

2. Moses was a hero of the faith.

a. He forsook Egypt.

b. But he murdered a man.

(EXO 2:12) "AND HE LOOKED THIS WAY AND THAT WAY, AND WHEN HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO MAN, HE SLEW THE EGYPTIAN, AND HID HIM IN THE SAND."

c. Once again, we see the depravity of man.

3. David was a man after God's own heart.

a. But he was guilty of adultery and then murder.

b. Was he a great king? Yes.

c. Was he depraved? Yes.

B. Every man's heart is depraved.

1. His nature is crooked and sinful.

2. Depravity is the reason incest, rape, and murder transcend all socioeconomic levels.

3. "You can take man out of the gutter, but you can't take the gutter out of man."

C. Our depravity can be overcome.

1. There is only one way.

NOTE: ROMANS 5:17-21

2. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ.

3. When we compare ourselves with others we're not so bad, but compared to Christ:

a. we are wicked and depraved

b. we are sinful and doomed

Jesus is our only hope. He is the only answer. God taught Adam and Eve the importance of the blood sacrifice when He shed the innocent blood of animals to provide a covering for their nakedness. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was slain that His blood might atone for our sins.

This morning if you have never received the salvation that God has provided for you in Christ, why not come and accept Him as your Savior? No matter what we may have done in the past, God will accept us if we are washed in the blood of the Lamb.

To those who know Jesus Christ as Savior this morning, we still struggle with sin and depravity in our lives. But, yielding ourselves to God and submitting ourselves to His Word is the only way to overcome the flesh. Paul wrote, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."