The Bible does not paint an optimistic picture of human nature. In fact, the Bible states that human nature is, at it’s core, in opposition to God;
“And this is the judgment: 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 (ESV)
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.”
-Ephesians 18-19 (ESV)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth… For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
-Romans 1:18, 21 (ESV)
Unfortunately, we have no means of making ourselves better or aligning ourselves with God;
“Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
-(Jeremiah 17:5)
“ For by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
-Romans 3:20 (ESV)
The Bible goes so far as describing us as “dead” (Ephesians 2:1) in our sins. Yet, we still have the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This language lends itself to a picture very popular in our time: zombies. Zombies are creatures who bear the resemblance of regular people, but are dead, rotting away as they grope to kill and devour the living. Zombies can’t help themselves. Their minds have been completely warped by their condition. Sound familiar?
I’m not saying that non-Christians are cannibals or that they actively seek to end Christianity every millisecond of their lives, but the way those who have not received the Salvation of Jesus the Messiah are described parallels nicely with our understanding of our modern myth of the Undead.
But you may ask, if we are separated from God and we can’t save ourselves, who saves us? Answer; God.
“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”
-2 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
-Ephesians 2: 8-9
This means, my fellow Christians, when you teach people about the Bible, when you go out and spread the Gospel, or when you engage in friendly or not-so-friendly social media debates, you can’t change them. You are not the one who will save them. Only God can. How does He save them? By your preaching of the Gospel.
