The sentiment has been expressed throughout the ages that if we do not first understand how miserable our condition was and how far we actually were from God, we will not fully appreciate how great the benefits to us are of the cross. As has been the case throughout all of history, our present culture wants to think about the goodness of man, the greatness of man, the kindness of man. In fact it is believed by most that if treated well, fed well, and given equal freedom and comforts, mankind would never turn to evil naturally.
As a result, a discussion about the sinfulness of all mankind is not popular today. In fact, we are so completely convinced that man is not really all that bad. Even the most dreadful of sinners are to be shown charity — most often even before any form of serious consequences for their crimes can be carried out. Recognize this theme? A heinous murder is committed, the guilty party is tried, confesses the crime, found guilty, and sentenced to be punished. However, as the day of reckoning draws near, the murder begins to be viewed as pitiful, misunderstood person, worthy of mercy. This regresses to the incredible depth of finally describing the murderer as the victim and the state as the murderer.
All of this madness stems from the view that man is not rea – i all that bad. This sermon is aimed at discovering how the Bible views unregenerate man, and how believers should view themselves in God’s presence. The outcome may challenge your view of yourself and the world around you. At stake is our world-view. Is God at the center, or are we?
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December 7, 2014 | Pastor John Bayles | Second Sunday Of Advent: What A Great Grace Is Mine! | Ephesians 2:1-10
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