Down2Earth: 5. Our True Nature
Category : Bible, Down2Earth, Genesis, Old Testament, Righteousness
The Lord saw how great man�s wickedness on the
earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Oh dear, that doesnââ?¬â?¢t sound too good, does it? Itââ?¬â?¢s even worse when we realise that Godââ?¬â?¢s not just saying this about a specific group of people who lived at a certain point in history. ââ?¬Ë?Manââ?¬â?¢s wickednessââ?¬â?¢ and the ââ?¬Ë?thoughts of his heartââ?¬â?¢ are, unfortunately, just the same now as they were then. So this also refers to the here and now ââ?¬â?? and to you and to me.
Now before you jump up to defend your track record on being a good person, let me explain where Iââ?¬â?¢m coming from. I vividly recall a conversation that I had with a Christian before I became one myself (over 30 years ago), in which I questioned why it was that I couldnââ?¬â?¢t just continue being the good person that I was without me having to bring Christ into the picture. The response was a very wise one ââ?¬â?? he got me to really analyse (for the first time) the true nature of my thoughts. In doing so, I had to acknowledge, albeit reluctantly, that I actually spent the vast majority of the time thinking about myself and how my needs were going to be met. Then, when I analysed my supposed ââ?¬Ë?goodââ?¬â?¢ works, I realised that my motives were often self-centred ones ââ?¬â?? doing things to look good or just to make me feel good.
But ultimately, what really puts things into their true perspective is getting a grasp on the character of God Himself. His perfect righteousness makes everything else pale into insignificance. It�s summed up best by Isaiah in a verse that I referred to in my introduction to the Down2earth series:
All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
So I cringe when I occasionally hear people say something like: ââ?¬Å?he/she is a really good Christianââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m trying to be a good Christianââ?¬Â. To be a ââ?¬Ë?good Christianââ?¬â?¢ is a contradiction in-terms. It misses the point about the essence of what a Christian really is ââ?¬â?? not someone who goes around glowing with righteousness ââ?¬â?? but rather someone (like everyone else) whoââ?¬â?¢s inner nature is basically bad, whoââ?¬â?¢s realised it and whoââ?¬â?¢s come before God and asked for forgiveness. And because of the sacrifice of Christ, that forgiveness is available and extremely forthcoming. Now God is able to look at us and accept us because, in some mysterious way that only He understands, the blood of Christ appeases Him. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why Paul can confidently write that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
I’m interested in your thoughts on how hard we are supposed to ‘try to be righteousness’?
Is this something we should be bothered with; personal holiness and all that, or do we simply need to be sure of God’s forgiveness and righteousness in our lives?
Another great article, thanks.
Welcome back Rob – hope you had a good holiday!
Re your question, I guess our starting point is summed up in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector – see Luke 18:9-14. The tax collector knew his true nature and could only ask God for mercy, unlike the Pharisee who, in contrast, offered God his many ‘righteous’ acts but which actually counted for nothing.
Step 2 is that we then consider that Jesus has actually swapped places with us on the cross – see 2 Cor 5:21 – He became sin for us so that we became the ‘righteousness of God’.
From there I think it’s a case of letting God do what He wants to do in our lives which is very different from us just doing good works. It’s also a life-long process through which God will gradually change us.
Doubt if that’s answered your question but maybe a few thoughts for further discussion!
Thanks Larry, my trip was brilliant; it turns our that ‘The Windy City’ isn’t that windy after all *smile*
As for the question, I think I see where you are coming from, but doesn’t that leave us very open to simply putting all the emphasis; and maybe the responsibility for our actions on God and what He is choosing to do in our lives, rather than us also taking our share of the responsibility for how we choose to live.
I’m not suggesting for a second a saved by works theology; we are indeed saved by grace. But surely that grace is only evident when we are able to move in God’s direction rather than move away from him; after all, Christian or not, anybody can go against God. Only those under grace can move with Him.
Then though, if indeed my thinking is correct, the danger is to try too hard, and attempt to do it all ourselves, ooo, it’s a quandary.
Our true nature is essentially bad? That sounds like something Satan would say. The truth is more like…our true nature is essentially GOD, and that can’t be bad. Please stop spreading lies.
Thanks for your comment Kristina. In reply, thereââ?¬â?¢s so much I could say but I thought Iââ?¬â?¢d quote you from Wayne Grudem ââ?¬â?? the internationally recognised evangelical theologian ââ?¬â?? because heââ?¬â?¢s just got a very good way of explaining things. In his book ââ?¬Ë?Systematic Theologyââ?¬â?¢ in the chapter on sin, he writes the following paragraph:-
ââ?¬Ë?In Our Natures We Totally Lack Spiritual Good Before God: It is not just that some parts of us are sinful and others are pure. Rather, every part of our being is affected by sin ââ?¬â?? our intellects, our emotions and desires, our hearts (the centre of our desires and decision-making processes), our goals and motives, and even our physical bodies. Paul says, ââ?¬Å?I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is my fleshââ?¬Â (Rom.7:18), and ââ?¬Å?to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corruptedââ?¬Â (Titus 1:15). Moreover, Jeremiah tells us that ââ?¬Å?the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?ââ?¬Â (Jer.17:9). In these passages Scripture is not denying that people can do good in human society in some senses. But it is denying that they can do any spiritual good or be good in terms of a relationship with God. Apart from the work of Christ in our lives, we are like all other unbelievers who are ââ?¬Å?darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heartââ?¬Â (Eph.4:18).’
When you say Kristina ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Å?ââ?¬Â¦our true nature is essentially GOD..ââ?¬Â, itââ?¬â?¢s a nice idea but completely groundless from a Biblical point of view. Itââ?¬â?¢s more in-keeping with Eastern religious philosophy and it also nullifies the sacrifice of Christ.
Hm. Ohhh. Yes. Now that you’ve told me what other people are saying about me, I’ve truly seen the light! Of course I’m bad. I’m so grateful that you shared this essential piece of truth with me! Except not really, because you see, I am NOT bad. At all. And everything you’re saying is a far cry from truth. You know, that’s exactly what cults do. “Are you lonely? Feeling depressed? Here, let me show you how horrible you are. Oh, but don’t worry, because I have the solution to fix you. You’re just going to have to completely lose every essential aspect of your self and give me all your money.” So what if a theologian writes it in a book? This may come as a shock to you, but not everything everyone says is true. Deep down, is this really what you believe? What you want to believe? That you and everyone else are bad? Twice now, you’ve brought up what other people have told you is true, so I’ll advise you to learn to think for yourself, instead of looking outside of yourself for people to give you answers. In my opinion, your viewpoint is a destructive one, and I feel for the people who believe this and are blinded to all the goodness of the world. When I say, Larry, our true nature is essentially GOD, it’s more than simply a nice idea and not groundless at all. Since you look to the bible for truth, maybe you’ve overlooked some of these passages:
“God created man in his image. In the divine image he created them.” -Genesis 1:27
“God looked at everything he had made and saw how good it was.” -Genesis 1:31
“He has given us his very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.” 11 Peter 1:4
“Is it not written in your law: I said, ye are gods?” John 10:34
I’m not looking for a debate here. Just trying to shed some light and provide a more hopeful point of view.
Hi Katrina,
I don’t know if it will be worthwhile to speak to you, as I do not know if you are open to the truth, but I will try anyway out of love for you.
First, I’ll hit an easy point. Twice you quoted the biblical book of Genesis to support the idea that humans are inherently good. Those verses are about people’s nature before they turned against God in disobedience. Indeed, humans were once good, but as soon as they did evil, they became evil.
Now, myself, I look to Christ alone for truth. The bible contains a fair amount of truth, but everything must be held up to the standard of Christ.
Jesus does confirm the evil of humankind repeatedly. Speaking to a crowd which included His own disciples, He said, “You then, though you are evil …” (Luke 11:13).
As Jesus said, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). In the same way, a good person cannot do evil, nor can an evil person do good. Therefore, if a person ever does something bad/evil, we know that that person is inherently evil. This means that whatever “good” a person does only appears to be good based on our limited, self-serving definitions of good. God’s standard of good is perfection without even a hint of evil.
And this makes sense. If God is good personified, then if we are apart from God, it means that we are apart from good itself. Good is not something on a continuum, with evil on the other side and “neutral” in the middle. There is good and there is evil with nothing in between. Therefore, whatever is not good is evil and whatever is not evil is good.
I notice you quoted Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, as though what he said supported your position. Look at what it says: “He has given us His … promises, ___so that through them____ you may participate in the divine nature.” The promise he spoke of is Christ, and therefore he is saying that through Christ we can participate in the divine nature. Logically then, if it takes Christ to participate in the divine nature, then apart from Christ we do not participate in the divine nature and therefore we have no part in God.
Finally, your reference to Jesus quoting the Jewish law is interesting… Jesus was clearly challenging their assertion that He could not be God by using their own scriptures against them. Notice that He uses the conditional “if:” “if he called them gods,” if “the scriptures cannot be broken.” Perhaps Jesus was invalidating their own scriptures before their very eyes? But more important for our discussion is what He says next: “Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.” He tells them to look at His life and His actions as proof. If He does good without evil, then that proves He is God, because His Father does good without evil. However, if He does evil, then He is a liar.
What this means for us is that if we do evil–no matter how insignificant we pretend it to be–it proves that we are evil. However, if we never commit a hint of evil and only do what is purely good, then we are truly good.
Examine yourself. Do not be a hypocrite like the Pharisees who pretended that they were not evil. It was against them that Jesus spoke most harshly. Jesus said that the Pharisee who proclaimed his own righteousness was far from God, while Jesus approved of the tax collector who cried out for mercy because he knew he was evil.
- Mike