The Promise of the Gospel Part 2

2)   Those who will call upon the Name of the Lord Must understand that they are inherently sinful

Sin is inherent in us. It is part of us from conception. We were all brought forth into the world as sinners and therefore, are by nature sinners (Psa. 51:5). Sin has corrupted our nature such that whatever 'good' thing we do does not and can never measure up to God’s requirement of righteousness. Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and it spread to all men without exception in the same way death did (Rom. 5:12). If you want to prove that the infant you think to be innocent is actually a sinner, then give him just a little time to grow and you will be shocked. R.C. Sproul summarizes our corrupt nature in this most profound statement: “We are not sinners, because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.” It means that the abominable deeds we do are a testimony that we have a nature that has been inherently corrupted by sin ever since Adam and Eve fell (Psa.14:1-3). The one who commits abortion does so as a proof that she is a sinner. It means that the act of abortion is not what makes her a sinner. Rather, she does so because in the first place she is inherently a sinner. The wicked thoughts you harbor in your heart and mind is a testimony of our corrupt nature. It is no wonder the heart is described as deceitful and desperately wicked above all things, and that only the Lord―who searches the heart and tests the mind―knows its condition (Jer. 17:9-10). The detestable words you speak is a testimony of your innate sinful nature.   

The implications of your innately sinful nature

i.              You cannot do anything to earn God’s saving grace

The first implication of the fact that you are inherently sinful is that you cannot do anything to earn God’s saving grace. This is because there’s nothing that can flow out of you to please God; whether prayer or deeds. First, because of your corrupt nature, not even the prayer you present before God can earn you God’s saving grace (Prov. 15:8,29;28:9; John 9:31;Isa. 1:15). Secondly, there is no amount of deeds―that you consider to be righteous―you can present before God to earn His saving grace (Isa. 64:6-7).

ii.             Your salvation must come from outside of you.

Secondly, salvation is a work that is alien to you, the sinner. It must come from someone whose nature is not inherently sinful like you and whose prayer is a fragrance before God, the Man Jesus Christ, in whom God was well pleased (Matt. 3:17).  It is only Christ who knew no sin in all His life on earth even unto the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). We will come to this in depth later.  

iii.           If ever you will be saved, you must realize that do not deserve it.

Thirdly, nobody who has ever been saved in the history of redemption ever deserved it. They did not work for it. They only opened their [empty] hands to receive it freely from God as a gift (Rom. 3:24;Eph. 2:8). Again, we will look at this later in details.