Sermon Central
-
The Inability Of Man
Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Sep 20, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: This message deals with the nature of mans sin and his bondage to it and the free work of grace in the heart of the sinner. That grace sets the heart free to accept the gospel of Christ.
The Inability of man
And
The Provisionary work of Christ
“Depravity”
Totally and Radically
I. Man’s Inability as governed by Adam’s disobedience (V. 1)
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:
The term “sin” must be defined and divided into two categories:
Sin defined: to miss or fail to hit the mark
Two distinctions of sin:
· Sin as a state of being (from birth)
· Sin as an action (outworking in the flesh)
1. Adam’s sin brought total ruin
Note: There are those who think Adam’s sin only smeared the image of God and others who think it was totally dispersed; but was does the scriptures say?
A. Adam’s sin brought Physical death
a. Physical death was passed on to every man
b. Physical death was passed on to all of creation
B. Adam’s sin brought Spiritual death
a. Spiritual death passed on to the human race
C. Adam’s sin brought moral ruin to humanity
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2. Mankind is “DEAD” in trespasses and sin
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
A. Man is born spiritually dead
a. Incapable of pleasing God on his on (Depraved moral nature)
Note: Mankind cannot do any act or acts of righteousness that will please God outside of Christ.
II. God’s observation of humanity (v. 2)
1. Is there any that understands: (The depraved mind)
A. Their condition, “spiritual state”
B. Their spiritual duty
C. Their destiny
Note: Mankind is totally lost wandering in a dense fog of death and never having the ability to find his or her way out of the dilemma until the awe inspiring light of grace shines through the haze like a beacon from a lighthouse.
2. Is there any that seek God: (The depraved will)
Note: The will of man prior to coming to saving faith in Christ is bound and held captive to sin (Satan) whose chains must be cut from the heart of each and every individual; we are slaves to sin, of which Satan is the taskmaster.
A. Man is incapable of making free choices that would gravitate towards God because:
a. Their hearts are depraved
b. Their minds are depraved
c. Their souls are depraved
d. Their spirit is depraved that dwells within the soul
III. God’s final conclusion (v. 3-4)
Scripture gives overwhelming evidence to God’s conclusion in the matter of man and sin: they are depraved, spirit, mind and body.
1. They have “all” departed from the way
2. They “all” are unclean (unrighteous)
3. There is none capable of doing good, no not one
4. There is none capable of understanding the pathway of God
5. There is none capable to call upon His name
IV. The ability of Christ through the Atonement (v. 7)
Note: Out of Zion came a savior, destroying all the works of the evil one, the mighty Christ of God.
1. The Atonement brought light to a depraved mind
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
A. Christ made It possible for one to see spiritually:
a. His desperateness apart from salvation
b. His spiritual need of salvation
c. His destiny apart from salvation
Note: It could be said that one knows not his direction in life until Christ gives light to a path darkened by sin, thereby enabling that person to see the end of the road and the detour that is just ahead atop a hill marked by a cross.
B. Christ made it possible for one to see the physical boundaries marked by sin
The cross is the perfect picture of the consequences of sin.
a. Sickness
b. Death
2. The Atonement brought life to a dead heart
Ephesians 2:1-22; 4:1-5:33
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
