Do people have good in them?
A conversation with a woman about not being unequally yoked, and avoiding "friendships" with men [particularly unsaved ones] led to a convo about mankind being sinful and that theres no good in them. It is good to grasp this, esp with false gospels and false beliefs in "Christiandom" today.
Questioner:
I believe humans are kind, full, and wonderfully made, that are capable of feeling and caring for others. It makes me so so sad that all you see when you look at men as evil with evil intentions. [Gaslighting] I'm so sorry for what appears is bitterness in your heart. But I will never believe that, and I don't think God would want you to view his children that way either.
[Gaslighting] You must live such a sad life. I'll be praying for you, and I hope you seek help, from both God and possibly a professional.
Christian:
Humans are made in God's image and are valuable because of that, and redeemable because of Christ, however they're only evil doers until they're saved.
All humans arent all God's children. All are sinners. Only the redeemed in Christ are adopted as His children. There is not good not one. Only God is good. There's loads more Scripture that explain this, and for someone to claim to be a believer you don't seem to know what's in it. Which means idk u could have embraced and obeyed the Gospel to be saved- for it proclaims this.
Here are some verses.
Genesis 6:5
"And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Psalm 14:3
"They have all turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one."
Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Romans 3:10-18
This passage describes humanity as utterly sinful and devoid of righteousness.
Ephesians 2:1-3
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience; among whom we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
Questioner:
God is the only purely Good one. But Humans have both good and bad within them. That means we aren't fully good, but we also aren't completely bad. I think that's what others also would say. Claiming that all of humanity is pure evil is biblically incorrect imo.
Christian:
Many will profess their own goodness, but that's not a correct goodness. Because God's standard is the measuring rod of Goodness and we humans "all fall short", by a very wide margin. This is because we all came through Adam and thus all are sinners.
Proverbs 11:9
"Many will profess their own goodness, but the wicked shall perish."
"but the wicked shall perish." (Proverbs 11:9)
"...but the Lord knoweth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)
"...but the Lord searcheth the hearts." (1 Chronicles 28:9)
If we had good in us we wouldn't be spiritually dead. But since we are, we are not good.
I would be curious to know the testimony you would give for why and how [you claim] you got saved, because something's not right here. It appears you embraced a false gospel.
There's something called an idolator, it's one who makes up a God to suit their sins, [their preferences], and rejects the truth God revealed in Scripture. [Regardless if they're in a so called Christian religion, a cult, a false church or even as a false convert "pew sitter" in a biblical church (or a virtual church rebel)], there are many who profess to be Christian, who aren't. And this is why Scripture says to "examine yourself to ensure you are saved", but also warns Jesus will tell people who claimed to be believers that He never knew them as one of His people, and they'll be tossed in Hell.
So, your view is a Satanic opinion as it doesn't align with Scripture, and shows you do not understand. Scripture clearly tells us there is nothing good in sinful man. But, God who dwells in redeemed believers is good and does good thrill the redeemed.
If any good was in man then Jesus didn't need to come. Any teaching claiming man is good... is false teaching and unbiblical. There is nothing redeemable in mankind and that's why salvation is by Grace, and not based on anyone's self righteousness proclaimation of any goodness.
Romans 9:15. "For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'"
Questioner:
Where in the bible does it say that people aren't good and are evil? Because the verses you provided don't.
Christian:
All the verses I provided did show man is only a sinner and wicked/evil. Here's more you can look thru. https://www.openbible.info/topics/human_sin And https://www.openbible.info/topics/wickedness_of_man
All of Scripture from Edens sin onwards explains man is wicked evil sinners and thus from Eden onward tell of the Savior God would send to pay [the extreme] price to make us right with God again. Fulfilled by Jesus life death and resurrection. His sacrifice on the cross also bore the eternal wrath of God for every believers sins, so we could go free.
Questioner:
Sin does not equal being completely evil, and the verse that are being pulled up about wickedness aren't saying that ALL humans have no goodness in themselves. We have to have goodness within ourselves or else we wouldn't be able to find Jesus. A person who is pure evil will not love, or have a drive to find our Lord. The fact that you and I love our Lord, is proof, that humans have to have goodness within us.
Christian: no. People are sinners and not good. Thats what makes us sinners... the abscence of "good". People sin and some gravitate to more evil kinds of sin as in the days of Noah. A brief look at the 10 Commandments shows theres still murderers and haters since Cain till now. The same sins of Sodom & Gomorrah are reviving today in the daylight where they once hid in dark night. And instead of throwing unwanted babies on trash heaps like in Roman times or sacrificing children to hot iron idols some nations created and legalized abortion. Evil people still persecute and murder Christians around the world, just as they killed the prophets and mayrters since Jesus time. The list goes on.
Humans aren't becoming better today than they were in times past since the Flood, but outside of wicked pagan nations, it might appear that way because [for over 2,000 years] Christianity has influenced some parts of the world, esp in the West today, through Judeo-Christian cultures and societal laws and expectations [which have influenced the world in modern times particularly via USA].
So, your presuposition shows you misunderstand that and Scripture. "No one seeks God" it says. God seeks the sinner at the right time & they obey the Gospel since God is converting him. We must be born again from above [God in Heaven]. Only then does the love of God shine thru a person, and by the Holy Spirit & the Fruit of the Spirit.
As I noted, if there was any good in man, Jesus sacrifice was useless. But since if anyone sins they are evil, wicked, depraved.... they cannot be good and evil. Scripture says this clearly.
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
The 1st time we sin, in thought word or deed we are eternally damned. A sinful human cannot repair, restore or fix this, this is why Christ the 2nd Adam had to come to fulfill the promises to take away the sin of the world (for believers). He was perfect as like Adam before the Fall and perfect as God himself, who was the only one able to be the sacrifice. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus.
It would be good for you to read the Bible to grasp these truths. For without salvation you will not be redeemed from the curse and restored to a right nature with a right standing before God. As like with Passover, Jesus blood must cover you, and you must be clothed in His righteousness, as also the illustration of what God did in Eden with the animal sacrifice and animal skin coverings for Adam and Eve to point to the one who would fulfill this work in a human body on the Cross in Christ.
One must have a accurate understanding of God, Man, via the Gospel in order to be saved, by obeying it [repent and believe it].
Make sure you are right with God, today.
Then read the Bible, and obey it.
May God open your eyes to these truths, and save you.
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