Bible: The Role Of Depravity In The Gospel Of Grace

Depravity is one of the subjects that can cause the gospel of grace to shine forth in all its glory, and without understanding and accepting it, the human heart cannot appreciate the gospel at all. It is therefore, imperative that we have a fully understanding of God’s wWord concerning man’s condition, if we are to present men with the truth of their great need and then God’s marvelous provision with boldness and clarity.

Though its truth can be found throughout its pages, depravity is the word not found in the Bible. Comfortably, we can state that depravity is a transdispensational issue; meaning, men of all ages share in this condition.

Defining depravity from a dictionary perspective would be: the state or condition of being morally bad, corrupt, and perverted. Ephesians 2:1-3 confirms this definition while adding considerably more depth to it. The verses tells us several among other things that prior to our salvation, we were dead in trespasses and sin. It’s in this

This in tells that, every man born of Adam has a sin nature. When Adam sinned, he plummeted the whole human race into sin because his whole nature was changed as a result of the fall. It should be made clear at this point that men do not become sinners by sinning, but they sin because they have a sin nature. Even those who did not copy Adam’s sin by disobeying a direct command manifest that they had a sin nature and, therefore they died. It is interesting to note that the universal scope of sin is contrasted with the universal offer of the provision of grace.

In the New Testament, the most common Greek words translated sin is harmartia (which means to miss the mark). The Greeks says that sin is lawlessness. Man is disobedient to God and His word. He is incapable of obeying and is openly rebellious to God’s law. Because the nature of man is lawless and sinful, he is not even qualified to approach the law. In the Bible, selfishness is another way sin is