The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Jack H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Nature of Man
Terrorism, corruption, violence, Human sacrifice, slavery, genocide, prostitution, gambling and abortion, the evidence of evil is everywhere in the world, in all areas of human life. If humans participate in something, it can and will be corrupted. The argument that man is basically good cannot stand close objective examination. Rom 3:9-10, " As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one;'". History is riddled with cases of human evil. The nature of man is down right and completely evil. Isaiah 59:2 says, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." The Bible clearly outlines the story of sin in Genesis 1 and 2. Immediately after the fall of man and the removal of man from the garden, the very next story is the first murder. Genesis 6:5-6 says, "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."
Man's thoughts were only evil all the time. Our sinful nature has tried and tried to destroy and corrupt our relationship with God. When man is left to his own devices, evil is rampant. The pre-flood culture was pure debauchery. However, Genesis 6:9 states that, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Only one man, Noah, was righteous.
What is it that causes us to fall? 1 John 4:1-4 says that there are spirits in the world that influence us. They influence us, but they don't have complete control. The heart of the issue is the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt. Who can understand it?" Spirits may influence us, but we would be able to sin and turn from God just fine on our own. It is our own choice to sin and remain separated from God. Does that mean that we can obtain access to God if we simply do not sin and work our hardest to be good? No. Job 4:17 asks, "Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" It is a rhetorical question. No one can be more righteous than God. We are dead in our sins, and should be objects of wrath according to Ephesians 2:1-10.
So that's it, we have no hope, our death is imminent and there is no escaping it. Wrong. Our God is merciful and full of love and grace. Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Wow! Christ has taken our punishment and suffered the wrath of God. This great gift to us is deserving of our lives and more. But this doesn't let us off the hook. You can't just surrender to your sinful nature and expect God to keep forgiving you. 2 Thessalonians 1:8: "He will punish with eternal destruction those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." We are accountable for our actions. That is scary, but even though it seems hopeless to fight our sinful nature, God gives us strength to resist and escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "The Lord is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
The temptations and cravings of our sinful nature are never more than we can handle. The Lord has been very merciful to us. Paul put it like this in Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
