As we come to the topic probably least liked by the
unbeliever we must point out that it naturally arises as we speak of the
first thing that is necessary to grasp if we are to possess the comfort of
the Gospel: our guilt. The human predicament is one of inevitable
sinfulness. Faced with the sinfulness of our race we often ask "Where will
it all end?", but we might ask also "Where did it all begin?"
When God made the world it was completely perfect. God is
not to be held responsible for evil - sin or suffering.
Man rebelled against the righteous rule of the Lord and
with dreadful consequences. The eating of the fruit is not the main problem
but rebelling against Almighty God. Damage was done to: (a) the material
environment, (b) the physical body, (c) relationships, (d) our every
faculty: reason, emotions, .., our ability to choose God and good. The
damage is inherited by everyone. Our nature is corrupt from conception
(Psalm 51:6); the unconverted condition is one of spiritual death (Ephesians
2:1); the unbelieving man is not capable of pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6). All
this results from that first rebellion against God's righteous rule of our
lives.
God cannot be blamed. Rather we are responsible
for evil.
Therefore we have to be realistic about human nature. We
must expect evil to abound and be grateful that it is not far worse than it
is. It is restrained by God in His mercy. We must be realistic in our
mission expectations. Men cannot turn Christ without a work of God's Spirit.
Therefore we must pray. The man who would like to be a Christian but somehow
cannot must pray that God would do a faith-and-repentance-producing work in
him.
