Our Condition before Salvation
Study notes courtesy of West Valley Bible Church – Surprise Arizona – Pastor/teacher Skip Ast
Our Condition before Salvation defined:
“As a result of Adam’s sin, all mankind is born spiritually dead, unable to either comprehend or believe spiritual truths. Therefore, all mankind is completely blind and deaf to the message of salvation.”
1. God’s Rules
Genesis 2:16-17 16The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
2. Adam’s Rebellion
Genesis 3:6-7 6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
3. God’s Response
~ Mercy – Genesis 3:8-11
~ Spiritual death / separation from God / practical consequences – Genesis 3:8-20
~ Grace – Genesis 3:21-24
4. Sin’s Result – spiritual death
~ Ps. 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Is. 53:6a; 64:6; Rom. 3:9-18; 3:23; 5:12; I Cor. 15:22a
~ Genesis 5:3; Ps. 51:5; 58:3
Romans 6:23 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. Sin’s Ramifications (effect)
~ Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:13a
> Pollutes the Heart
- Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Prov. 19:3; Eccl. 9:3; Jer. 17:9
Mark 7:21-23 21“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23“All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
> Distorts the Mind
- John 3:19; Rom. 1:28; 8:7-8; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:17-19; 5:8; Titus 1:15
1 Corinthians 2:14 14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
> Controls the Will
- John 8:44; Rom. 6:20; 2 Tim. 2:25-26; 1 John 3:10; 5:19; Titus 3:3
John 8:34 34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
> Creates Universal Bondage
- 2 Chron. 6:36; Job 15:14-16; Ps. 130:3; Eccl. 7:20, 29; James 3:2, 8; 1 John 1:8, 10
John 8:44 44“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
> Results in a Complete Inability to Change Ourselves
- Job 14:4; Matt. 7:16-18; 12:33; John 6:44, 65; Rom. 11:35-36; 1 Cor. 4:7; 2 Cor. 3:5
Jeremiah 13:23 23“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
♦ Minnesota Crime Commission:
“Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it – his bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toy, his uncle’s watch. Deny him these wants, and he seethes with rage and aggressiveness, which would be murderous, were he not so helpless. He is dirty. He has no morals, no knowledge, and no skills. This means that all children, not just certain children, are born delinquent. If permitted to continue in the self-centered world of his infancy, given free reign to his impulsive actions to satisfy his wants, every child would grow up a criminal, a thief, a killer, a rapist.“
Matthew 1:20-21 20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Luke 2:10-11 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Matthew 11:28 28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Romans 10:13 13for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
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