Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, July 06, 2009 3:18:16 PM
Depravity is color blind nor does it know any race or gender; it is the universal plague of mankind, and so afflicts us that we glory in our depravity.
As long as God continues to effectually call His people out from the world and show them their depravity, then there will continue to be conflict with the men of this world who ‘walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart’ [Ephesians 4].
Depravity likes to take what God has given to His image bearers as good and use it for sin. Depravity judges the self-revealed God and finds fault with Him and His revelation. The Scriptures asks, ‘Is there unrighteousness with God?’ Depravity says yes!
Depravity says that God justified the institution of slavery, the killing of the first born, and the stoning of sinners.
Did God deliver Israel from Egyptian slavery? Isn’t bond servitude far more humane than a state sponsored welfare system that enslaves families for generations? Depravity doesn’t care; it equates the slave trade with slavery condoned in the Bible.
What about the killing of innocents? The Creator has power over the creature as the plotter does over the clay; that which is made does not question its maker. But depravity sees no problem with slaughtering innocents, even in the womb, because it likes to assume authority and exalt itself in the place of God.
Man is in depravity because of his fall into sin, but he has infinite value because he is an image bearer of the Personal Infinite I AM.
Men share equality in value before God and His law, but even God does not promise equality of circumstances. Depravity defines fairness as equality of outcome. Men lose their value, and life is cheapened.
Because man is an image bearer with unalienable rights, he has responsibilities and is accountable to his Creator. Depravity loves to make up new rights, but denies responsibility.
Under Moses there was no mercy, and the world was filled with idolatry and immorality. With Christ came the dawn of redemption; the sinner found liberty from his captivity because mercy came with Christ. But depravity cries no! There is no need of repentance or righteousness because there is no God and no morality. Depravity says that this Man will not rule over us. And where depravity has its way, idolatry and immorality come in and destroy the foundations [Psalm 11:3].