What Has Gone Wrong with Us? – Essential Doctrines,

What an era in which to live. We are so enlightened! We have Google. We invented the internet which makes modern communication possible. Cell phones give dwellers in remote villages in the Brazilian or Congolese jungle access to communication and information unknown scant decades ago. Advances in heart and brain surgery bring hope where certain death awaited many patients. We eat foods from all over the world. Artificial Intelligence powers multiple industries. Increasingly, life is good—or is it?

The 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy is just over. We fought two world wars so we would never have to fight another. But North Korea, Viet Nam, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan followed. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, Hamas violated Israel, Iran threatened the west, China strengthened their military to intimidate South-east Asia and beyond. Why did universal peace not ensue?

Why are there some 24 million slaves, more than at the height of the 17th century slave trade? Why is pornography so prevalent? Why do people molest children? Why do men abuse wives? Why is Boko Haram burning churches and killing pastors? Why do we have to identify and fight off scammers from morning to night? Why are there scandals in government and even in our churches? And why, oh why is antisemitism so prevalent and viewed as legitimate?

Oh, we rejoice to hear stories of generosity and compassion. These stories are so uplifting we keep on passing them on through Facebook and Instagram. But the reason we circulate them widely can be traced to their rarity.

Many still believe that mankind is basically good. But if we are to really progress, we need an accurate diagnosis of the human condition. And the fact is that ever since the fall in Eden, all humans are born fallen, sinful, selfish, naïve—in a word, depraved. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind” (Jer 17:9,10).

Paul summarizes the uniform teaching of Scripture. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God, All have turned away…there is no one who does good, not even one…There is no fear of God before their eyes.…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10,11,18,23). The human mind, will, and desires are corrupt. The reverence for God that might move us toward good is lacking.

Titus describes the reality. “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure., In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted” (Titus 1:15). In our natural estate, as humans, purity does not exist.

This bent to sin is within us since our conception. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also live among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3). Note that this diagnosis describes ALL, the condition of all is DEAD in sins, all LIVED as governed by sinful thoughts and cravings, and as INFLUENCED by the ways of the fallen world and Satan. The result: under WRATH. Theologians call this state, total depravity.

Of course, people in general do not believe this diagnosis. Instead, they re fed a steady diet of self-esteem—pursue your dreams for anything is possible.  they are urged to look deep within to discover their authentic self, as if deep within we are pure and beautiful. “Finding yourself is important because it is the key to living a fulfilling and authentic life. When you  truly know yourself, you can make decisions that align with your values, passions, and purpose. It’s about understanding who you truly are, embracing your unique story, and living authentically.”

No wonder the world is full of unhappy people—some even suicidal. A recent minister to 20 and 30 somethings described their generation as full of bitter disillusionment. (Jeremy Linneman) Like those in Jeremiah’s day, today’s therapists, “Dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. (Jer. 6:14). We can’t imagine a doctor treating a life-threatening infection with an aspirin or telling us not to worry, we’ll be okay in a day or two. First must come a careful diagnosis, then thorough treatment with anti-biotics or whatever is necessary. Sadly, our fatal sin problem is ignored.

Fortunately, God is the Great Physician. He did not leave us to our own devices. He began a rescue operation. The promise of our rescue is enshrined in a covenant which is gradually revealed in the Old Testament record and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. But to avail ourselves of treatment, we must accept the diagnosis!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Of Rainbows and Other Covenants – Essential Doctrines, # 38

Mankind longs for a return to Paradise. In that pursuit we try to construct our own version. We pursue money in the hopes that we can construct some blissful environment free from the worries and fears of impending disaster. We pursue romance in hopes that the promise of poetry and literature will be fulfilled in the passion and companionship of our perfect love affair. We travel to some exotic destination thinking that there we will at least catch a glimpse of paradise for a week or two. Or we embrace alcohol or drugs thinking that, at the very least they will give us a few hours of relief from the purgatory of our disappointing lives. Or perhaps we dive into reading about romance to lose ourselves in an imaginary Eden for an hour or two. Or we pursue esoteric studies to gain multiplied PhD’s through researching the frontiers of knowledge—perhaps there we will find Eden. Or rich foods. Or multiplied affairs. Or exercise programs. Or changing our sexual orientation. Or tarot cards. Or transcendental meditation. Or…or…or…

But in every Eden we try to construct, we find the ancient serpent already there. He makes easy sport with us, for we drag into all our attempts; “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). We are fallen creatures. Adam’s nature is within us distorting every attempt at find bliss. “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked who can know it” (Jer. 17:9)? “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jer. 13:23).  “All of us also lived among them [in the world], gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of [God’s] wrath” (Eph. 2:3).

Wrath? Is there no escape? Is there no way back to paradise? While we could never bridge the gap between us and God to seek again his love and favour, God himself took steps to deliver us from ourselves. God took the initiative. He did that by means of a covenant sealed with blood.

There in the Garden, before He banished Adam and Eve, he clothed their nakedness with skins of animals he had sacrificed, a picture of the cross to come. God promised that through “the seed of the woman,” Eve’s offspring [Christ], God would crush the serpent. (Gen. 3:15)

In the covering provided for Adam and Eve through the sacrifice of animals, we have the first glimmerings of God’s redemptive plan. This plan unfolds through the various covenants found in the Old Testament until it is fulfilled in the New Testament (covenant) Gospel. Although God’s dealings are described under different titles such as the covenant of redemption, the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace, threaded throughout is the promise of ultimate deliverance from the curse of sin.

Considerable time elapsed before God fulfilled his promise of full redemption through Jesus Christ—the seed of the woman. During this unfolding of history, he demonstrated again and again our need of redemption. The record of this history, as contained in the Old Testament, is crucially important for our understanding of God’s dealings with mankind. It is a story of covenants.

At first, God allowed Adam’s descendants to follow the bent of their our natures. From the time of Adam to that of Noah, their offspring developed skills and built cities while spreading evil, until God said, No! Genesis six records the result of a society built upon the fulfillment of human desires and choices. “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. The LORD was grieved” (Gen. 6:5,6). As punishment, he sent a flood to destroy mankind, saving only Noah’s family through the ark. With the earth cleansed, God gave mankind the rainbow as the sign of a new covenant beginning. “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you…never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood…this is the sign of the covenant…I have set my rainbow in the clouds” (Gen. 9:8,11,12,13).

Unfortunately, Noah and his family carried into this renewed world the old fallen nature. From them depravity spread again. The rainbow promise from God remains, while even below that sign from heaven mankind lives in rebellion against His will. What did God do next in this story of covenants? We’ll consider that in a blog to follow.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)