Though we all so desperately want to presume that people in this world are inherently good, the Word of God tells us otherwise. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10-12:

As is it written: "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12, NKJV)

And it does not stop there. Elsewhere throughout Scripture, we read where it says:

For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20, NKJV)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23, NKJV)

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10, NKJV)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8, NKJV)

Though this is not an exhaustive list of Scripture where we read about the sinfulness of all humanity, these verses do clearly paint us the picture we all need to recognize: man is inherently evil. Jeremiah 17:9 puts it this way:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV)

Whereas you may hear celebrities in the media or songwriters on your favorite streaming platform advocating that "most people are good," such are dangerous statements that are blatantly untrue. Most people are not good - rather, all people are sinners. One may be convinced that sin and evil is exclusive to murderers, thieves, and the like. However, the Bible tells us otherwise:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NKJV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21, NKJV)

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8, NKJV)

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:16, NKJV)

Again, this is not an exhaustive list. But do you see yourself in one of these lists? You should - we all should.

As a result of our sin, the Bible tells us that our wages - the payment we deserve for our sin - is death (Romans 6:23).

So, what do we do with this information?

• The world - and all of its false religions - have worked tirelessly to convince us that we are inherently good and that all we have to do is try to do "enough good" that would outweigh the "bad," and we will "earn" a place in heaven (or going as far as saying everyone will go to heaven).
• However, the Bible - the true, sufficient, and authoritative Word of God - tells us we are not inherently good and we are deserving of death.

What does this mean for us?

This means that each and every one of us is in desperate need of a Savior - one that can cleanse us of our sins and make us right in the eyes of God the Father. And that is where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes into the picture.

Jesus Himself recognized that there was only One who is good - God the Father:

Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." (Mark 10:18, NKJV)

And because the Bible tells us that Jesus, as God's Son, is both fully man (1 John 4:2-3) and fully God (John 10:29-33), the blood He shed on the cross is sufficient to cleanse us of our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 puts it this way:

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)

But Jesus did not stop at the cross or in the grave - three days later, He ROSE from the dead! (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6-7)

THIS is the GOOD NEWS - the Gospel! It is through Jesus and only Jesus that one can be saved.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6, NKJV)

How can you be saved? Repent of your sins and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:16). Romans 10:9-13 reads:

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13, NKJV)

Do you have more questions about the gospel of Jesus Christ and want to speak with a pastor?

Or do you simply have any other question about the Bible?

Or have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ today?

Either of these reason - or for any other purpose - we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to a pastor here.