Bible Reading for: October 8

Ephesians 2

You will never be able to change human nature with legislation and bureaucracy. Changing human nature can only be done through regeneration in Christ.

There has ever only been two views of human nature; either man is inherently good or inherently evil; either man can perfect himself or he cannot perfect himself. These two very different views on human nature even reveal themselves in modern day politics. Liberalism believes that man is basically good and that with just the right program and administration he can perfect himself. Conservatism believes that man is basically evil and that he cannot perfect himself. Now this is not necessarily a religious concept when we are speaking about government. There are plenty of Christians who view themselves as liberals and plenty of Christians who view themselves as conservatives. There are also plenty of Lost people on both sides of that divide as well.

Now, we can view mankind as basically good if we judge by a human scale, but if we judge by God’s scale, then we must admit that man is basically bad. For any social system to work it must be based on the reality of human nature. Both views described above cannot be correct, and thus we experience a great deal of animosity, anger, and turmoil in our politics. I don’t think there is any doubt that, by God’s standard, man is sinful – bad. Paul, in today’s passage, states the reality of our human nature.

Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
“[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Prior to salvation all people are sons and daughters of disobedience, living in the passions of their flesh, carrying out the desires of their bodies and minds. In the book of Acts, we read about how the first Christians lived communally; they pooled all of their resources and each was provided for as their needs required. Those that support a more liberal form of government point to this group as an example of how we ought to live today. I agree that it would be lovely if we could live this way, but it is impossible to do so apart from regeneration in Christ.

A community of true Christians can live in such a way because they no longer have a human nature but a Christ-like nature; they no longer live for themselves but for God and others. Communal living cannot be ultimately successful without a preponderance of regenerate individuals, because human nature is self-centered. Ignoring the reality of human nature by creating a godless communal society will only lead to greater corruption, impoverishment, and injustice. Liberal political philosophy ignores the reality of human nature. Now before you think all Christians should be conservatives, understand that a conservative political philosophy accepts the reality of human nature and attempts to sets up a system that works in a sinful world. To me, the question of liberal or conservative government is not a religious matter; one system denies human nature and the other accepts human nature – neither puts God in the equation.

You see human nature can be changed. It cannot, however, be changed by wishful thinking or legislation. It can only be changed through regeneration in Christ. I know people who love this country and they are politically liberal. I too love this country and I am politically conservative. Liberal or conservative, if you love this country, if you love people, if you love God, you will want to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. It is the only way that human beings can be perfected.

There is always an important election just around the corner, and we each must make the best decisions we can. If, however, you want to see this nation healed, if you want to see your fellow man perfected, if you want to see peace and joy in the hearts and minds of your fellow Americans, then do the most important thing of all – share the Gospel with them. It is the only way to truly change the world!

Vivere Victorem! (Live Victorious!)

Your brother and servant in Christ,
Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

Alternate Reading Plans
Bible Order: Matthew 21-22
Chronological Order: Mark 2
Old Testament Only: Isaiah 3–6