There was good news for preachers this month. A recent nation-wide survey by the Ellison Research Group revealed that 87% of U.S. adults believe in the existence of sin when it is defined as “something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective.” (I see this news as a good indication of job security for me). Half or more Americans believe that behaviors such as adultery, racism, using hard drugs, having an abortion, homosexual sex, and not reporting your true income to the IRS are indeed sins. Behaviors that have, for the most part ‘lost’ their sinfulness are things like: gambling or playing the lottery, drinking alcohol, smok’n or chew’n tobacco, not attending church, and not tithing. What’s interesting is the inconsistencies Americans show in their answers. For instance, 35% of all Americans responded that “failing to take proper care of their bodies” is sinful. Yet only 23% believe that using tobacco is sinful; only 14% believe that drinking alcoholic beverages is sinful; and only 17% believe that being significantly overweight is sinful – even though medical science consistently shows that using tobacco, too much alcohol, and obesity are some of the most harmful things we can do to our bodies.

Added to this new is the recent release of a new list of ‘deadly sins’ by the Catholic Church. The original deadly sins are still just as sinful as they’ve ever been: Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth, Anger, Envy, and Pride. However now they’ve added an updated list of mortal Sins: Genetic Modification, Human Experimentations, Polluting the Environment, Social Injustice, Causing Poverty, Financial Gluttony (or excessive wealth), and Taking Drugs.

As interesting as these reports are, they reveal a real problem in the theological understanding of the nature of sin by the vast majority of Americans.

It was just last week that we celebrated the most momentous event in the history of the world – the resurrection of Jesus who is the Christ. But I’ve got to seriously wonder if some Christians – even some churches – are making the connection between Christ’s death and resurrection, and the forgiveness of, and victory over sin? This is the linchpin doctrine of Christianity, and I’m convinced that a lot of professing Christians just don’t get it.

Over the next four weeks I want to preach a series of messages under the theme: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. We’re gonna sing that hymn every Sunday for the next four weeks. (Larry, I’d like for us to sing all four stanzas each time). The last stanza of the hymn sings out: “I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; ... “ The Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders watched the kind of people that Jesus hung around with, and derisively called him “ ... a friend of ... sinners!” I am so glad that Jesus was and remains a friend of sinners. We’re going to look at how deep that grace goes by looking at a succession of parables that Jesus told in Luke’s Gospel: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Lost Son.

But before we turn our attention to those parables, I need for you all to understand the depth of your lostness of soul, and depravity of heart.

I. OUR DEPRAVITY IS UNIVERSAL

depravity is a doctrine we don’t like to talk about much these days

it’s a doctrine that teaches that, outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, man has no moral compass or spiritual guidance
it teaches that man is a slave to sin

it’s a condition that affects all men, in all places throughout all time

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23,KJV)
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near," (1 Kings 8:46,ESV)
"Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you." (Psalm 143:2,ESV)
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8,ESV)

Our Depravity Is Universal

II. OUR DEPRAVITY IS THOROUGH

apart from the grace of God there is no delight in the holiness of God, and no glad submission to the sovereign authority of God

"What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, "as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; "no one understands; no one seeks for God. "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” "“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” "“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” "“Their feet are swift to shed blood; "in their paths are ruin and misery, "and the way of peace they have not known.” "“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:9-18,ESV)

the Apostle writes that all are under sin

whether Jew or Gentile, it doesn’t matter, outside of the grace of God, sin is the sinner’s master

it dominates their character and has them in its grip
in verses 11-18 he then defines and gives example of the corrupting influence of sin in the sinner’s life

human conscience is depraved (3:10–11)

no one even desires to know and follow God

human character is depraved (3:12)

all have left the path of good and have became worthless

human conversation is depraved (3:13–14)

people’s talk is foul and filthy, resembling the stench from an open grave, and the poison from a deadly snake

human conduct is depraved (3:15–18)

they are quick to commit murder, and they have no fear of God

please do not equate the singular “SIN” with the plural “SINS”

this is where Americans frequently fail in their understanding of their sinfulness

sin is not merely a matter of the things we do
sin is a matter of what we are

we are not sinners because we sin
we sin because we are sinners

SIN is this big, awful, powerful spiritual condition that defines and dominates our character and leads us to express our rebellion in evil deeds and unrighteous acts

A. WE ARE SINNERS TO THE CORE

ILLUS. If you ever want to see the sinful nature at work, put two three-year-olds in a room together with only one toy, and watch the dynamics that take place.

there are seven words in the New Testament that describe our sinful condition

hamartia – it means to miss the mark.

it refers to a soldier who hurls his spear at a target, but fails utterly to hit the mark

hamartema – it refers to premeditated evil acts and deeds

It’s Ananias and Sapphira selling a piece of land, and bringing most – not all, but most – of the proceeds to the Apostles, but insisting that they were indeed giving the entire sale amount, while they knew it was a lie.

asebeia – a lack of reverence toward God, what one commentator described as active irreligion
parakoe – is wilful disobedience

it literally means the act of neglecting to hear

ILLUS. It’s the picture of a child putting his or her hands over their ears and saying, "la, la, la, la ... “ very loudly because they don’t want to hear what you’re saying.

anomia – usually translated as iniquity and describes one who has an open contempt for God’s laws
parabasis – usually translated as trespass or trespassing

it is crossing a clearly marked boundary that you know you should not cross

paraptoma – this refers to a false step

it is an action that leads one through the wide gate and down the broad path that Jesus warns us to avoid

taken together these words reveal the depth to which we are under the dominion of sin

you will never have a really deep faith, and a true appreciation for grace without a true understanding of your bondage to sin before you became a bond-servant of Christ

too often, even the church is influenced by the world's self-esteem philosophy

ILLUS. I am reminded of this when I remember that some hymns have been changed to make them less harsh. Take for example the hymn, “At the Cross”. When Isaac Watts penned those words in1885, he wrote, "Would He devote that sacred head, For such a worm as I?" That's how I originally learned the song, and I understood what it meant. However, newer hymnals say, "For such a sinner as I?" (Some even say, "such a one as I.") “Sinner” is better than “such a one as I” but it still is not as meaningful as “worm.” Isaac Watts wrote the word "worm" because He understood his place before a Holy God. The old Broadman Hymnal has Isaac Watt's original words, but by 1956 when the Baptist Hymnal was introduced, we'd stopped being "worms" and just "sinners."

if we are going to be mature believers, we must have a clear understanding of who we are in light of Christ

if I do not have an awareness of my own "worminess," I cannot fully comprehend the awesome love of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross
it is that very redemptive work that makes it a privilege to be wholly abandoned to God, with no thought for myself or my needs

Our Depravity Is Thorough

III. OUR DEPRAVITY IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6,ESV)

everything man does outside of faith is blameworthy, not praiseworthy in God’s eyes
understanding our depravity in relation to God is crucial

the reason it's crucial is because when we hear the word depravity all kinds of thoughts begin flowing through our mind

like: “I'm not nearly as bad as I could be,” or “I don't do all the bad things that I could.”

it's in relation to God that our depravity is seen, and not primarily in our relation to men

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31,ESV)
"But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23,ESV).

sin is not merely the bad things that you do
sin is also the good things not for the glory of God

the implication of Romans 14:23 and I Corinthians 10:31 is absolutely staggering

whatever does not flow from or precede from faith is sin

this is exactly why the Apostle James writes:

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. "Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." "As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." (James 4:13-16,ESV)

the implication is the unbeliever only sin

that doesn’t mean that your lost neighbor is as bodaciously bad as they could be
it doesn't mean that they kill and steal and lie every hour of every day

it means all the humanly good things that they do – as men count and define goodness – such as acts of benevolence or philanthropy, are a stench in His nostrils because they are not done for His glory, and are therefore sinful acts of unrighteousness

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6,KJV)
ILLUS Have you ever smelled a pile of old rags that have laid around your basement for a few weeks too long?

we use the word "good" in layers of ways

who is not going to say that building a hospital in an impoverished neighborhood is a bad thing when some pagan philanthropist does it?
but it's an offense to God at one level, because people who ignore God in their good deeds offend God
God can make those distinctions, and He does make those distinctions

Our Depravity Is All-encompassing

IV. OUR DEPRAVITY IS DELIBERATE

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Romans 8:5-9,ESV)

the sinner’s unwillingness to come to God is a deliberate unwillingness that flows from a rebellious mind, and stoney heart that is focused on the flesh

Jesus told Nicodemus that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit
if you are born one time, up until the moment you are born a second time by the Spirit, you are just flesh, and you have a stoney heart that is unresponsive to God until His grace intercedes and makes it responsive to Him

A. MAN’S HEART IS SO THOROUGHLY CORRUPT THAT NOTHING CAN SOLVE OUR PROBLEM EXCEPT A HEART TRANSPLANT

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” KJV

our character is deceitful

the word deceitful is the root word from which we get the Old Testament name Jacob
the Bible is saying that we’re all like Jacob in character

if you remember, Jacob was a schemer and a conniver who would do about anything to advance himself or his agenda
he was double-faced and double-tongued, tricking his brother and lying to his own father

our character is desperately wicked

the word desperately in this verse literally mean incurable
our character is not just desperately wicked, it is incurably wicked
Paul speaks to this in his letter to the Christians at Rome

Romans 1:29-32 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” KJV

our character is unknowable

the prophet Jeremiah looks at the human heart and sees it as so wicked and so depraved that he wonders out loud, who can know it?
some men, who by all accounts are good men, will sometimes commit unthinkably horrible acts that leave the rest of us wondering, “How could they have done that?”

ILLUS. Most of you remember the mass killings at Columbine High School in Colorado back in 1999. Just one day after the rampage, a friend of the two shooters was interviewed. She characterized them as good kids who made a bad choice. No friends: A bad choice is eating pizza at 10AM just before you go to bed. They made an evil choice.

sin has affected every part of man’s personality

when the bible speaks of our heart it is not referring to the muscle that pumps our blood
when the bible speaks of our heart it is referring to the whole man, with all his attributes — physical, intellectual and psychological – what we call character
when the Bible says that our hearts are full of evil and madness it means that our character, our personality, our will, and our mind are all affected by sin and reveal the true nature of the human character

ILLUS. Albert Einstine once said, Evil is the real problem in the hearts and minds of men. It is not a problem of physics but of ethics. It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.

Our Depravity Is Deliberate

V. OUR DEPRAVITY MAKES US CULPABLE

our rebellion is totally deserving of punishment, and wrath

if hell is real – and I believe it is – and if lost sinners are deserving of hell, that means that there must be something horribly and terribly bad about us

Our Depravity Makes Us Culpable

Now, after all of this, let me remind you of something great. "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17,ESV)

The reason God chose a murderer and persecutor of Christians to receive His marvelous, matchless, infinite grace is that He might demonstrate His perfect patience for sinners. Nobody is too sinful to be saved.

Churches today that ignore the sinner's true condition, are not doing people a favor because if they do, they won't have a clue as to what they're being saved from. Understanding our true spiritual condition magnifies the cross, and magnifies Jesus.

On his death bed, Pastor and hymn writer, John Newton said: "Two things I know: I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior." If you don't know the first proposition, you'll never really appreciate the second.

I like John Newton am a great sinner and Christ is a Great Savior. Until I pass from this world I will live with sin that is inherent due to my old nature. Every day therefore, I must fall upon the Grace that proves that Christ is a Great Savior.

We are Sinners who Need a Friend Like Jesus