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The Gospel and Human Moral Bankruptcy in Scripture

The biblical concept of human moral bankruptcy underscores humanity's inherent sinfulness and inability to achieve righteousness apart from divine intervention. This state is often traced back to the "Fall of Man," an event described in Genesis 2 and 3, which is understood as the revolt of the first parents, Adam and Eve, from God [4]. This disobedience, prompted by the devil's temptation, resulted in sin and misery for them and all their descendants [1, 4].

As a consequence of the Fall, humanity is born "in sin" and is considered "a child of wrath" [1]. The human heart is depicted as inherently evil, the mind depraved, and understanding lacking [1]. For instance, Genesis 6:5 states, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This condition is not merely a matter of occasional wrongdoing but a fundamental corruption of human nature [1]. The apostle Paul elaborates on this, stating that "the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot" (Romans 8:7) [1]. This moral depravity is so pervasive that people are described as "blinded in heart" and "corrupt and perverse in their ways" [1]. John Gill, commenting on Acts 28:27, describes the heart as "stupefied with notions of carnal and temporal things, and become hardened against, and unsusceptible of, divine and spiritual things" [8].

The recognition of this moral bankruptcy is a foundational aspect of the gospel message. The corruption of human nature necessitates a radical transformation, often referred to as the "new birth" [2]. Jesus himself declared, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3) [2]. This new birth is not something humans can achieve on their own but is "effected by God," through Christ and the Holy Spirit, often through the instrumentality of the Word of God and the ministry of the gospel [2]. It is described as a "new creation" and "newness of life" [2].

The gospel, therefore, presents a solution to this inherent human condition. It acknowledges humanity's inability to save itself or to meet God's righteous standards. The Psalmist expresses this sense of need, stating, "I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me" (Psalm 109:22) [6]. This spiritual poverty is a common theme for believers [9]. The judgment awaiting those who remain in their morally bankrupt state is a "first principle of the gospel" [3]. This judgment is described as a "day of wrath" and "revelation of the righteous judgment of God" [3].

The compassion of Christ is particularly directed towards "perishing sinners" [5]. His priestly office necessitates sympathy for the "weary and heavy-laden" and the "tempted" [5]. This divine compassion offers hope in the face of human despair, which can lead to continuing in sin or even blasphemy [7]. The gospel provides a remedy for this moral brokenness, offering healing where there would otherwise be "no remedy" [10]. Without this divine intervention, humanity remains in a state of moral corruption, unable to see, hear, or understand spiritual truths [8]. The gospel, therefore, is presented as the only means by which humanity can be reconciled to God and escape the consequences of its inherent moral bankruptcy.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fall of man — An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and dealings with the children of m”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
  6. Psalms “for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me. -- Psalms 109:22”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
  8. Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 28:27: For the heart of this people is waxed gross,.... Or fat; stupefied with notions of carnal and temporal things, and become hardened against, and unsusceptible of, divine and spiritual things: and their ears are dull of hearing; the Gospel, and its joyful sound; to which they stop their cars, as the deaf adder to the voice of the charmer: and their eyes have they closed; and wilfully shut, against all evidence from facts, miracles, prophecies, and preaching: lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shoul”
  9. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 88:15: I am afflicted,.... In body and mind, from within and from without, by Satan, by the men of the world, and by the Lord himself; which is the common lot of God's people, Psa 34:19 and was the case of the Messiah, who was afflicted both with the tongues and hands of men, by words, by blows, and by the temptations of Satan; and was smitten and afflicted of God, by divine justice, as the sinner's surety: see Psa 22:24 or I am poor (a); which as it is a character, which, for the most part, agrees with the saints, who are the poor of this world God has chosen, to whom th”
  10. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 6:14: Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly,.... Unthought of and unexpected: he that deviseth mischief to others secretly shall have no warning of his own ruin, nor time and means of preventing it; the destruction of antichrist will be sudden, and of all wicked men at the coming of Christ, Th1 5:3; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy; or, "and there shall be no healing" (b): his bones will be broken to pieces, and there will be no cure for him; or he shall be like an earthen vessel, which, when broke, cannot be put together again. The ruin of wicked men is ”
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