The natural state of all mankind

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually!" Genesis 6:5

"Every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood!" Genesis 8:21

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil!" Jeremiah 13:23

As the world by its maxims, so sin by its allurements—fetters and controls us! So interwoven with all our faculties is sin, that we cannot resist its influence. Sooner might an Ethiopian change the color of his skin, or a leopard take away its spots—than the natural man break forth from the dominion of sin! Though he may not yield to sin in a gross and shameless way—yet his thoughts and desires are altogether vitiated by it! Nor is so much as one inclination or affection free from sin's malignant taint. A principle of evil resides within him, and dictates every imagination of his heart!

"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 lived 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 children of wrath.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved!" Ephesians 2:1-5