A Message by Pastor Michael Palmer

Given to Green Ridge Baptist Church

February 28, 2010

 

TOTAL DEPRAVITY: THANK GOD HE MADE A WAY BACK TO HIMSELF

John 1:9-13

 

Verses 9-11 show us just how bad it is when it comes to the condition of man’s heart. The foundational truth that all mankind is corrupted and sinful by nature and by choice, and left to himself man will always choose that which is detrimental or sinful. In intellectual circles there is disagreement with this foundational biblical truth.

 

I. THE TRUTH IS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT NATURALLY WANT JESUS.

“Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19

 

Illustration: The Birth of Jesus: the King of the Jews, Herod did not want Him– he murdered the babies after Jesus’ birth! The religious leader did not want Him. Who came?– Wise men from the East, from Persia!

 Men and women simply did not want to acknowledge Christ then and they do not want to acknowledge Him now.

 

FOUR VIEWS OF THE FALL OF MAN– THREE ARE WRONG 

  1. MAN FELL UPWARD!

        This is the impact of evolution and humanism– it is heretical, dangerous, and leads to a sinful self sufficiency that degrades and enslaves every culture that believes it.

 

  1. MAN FELL ONLY PART WAY– HE IS ON THE EDGE

        He is not totally lost, through religion and self effort he can pull himself back up over the ledge.

 

  1. MAN FELL OVER THE LEDGE BUT HE IS STUCK ON A SHELF HALFWAY DOWN

        There people will admit man is a fallen being; they will even say he is dead spiritually. But they also say that man is still capable of doing something. This is very subtle; this view is a view prevalent in churches and results in a powerless church (if you can even call it a church!). Everything we understand about salvation hinges on this doctrine. It affects all of your life– it will determine whether you remain in bondage or are truly set free by the awesome grace of God.

 

  1. MAN FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM AND HE LIES THERE HOPELESSLY LOST, BLIND TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH, UNABLE TO HELP HIMSELF– This is the Biblical view.

Only God can reach down and pick him up, set him back up on the ledge of life and say “now this is the way, walk with me in it!”

 

        The glory of the Lord Jesus has been revealed. He is the awesome, majestic, sovereign, creator God! And He was announced by John the Baptist; He was given to His world– to us, and what did we do?

 

“The answer is that after the Lord Jesus Christ had been forced upon men’s gaze, man responded not by falling down and worshipping Him as they should but they responded by crucifying Him.” (J.M. Boice p.66 John Vol. I)

 

II. THE TRUTH OF MAN’S DEPRAVITY IS FURTHER ILLUSTRATED BY THE REJECTION OF THE JEWS– HIS OWN RACE!

  • They had the prophecies of His coming.
  • They had the history of God’s hand delivering them.
  • They had the sacrifices which pointed to Jesus.
  • They had the evidence of Christ’s miracles.
  • They had the testimony of John the Baptist.

 

        We are no better than the Jews! We also have no excuse for rejection of Jesus. He came in love and went to a cruel cross for you! The only way back is to cry out in your helpless lost state and say LORD JESUS-SAVE ME!

 

III. THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL IS THAT JESUS COMES TO US OPENS OUR BLIND EYES AND INVITES US TO RECEIVE HIM! Verse 12

       

ONE MUST RECIEVE– this is a definite act of the mind, will and emotions; it is a reaching out to Jesus when He makes the offer of Himself to you!

 

ALL OF OUR TRUSTING AND THE ACT OF RECEIVING IS DONE UNDER HIS AUTHORITY

 

Our ability to receive the Gift , our ability to have faith, the salvation transaction, the adoption transaction is done completely under His authority.

RIGHT= permission, ability or strengthens the power of choice.

 

TRUE RECEIVING ENTAILS BIBLICAL BELIEF IN JESUS’ NAME

 

BELIEF= A firm persuasion , a conviction based on hearing, trust, a firm conviction producing full acknowledgment of God’s revelation or truth, a PERSONAL SURRENDER to Jesus, and conduct inspired by such surrender. 

 

IN HIS NAME= The authority, character rank, majesty, power, excellence etc. of that person. This is His attributes, His power, His sovereignty, His person.

 

TRUE RECEIVING AND BELIEVING WILL RESULT IN A CONTINUING PUBLIC CONFESSION OF CHRIST NOT A SILENT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP!

 

IV.  DEPRAVITY AND DEATH CAN ONLY BRING FORTH MORE DEATH– ONLY GOD CAN SAVE US verses 13

 

  1. Not of Blood
  2. Not an Emotional High
  3. Not by Determination
  4. But by the Will of God.

 

“WHO WERE BORN” - This is a passive indicative verb which means someone outside of myself did this to me!...HALLELUJAH!

 

 V. BORN BY THE WILL OF GOD MEANS THAT MAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT – WE ARE BORN BY GRACE AND SUSTAINED BY GRACE THIS POINT NOT IN ORIGNIAL  NOTES

 

When we are born again we are initiated into an entirely new series of relationships and duties within His family. When we realize and understand fully our condition before our salvation those truths ought to break us and humble us and produce a genuine thanksgiving to God.

 

What is the application for us?

 

  1. People all around us need to know that Jesus comes to them in their fallen hopeless condition and (in love) offers Himself to them. THERE IS A WAY BACK!
  2. We need to give the Gospel message to all but when anyone expresses any spiritual interest that is a sign for us to express continued love, friendship, and encouraging testimony about the Person of Jesus Christ.
  3. It is hard for man to understand his depravity (this is when true repentance happens),  but when a person gets this truth they are more ready than ever to be saved and become a radical disciple of Jesus Christ.
  4. There are some around us already spiritually ready to believe and receive Jesus– we just need to help them understand how! Could you do this if asked by another?
  5. Are you ready to receive and believe in Jesus today?! If so please come during our invitational hymn and we will help you reach out and receive Jesus through prayer.