Page 128 - Advanced Apologetics and World Views Revised

As far back as Genesis 6—prior to God’s judgment in the Flood—the depravity of man’s sinful heart was
obvious. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

The apostle Paul delivered a powerful reminder to all believers that the primary struggle for unbelievers
is never the lack of evidence for God, but their love for every form of defiance against Him.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them;
for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal
power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that
they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20)

Atheism, Darwinism, hedonism, and victimhood are all excuses for the fact that people love sin, hate
God, and refuse to be held accountable for their guilt. And that’s because all people are sinners by
nature—a nature passed on to every descendant of Adam after the Fall (Genesis 3). “Through one man
sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned”
(Romans 5:12). “Through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).
In his book The Gospel According to Paul, John MacArthur explains the imputation of Adam’s sin to all of
his descendants:

All humanity was plunged into this guilty condition because of Adam’s sin. “For as through the one
man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). This is the doctrine of original
sin, a truth that is expounded by Paul in Romans 5:12–19. We prove our willing complicity in
Adam’s rebellion every time we sin. And since no one other than Jesus has ever lived a sinless life,
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no one is really in a position to doubt the doctrine of original sin, much less deem it unjust.

We need to abandon the lie that people are basically good, and instead embrace the truth that man is
totally depraved. Understandably, it is an unsavory subject for most people. And without the gospel, it is
only bad news.

But without the bad news, the gospel becomes strange and nonsensical. The cross becomes confusing.
And there is no good reason for Christ to die as a sin-bearing substitute. If mankind is basically good, the
gospel is an unnecessary farce, and the death of Christ a tragic waste. Choosing to deny the imputation
of Adam’s sin demands that you also reject the imputation of our sin to Christ, and the imputation of His
righteousness to our account. It cuts you off from the Savior, and any hope of salvation.

Ultimately, the difference between believing the soothing lie of Pelagius or the harsh truth of depravity
is the doctrinal divide that separates heaven from hell.

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