People may believe there is good or at least a potential of being good within th e human race.

Many people have a good, positive opinion about themselves or of g reat influences they look up to. However, the important thing is not what we thi nk of ourselves, but what God thinks of us and of humanity in general. What you think of yourself really doesn't matter when standing before a judge in a courtr oom or applying for a job in an interview; what matters is what the judge or emp loyer thinks of you. In the same way, knowing what God has said in this area is of utmost importance. Regardless of any human opinions, what does mankind look l ike in God's eyes? Does He see any good in us? Any potential? Anything at all? You'll probably be surprised to hear that God is not pleased with mankind at all . He does not see any good in us; we have no potential to do anything right nothin g at all. As a matter of fact, the Bible specifically tells us the wrath of God burns fiercely against mankind and that it is only by His mercy that God has not altogether wiped us all off the face of the earth. Please don't turn away from this page or ignore this message in anger or offense keep your cool, and see for y ourself that this is truly what the word of God tells us. There is no hope for u s unless, perhaps, these things are first acknowledged and believed. Man's Inherited Sinful Nature We are all born into this world with a sinful nature utterly hostile toward God and wholly inclined toward sin and evil. It is not just what we do that is evil, but the very essence of who we are that is evil. Because of our fallen human na ture, there is nothing good in us, since every aspect of our being has been tain ted by sin including our intellect, emotions, desires, hearts, motives, and physic al bodies. We lack the ability to do anything that would please God, to understa nd anything of God, and even the ability to come to God, because we all naturall y hate the light of God's purity and love the darkness of our sinful pleasures. This corruption is framed within our very being from conception we are conceived i n sin and estranged from the womb. As soon as we are born we go astray, indulgin g in sinful passions even as infants and children; no one is born pure and every intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. Since we are born with a sinful n ature and because the wrath of God burns fiercely against sin, we are born natur ally into this world alienated from Him and the life He offers, with His wrath u pon us. Ps. 10:4; 51:5; 58:3; 143:2; Job 15:14; 25:4; Rom. 3:10; 7:18; 8:8; John 3:19-20 ; 6:44; 15:5; Heb. 11:6; Isa. 64:6; 1 Cor. 2:14; Tit. 1:15; Gen. 8:21; Eph. 2:3; 4:18-19; Col. 1:21 Man's Universal Guilt All have sinned and become corrupt in the sight of God. The Bible declares that there is no one who is righteous, sinless, or good, and no one can purify himsel f from his sin. Since the consequence for sin is death, death has spread to all mankind because we have all sinned and incurred the guilt of having broken God's law. Therefore, it is appointed for all to die once and afterward comes judgmen t, resulting in condemnation, because God's law invokes the curse of eternal des truction on those who have broken it in any one point. Rom. 3:10-12, 19-20, 23; 5:12, 16, 18; 6:10; Gen. 6:11-12; Ps. 143:2; Eccl. 7:20 ; Prov. 20:9; Heb. 9:27; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10; 2 Thes. 1:9 Man's Enslavement to Sin Mankind is not only guilty of sin, but is also enslaved by it. Man's own profoun d love for sin and evil demonstrates that he is a slave to it and taken captive by its lusts and pleasures. Since the Bible teaches that a man can only be freed from sin by the Lord Jesus Christ, all people left to themselves therefore will always remain enslaved to sin loving it, desiring it, and indulging in its pleasu res. The only thing mankind has done and continues to do is actively and relentl essly indulge in sinful passions, desires, and practices, whether in thought, wo rd, or deed. John 3:19-20; 8:32-36; Rom. 6:16-18, 20; 2 Pet. 2:19; Tit. 3:3 Man's Hatred Toward God Though God has revealed Himself very clearly so that all are without excuse, man kind has refused to honor Him and instead has exchanged His truth for a lie, cho osing rather to serve figments of their own imagination such as false religions or

ridiculous, unproven claims like evolution rather than Him. In their rejection of God, they have become utter fools, further adding to the depravity and futility of their minds and hardness of their hearts. None of them seeks God; He is in n one of their thoughts. And though people may have their own idea of God whom the y think about or pray to, nevertheless, they refuse to acknowledge the true livi ng God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. Their minds are hostile toward H im because of their hatred that is rooted within their sinful nature; and becaus e of this they will not be subjected to Him they are not even able to do so. Ps. 10:4; Rom. 1:18-30; 3:10-12; 8:7-8 Man's Evil Heart & Mind There's a widespread sentiment that's all about "following after your heart" whi ch not only contradicts the Bible but is extremely destructive and foolish. The Bible declares that our heart is bound in foolishness, it is full of evil, and i nsanity dwells within it all throughout our lives. Nobody can know the heart; it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Out of the heart of men p roceed all the evil things imaginable, including evil thoughts, sexual immoralit y, thefts, murders, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. Along with our depraved hearts, our minds too are hosti le and engaged in evil deeds. The very means that convicts us of what is right o r wrong the conscience is itself evil, seared, impure, unclean, and defiled. Our hea rt is the last thing we need to follow and the truth will never be found within us. If you follow your heart, the way may appear to be right but you will find i t to end in death; the way of the fool is right in his own eyes. Truth can only be found in Christ and confidence should be only in Him. Jer. 17:9; Eccl. 9:3; Prov. 12:15; 14:12; 22:15; Mark 7:21-23; Col. 1:21; Gen. 6 :5; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Tit. 1:15; Heb. 9:14; 10:22 Man's Wicked Religious Efforts Many people trust in their own personal beliefs and others believe they can make it to Heaven by following some form of religion. However, the problem that stil l remains, which none of these things can take away, is the fact that mankind is guilty of sin and all sin will be punished by God. No religion can take away so meone's sins and no one can make himself pure. If a person does all he can to li ve right or follow some religion, his guilt will still be there and because of t hat he will be condemned. People are so inclined to trust in their own beliefs o r try so hard to please God and yet the wretchedness of their sins, which He hat es, is ever before Him. The Bible says that our greatest righteousnesses are but grotesque, filthy menstrual cloths in God's sight. The only way a person can be made right with God is through Christ, because He alone has the righteousness G od requires and it is only through Him in faith that it is attained. Those who r efuse to believe and follow Him are accounted wicked, so that even their prayers are sinful abominations to God. Jer. 2:22; 13:23; Job 9:29-31; 14:4; Prov. 20:9; 28:9; Isa. 59:2; 64:6; John 9:3 1 How God Likens Mankind If anyone wonders what God thinks when He looks down at mankind, here it is. Man is detestable and corrupt. The word of God likens man to maggots and worms whic h breed and feed upon putrid, rotting flesh. Man continually returning to his ev il passions has been compared to rabid dogs not fit for holy things, which lap u p their own vomit and viciously devour the hand that feeds them. Mankind is comp ared to filthy swine wallowing around in mud and manure, destitute of any sense of what is truly worthy or valuable. God has also compared His punishment of sin ners as sweeping away dung until it is all gone. As you can see, all throughout the Scriptures God is revealed to have an extremely low opinion of mankind, and this is emphasized here in order to destroy every sense of pride that will preve nt one from humbly coming to the truth and finding eternal life in Christ. How d oes that work? The more wretched we see ourselves as we are in truth, the less i nclined we will be to trust in ourselves for righteousness, deliverance, and acc eptance before God. When we rightly see ourselves as wicked and corrupt, we will run to the glorious, sinless Savior, who alone is righteous and holy, and in Hi m only will our hope reside. More of Him, less of us; He must increase and we mu

st decrease.