“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
–Romans 3:23
The culture/media regularly refers to man’s better nature–currently the favored phrase is “the better angels of our nature.”
- The Better Angels Of Our Nature
- Elected leaders must appeal to ‘better angels,’ take high road
- The Better Angels of Our Nature
- Better Angels tries to lower the volume on the high-decibel noise dividing a polarized nation
While uplifting and encouraging, such talk of man’s better nature contradicts the many warnings the Bible sounds about the true, genuine nature of unrepentant man.
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
–Ecclesiastes 7:20
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
–Jeremiah 17:9
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
–Psalm 51:5
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Romans 3:10-12
Who is one to believe: the chatter (from man) about the innate goodness of man OR the Bible’s warnings that there are NO good men; that all men are born wicked?
Should we put our faith, hope and trust in “man’s better nature“?
One clue: even the worldly know better than to trust man’s better nature.
“Never appeal to a man’s better nature. He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.”
—Robert Heinlein
The Bible also has many warnings about trusting in man OR in one’s own self, for that matter.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
–Proverbs 14:12
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
–Proverbs 28:26
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
–Proverbs 3:5
As Jesus Christ Himself once said:
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
–Luke 17:9-14
So, again, who is one to believe: those who insist that man has a “better nature” OR the Bible, which clearly states that there is no one that is good “no, not one“?
IF the reader truthfully and diligently searches his memory about the times appeals have been made to “man’s better nature” (and the results of those appeals), perhaps that might be the best evidence for the true answer to this question.
DOES the reader believe the Word of God?
DOES the reader believe the words of man?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE
- CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGION: Important Differences Between the Two
- The Wicked Need a Savior Too
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
- The Normalizing of Illegitimate Supernatural Power in the End Times
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 22, 2018.]
MORE
- The Powerless Churches: Church Folk and Their Lack of God’s Power
- PRAYER: A Few Thoughts on Prayer and Praying
- Constructing One’s Own Reality Begins with Self-Deception
- Satan Has Counterfeited the Christian Church
- The Deceptions of Demonic Power
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- The Normalizing of Illegitimate Supernatural Power in the End Times
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-18. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, End Time Deception, END TIMES PREPARATION, LIFE, man's better nature, misplaced hope, the better angels of man's nature