Understanding Humanity's Spiritual Deadness and Need for Scripture
Summary
In every culture and generation, humanity grapples with a fundamental problem: falling short of the life God calls us to lead. Many propose solutions like knowledge, relationships, or love, believing these can guide people to faith. However, even when children are raised with truth, community, and love, they may still turn away from God. This is because the human problem is deeper than a lack of knowledge, relationship, or love. The Bible reveals that we are "dead in trespasses and sins," meaning we are naturally unresponsive to God. Sin affects every part of our being—our minds, affections, wills, consciences, memories, and bodies.
Our minds are darkened, unable to see the glory of Christ, as sin blinds us to spiritual truths. Our affections are distorted, leading us to love the wrong things. Jesus highlighted this when He said people love darkness instead of light. Our wills are disabled, making us slaves to sin, unable and unwilling to seek God unless drawn by the Father. We make real choices, but our desires, corrupted by sin, often lead us astray. Our consciences, though a gift from God, can be unreliable if not trained by His Word. Sin even distorts our memories, causing us to forget God's goodness and remember past sins. Finally, sin affects our bodies, leading to physical decay and death.
Imagine flying a plane with unreliable instruments; this is akin to navigating life with our flawed human faculties. We need a fixed point of reference, which is why God has given us the Scriptures. Christians are called to live not by our inclinations but by God's revelation. The Bible serves as our guide, helping us discern when our thoughts and feelings align with God's will. In a world where sin has corrupted every aspect of our being, the Scriptures provide the truth and direction we need to live a life pleasing to God.
Key Takeaways:
1. The human problem is deeper than a lack of knowledge, relationship, or love; it is rooted in being "dead in trespasses and sins," making us naturally unresponsive to God. This spiritual deadness affects every aspect of our being, requiring divine intervention for true transformation. [02:07]
2. Sin darkens our minds, blinding us to the truth and glory of Christ. By nature, we cannot understand spiritual truths, which is why the Scriptures are essential for illuminating our path and revealing God's will. [04:05]
3. Our affections are distorted by sin, leading us to love the wrong things. Jesus and Paul both highlight how our natural inclinations are towards self, money, and pleasure rather than God, necessitating a transformation of our desires. [04:59]
4. The human will is disabled by sin, making us slaves to it and unable to seek God on our own. True freedom comes only through the Son of God, who enables us to choose rightly and pursue a life aligned with God's purposes. [05:48]
5. Our consciences, memories, and bodies are all affected by sin, leading to unreliable guidance and physical decay. The Scriptures provide the fixed point of reference we need to navigate life, offering truth and direction amidst our flawed human faculties. [11:48]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - The Fundamental Human Problem
- [00:24] - Knowledge, Relationship, and Love
- [01:12] - A Parent's Dilemma
- [02:07] - Deeper Than Knowledge or Love
- [02:24] - Unresponsive to God
- [03:13] - Sin's Effect on the Mind
- [04:22] - Distorted Affections
- [05:17] - Disabled Will
- [06:22] - The Nature of Human Will
- [07:31] - Disoriented Conscience
- [08:20] - Sin's Effect on Memory
- [09:26] - Sin's Effect on the Body
- [10:21] - The Analogy of Faulty Instruments
- [11:36] - The Need for Scripture
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 2:1-2 - "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked..."
2. 2 Corinthians 4:4 - "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
3. John 8:34-36 - "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'"
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:1-2, what does it mean to be "dead in trespasses and sins"? How does this state affect our responsiveness to God? [02:07]
2. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, what role does "the god of this age" play in blinding the minds of unbelievers? How does this blindness manifest in people's understanding of the gospel? [03:48]
3. How does Jesus describe the condition of those who practice sin in John 8:34-36? What does He say is necessary for true freedom? [05:48]
4. What are some of the ways sin affects different parts of our being, as discussed in the sermon? [02:43]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "dead in trespasses and sins" challenge the idea that knowledge, relationships, or love alone can lead someone to faith? [02:07]
2. What does it mean for our affections to be distorted by sin, and how does this distortion impact our choices and priorities? [04:22]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our conscience can be unreliable, and how can it be trained to align with God's will? [07:45]
4. How does the analogy of flying a plane with faulty instruments relate to the way we navigate life with our flawed human faculties? [11:21]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unresponsive to God's call. What factors contributed to this, and how did you overcome it? [02:24]
2. Consider your current affections and desires. Are there areas where you find yourself loving the wrong things? How can you seek transformation in these areas? [04:42]
3. How can you actively seek the guidance of the Scriptures to ensure your conscience is aligned with God's will? What practical steps can you take this week? [07:45]
4. In what ways have you experienced the disabling effect of sin on your will? How can you rely on the freedom offered by Christ to make choices that align with God's purposes? [05:48]
5. Think about a situation where your memory of God's goodness was overshadowed by past sins or negative experiences. How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in such times? [09:11]
6. How can you ensure that your spiritual "instruments" are reliable and aligned with God's truth? What role does regular Bible study and prayer play in this process? [11:21]
7. Identify one area of your life where you feel spiritually "blind." What steps can you take to seek clarity and understanding through God's Word? [03:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Deadness and Divine Intervention
The human condition is more than just a lack of knowledge, relationships, or love; it is a state of being "dead in trespasses and sins." This spiritual deadness makes us naturally unresponsive to God, affecting every aspect of our being. Our minds, affections, wills, consciences, memories, and bodies are all tainted by sin, requiring divine intervention for true transformation. Without God's intervention, we remain in a state of spiritual death, unable to respond to His call. This is why the Scriptures emphasize the need for a new birth, a transformation that only God can initiate and complete. [02:07]
Ephesians 2:1-2 (ESV): "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel spiritually unresponsive? How can you invite God to intervene and bring transformation today?
Day 2: The Blinding Effect of Sin
Sin has a profound effect on our minds, darkening our understanding and blinding us to the truth and glory of Christ. By nature, we are unable to comprehend spiritual truths, which is why the Scriptures are essential for illuminating our path and revealing God's will. Without the light of God's Word, we are like people groping in the dark, unable to find our way. The Bible serves as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, guiding us through the darkness of this world. [04:05]
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV): "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that God's Word is a regular part of your life, helping to illuminate areas where you may be spiritually blind?
Day 3: Distorted Affections and the Need for Transformation
Our affections are distorted by sin, leading us to love the wrong things. Jesus and Paul both highlight how our natural inclinations are towards self, money, and pleasure rather than God. This distortion necessitates a transformation of our desires, aligning them with God's purposes. True transformation involves a change of heart, where we begin to love what God loves and hate what He hates. This change is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [04:59]
1 John 2:15-16 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."
Reflection: What are some things you find yourself loving more than God? How can you ask the Holy Spirit to transform your desires today?
Day 4: The Disabled Will and True Freedom
The human will is disabled by sin, making us slaves to it and unable to seek God on our own. True freedom comes only through the Son of God, who enables us to choose rightly and pursue a life aligned with God's purposes. This freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want, but the power to do what we ought. It is the freedom to live a life that is pleasing to God, free from the bondage of sin. [05:48]
Romans 6:17-18 (ESV): "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel enslaved by sin? How can you seek the freedom that comes through Christ today?
Day 5: Navigating Life with Scripture
Our consciences, memories, and bodies are all affected by sin, leading to unreliable guidance and physical decay. The Scriptures provide the fixed point of reference we need to navigate life, offering truth and direction amidst our flawed human faculties. Just as a pilot relies on instruments to navigate safely, we must rely on God's Word to guide us through the complexities of life. The Bible is our compass, helping us discern when our thoughts and feelings align with God's will. [11:48]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: How can you make Scripture a more integral part of your daily decision-making process? What practical steps can you take to ensure it guides your life?
Quotes
The Bible says you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked. Now being dead in our sins means that by Nature we were unresponsive to God. If we heard the truth, even if we had good Christian friends, even if we were deeply loved, by Nature we were unresponsive to God. [00:02:14]
Sin has affected the function of our minds, our affections, our Wills, our consciences, our memories, and even our bodies. First, the mind is darkened. The Apostle Paul says they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their Hardness of Heart. [00:03:07]
The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ who is the image of God. And then again to the Corinthians he says the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God for they are Folly to him. [00:03:37]
Sin makes us blind to the truth. By Nature Sinners don't see the glory of Christ. By Nature the things of the spirit they're Folly to us we just don't understand them. And then not only is the Mind darkened, but the affections are distorted. See what we do arises from what we love, and sin distorts our affections by making us love the wrong things. [00:04:08]
Jesus said this is the verdict light has come into the world but men loved Darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. And the Apostle Paul says in II Timothy that people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Our affections have been distorted, we love the wrong things. [00:04:38]
Sin has disabled the will, and the human will is disabled in this sense that it doesn't have the full range of function. A person for example with a frozen shoulder can only lift their arm to a limited degree, and sin has limited the ability of the will, and that is why Jesus said everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [00:05:10]
It's only if the Son of God sets you free that you will be free indeed. Sin makes us both unable and unwilling to seek after God. Jesus said no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him. So you see if a person has a desire to come to Christ it was put there by the father. [00:05:38]
Without the father drawing Jesus says no one can come, and not only has sin made us unable to come to Christ it has also made us unwilling. Jesus said you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life but it is they that bear witness about me yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. [00:06:11]
Conscience is a wonderful gift of God it Spurs us to do what is right and it holds us back from doing what is wrong, and it helps us to tell the difference, but conscience is not always a reliable guide that's why Paul warns Timothy about hypocritical Liars whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [00:07:36]
To work effectively conscience needs to be trained it needs to be educated by the word of God, and then Sinners even had an effect on our memory and made it defective. God's people were once slaves in Egypt, they were oppressed they were forced to make bricks without straw, but God wonderfully delivered them set them free. [00:08:15]
Do you see that sin affects every part of every person born into the world, the mind the affections the will the conscience the memory and the body they've all been corrupted. We are sinners because we sin, but it is also true that we sin because by Nature we are sinners. Sin is in US. [00:09:49]
Our thinking our feeling our Desiring, they're like faulty instruments, and that is why they are not sufficient guides for finding our pathway in life. We need a fixed point of reference to know where our thoughts and feelings are in line with God's Will and where they're not, and that is why God has given us the scriptures. [00:11:18]
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