In context of the gospel, it is widely believed that sin (from the perspective of an increase of rebellion towards God) was not, and still not, a hindrance to faith - once someone is presented with the gospel itself; although what I'm alluding to primarily concerns the time when Christ Himself was ministering the truth. Now while I'm not necessarily saying this is wrong (or right), how do you understand this in light of what Jesus told Nicodemus:
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
If Christ is that light that came into the world (which He is), it is illustrating rather candidly that the world's inability to believe in Him is because of their evil deeds, while also implying right after that those who believe do so because they come to the light (as something that illuminates the works of man - something that Christ surely did) out of the confidence that they practice the truth, and want full assurance that their works are approved of God. How do you reconcile this with statements such as: there is none righteous, there is none that seeks after God, and all their righteousness is as filthy rags? Who are those who practice the truth and by consequence of doing so come to Christ?
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
If Christ is that light that came into the world (which He is), it is illustrating rather candidly that the world's inability to believe in Him is because of their evil deeds, while also implying right after that those who believe do so because they come to the light (as something that illuminates the works of man - something that Christ surely did) out of the confidence that they practice the truth, and want full assurance that their works are approved of God. How do you reconcile this with statements such as: there is none righteous, there is none that seeks after God, and all their righteousness is as filthy rags? Who are those who practice the truth and by consequence of doing so come to Christ?