Yeah, I think you're right. Because we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, the first two humans ever to exist on Earth, we have all inherited the sin nature. It's part of our DNA to sin and to revel in it, that is....until one is born-again.
We are all fallen, broken in some way. I prefer those terms to 'evil' to describe humanity in general. Evil is what we can become through comitted wring behaviours.
Because of our inherited sin nature, we could never be pure in the eyes of God by our own efforts, even when we do try to do what's right....or rather what we think is right. Sure, we can be good enough in the eyes of Man: being an upright, privileged and law abiding citizen who may even appear to follow the Ten Commandments and even give to charities and help out others less fortunate than you are....but in the eyes of God......it just isn't enough.
We like to belittle and make fun of others whose actions are morally inferior or degrading than our own, but what we forget is that God only cares if you're obedient to Him, not Man.
God cares anyway - "For God so loved the world..." For if , while we were enemies Christ dies for us ...."
But there is one question I'd like for you to please answer me:
Are those who commit significant and grave sins like murder or adultery or pedophilia actually morally darker than we are? I mean, I know they choose to do wrong and that's a choice, make no mistake about that. But one thing I notice commonly with serial killers, mass murderers and child rapists is that they tend to show a lack of empathy, guilt or remorse for their actions. The average person would never even begin to imagine such depravity in their minds, much less even attempt it. Something has to be wrong with these people, and I'm not speaking from a self-perverted, self-righteous holier-than-thou perspective--I'm really speaking out of some degree of sympathy for these people. I think it's rather tragic really. But for some reason, when they receive just what they deserve as punishment for their wicked actions, I don't feel sympathy for them.
We are all a long way from perfection. We shouldn't be seeing 'grades' of sin. We must also recognise psychological dysfunction as distinct from unimpaired moral choice.
So I want to know--what is it that keeps the average person from being something like Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong or Genghis Khan? Are they naturally more moral? Or do these types of despicable people just represent what the entire human race would be like if God's restraint upon sin were released?
As image bearers of God people can choose to live out of that heritage. Some do that much better than others.
If this is so, then we really have nothing to boast about, because even our good character is not our own.
