The Theme of Judges: Every Man Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes!
Every time I look at the news and look at the wickedness of man, it can be summed up with the theme of Judges that repeats itself three times namely, "Every man did what was right in their own eyes." Whenever there are incidents of sin cycles, I am not surprised because the Bible really speaks the sad truth about the total depravity of man. Ever since the fall of man in Eden, the problem has continued with people doing what is right according to their own sinful conscience rather than what God says is right. The Book of Judges really shows how fallen humanity is really not right with God one way or another. That is why God has every right to allow wicked people to do what they do because of people who continue their rebellion against God.
What does the total depravity of man mean? While it does not mean that unsaved men can be so wicked that they cannot have some "moral goodness". Instead, it really addresses the issue that all people are fallen sinners. Like it or not, the Law of God condemns everyone. Deuteronomy 31:26 says,"Take this Book of the Law, and put it in the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." It is indeed fearful to think of how the Book of the Law really reveals transgression but people do not want anything to do with it. The Bible is so offensive to the sinner because it reveals our sin. People have the feeling that nothing is wrong with them, they want to love that blunder in their thinking and it is offensive to them when the sad truth comes out. That is why the heart hardened in sin refuses to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
In Romans 10:1-3 states the sad truth saying,"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Wicked people tend to think nothing is wrong with them because they are ignorant of God's righteousness. When people are asked about sin they do not have a biblical answer. Some of them think it is just a fantasy word or that sin is not serious. Some people think that as long as their good deeds exceed their wickedness that they will be saved.
The problem behind the total depravity of man cannot be addressed with just more laws and discipline. While it is certainly good to have laws and discipline but it does not match up with the holiness of God. For people to have a truly new life it takes the grace of God. People must be made to understand that even the slightest sin is offensive to God. They must understand the sad truth as Romans 3:19 says,"Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." It is the sad truth that under God's Law, all are guilty sinners which leads to their sinful lifestyle. It is a must to expose people to God's Law so they will understand their guilt of sin. Galatians 3:24 says, "Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Wherever the Gospel is spread, we see people turn on a new leaf from unrighteousness to righteousness as 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." It is the formula that true repentance of sin means a change of mind begets a change of purpose. To be saved means to be saved from sin not in sin. This is because saved people saw they were not righteous as they thought they were and were imputed righteousness and in turn, they have been given over to a new life different from what they were while they were unrighteous.
See also:
What does the total depravity of man mean? While it does not mean that unsaved men can be so wicked that they cannot have some "moral goodness". Instead, it really addresses the issue that all people are fallen sinners. Like it or not, the Law of God condemns everyone. Deuteronomy 31:26 says,"Take this Book of the Law, and put it in the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." It is indeed fearful to think of how the Book of the Law really reveals transgression but people do not want anything to do with it. The Bible is so offensive to the sinner because it reveals our sin. People have the feeling that nothing is wrong with them, they want to love that blunder in their thinking and it is offensive to them when the sad truth comes out. That is why the heart hardened in sin refuses to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
In Romans 10:1-3 states the sad truth saying,"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Wicked people tend to think nothing is wrong with them because they are ignorant of God's righteousness. When people are asked about sin they do not have a biblical answer. Some of them think it is just a fantasy word or that sin is not serious. Some people think that as long as their good deeds exceed their wickedness that they will be saved.
The problem behind the total depravity of man cannot be addressed with just more laws and discipline. While it is certainly good to have laws and discipline but it does not match up with the holiness of God. For people to have a truly new life it takes the grace of God. People must be made to understand that even the slightest sin is offensive to God. They must understand the sad truth as Romans 3:19 says,"Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." It is the sad truth that under God's Law, all are guilty sinners which leads to their sinful lifestyle. It is a must to expose people to God's Law so they will understand their guilt of sin. Galatians 3:24 says, "Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Wherever the Gospel is spread, we see people turn on a new leaf from unrighteousness to righteousness as 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." It is the formula that true repentance of sin means a change of mind begets a change of purpose. To be saved means to be saved from sin not in sin. This is because saved people saw they were not righteous as they thought they were and were imputed righteousness and in turn, they have been given over to a new life different from what they were while they were unrighteous.
See also: