Jesus never labeled human nature as merely inappropriate.
How athletic coaches evaluate players reveals as much about the coach as it does about the players.
For example, one professional basketball coach can evaluate a college player he is thinking of drafting as “lightning quick, a pure shooter, great vertical leaping ability, a can’t-miss future star.”
A coach from another team can evaluate the same player as “talented but lacks character, lazy at practice, selfish with the ball, has a big ego, disliked by his teammates.”
We gather from this that the first coach thinks the team with the most talent wins. The other coach thinks talent plus character plus teamwork wins.
Jesus’ assessment of human nature
Similarly, God’s assessment of human nature reveals as much about God as it does about humans, and how we evaluate human nature does the same.
The gospel according to much of humanity is that human beings are basically good. If a person believes in some God or follows some spirituality, doesn’t commit any big evils such as murder, and tries to treat others the way he or she wants to be treated, then they will enter heaven someday.
This is the preschool soccer-coach God. He has low expectations. He yells “good job” over and over again from the sidelines. He gives out trophies and medals just for showing up.
The gospel according to the God of the Bible is very different. Jesus showed God’s view of humanity when he said to his disciples, “9 Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11, italics added).
Notice, in this teaching on prayer, the Lord’s evaluation of human character. He said mankind is “evil.” Evil is a strong word. Jesus didn’t say people are imperfect, flawed, prone to do inappropriate things now and then. He said mankind is evil. This shows that he evaluates mankind with a more demanding yardstick than we use. We learn much about God here.
What the great flood reveals about human nature
Moreover, Jesus wasn’t just saying his disciples were evil; he was describing humanity. This is confirmed by many other Scriptures.
For instance, God explained why in the time of Noah he decided to send the great flood on the earth that would destroy everyone but Noah and his family. “5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them’” (Genesis 6:5–7).
Notice in verse 5 the words wickedness, every, only, and continually. Again, what we learn here about his assessment of mankind’s corruption tells us much about God. His standard is higher than ours. He is not like the preschool soccer coach. He expects something from us. He expects much.
The ultimate assessment of human nature
The fullest description of why Jesus calls humankind evil is found in Romans 3:9–23:
“We have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’ 13 ‘Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of asps is under their lips.’ 14 ‘Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.’ 15 ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.’ 18 ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
What God expects
These verses called attention to several virtues that God expects—requires—of humans:
- Sinless obedience to the law of God. Perfect righteousness. (v. 9, 10, 20)
- To understand God’s ways and requirements (v. 11)
- A life of seeking the Lord (v. 11)
- Never turning aside from the Lord’s path (v. 12)
- To do good always (v. 12)
- Perfect honesty, no deception (v. 13)
- Living continually at peace with others, including in speech (v. 13–17)
- The fear of God, evidenced by careful attention to his commandments (v. 18)
- Character and actions that continually display the glory of God, that is, perfectly display the character of God (v. 23)
Gulp! Double gulp!! God’s requirements for mankind are way, way higher than the preschool, soccer-coach model. God literally requires moral perfection and a life completely oriented around him.
The better we know God’s expectations, the more we understand why the gospel is good news. When we see how bad we are, we grasp how wonderful is the news that God sent his Son Jesus to die for all the ways we have fallen short of God’s requirements.
Our way and God’s way
Our way: We measure mankind morally by the yardstick of mankind, comparing ourselves to others and comparing people to people.
God’s way: The gospel teaches us that God measures mankind by comparing us to himself. He compares us to the standard of perfect righteousness, holiness, and wholehearted love for God. To rescue us from condemnation, he had to send his Son to become a man, die as a substitute for our evil deeds and evil nature, and save us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot measure up any other way.
Life principle: You cannot decide for yourself what you think God requires of you. You must decide based on what he reveals in the gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Bible.
Jeremiah 9:23–24: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” (ESV)