From Depraved to Saved!

                                      "It is not until the sunlight floods a room that the
                                       grime and dust are fully revealed.  So, it is only
                                       as we really come into the presence of Him who
                                       is the light, that we are made aware of the filth
                                       and wickedness which indwells us, and which
                                       defile every part of our being."
                                                                                        A.W. Pink


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                    Going back to Adam, man has been sinful and unwilling to obey God
          (Genesis 3).
    
                                 "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the
                                   earth had become, and that every inclination of the
                                   thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."
                                                                                           Genesis 6:5


                                 "The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and
                                   there is madness in their hearts while they live ..."
                                                                                      Ecclesiastes 9:3b


          No one is good.

                                 "As it is written:
                                               'There is no one righteous, not even one;
                                                there is no one who understands, no one
                                                who seeks God.
                                               'There is no one who does good, not even one.' "
                                                                                     Romans 3:10-11, 12b


          Only God is good.

                                (Jesus said), "No one is good -- except God alone."
                                                                                      Luke 18:19b


          We inherit a sinful nature from the first man, and only God can remove that
     nature and replace it with a faith in Him that saves sinners.


                                 "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot
                                   please God."
                                                                               Romans 8:8


                                 " ... those who live in accordance with the
                                   Spirit have their minds set on what the
                                   Spirit desires."
                                                                            Romans 8:5b


           All who live will die, but all who are in Christ will live forever.


                                "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will
                                 be made alive."
                                                                              1 Corinthians 15:22

       
          Even though we were God's enemies, we are reconciled to Him through
     Christ's death on the cross.


                                 "Once you were alienated from God and were
                                  enemies in your minds because of your evil
                                  behavior.  But now He has reconciled you by
                                  Christ's physical body through death to pre-
                                  sent you holy in His sight, without blemish
                                  and free from accusation -- if you continue
                                  in your faith, established and firm, not moved
                                  from the hope held out in the gospel."
                                                                                Colossians 1:21-23


           When we were dead in sin, God made us alive and forgave our sins,
     nailing them to the cross.


                                "When you were dead in your sins and in the
                                  uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God
                                  made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us
                                  all our sins, having canceled the written code,
                                  with its regulations, that was against us and
                                  that stood opposed to us; He took it away,
                                  nailing it to the cross."
                                                                               Colossians 2:13-14


          Jesus' light leads us out of the darkness and into the light of life.


                                "Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.
                                 Whoever follows me will never walk in
                                 darkness, but will have the light of life."
                                                                              John 8:12


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          When Jesus changes our hearts, and gives us repentance and faith in Him,
     we will turn from our sinful ways and follow Him in obedience to His will.