An Answer to Depravity

Psalms 53:2-3 KJV

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Though God knows all things and sees all things there are some remarkable instances when God paid particular attention,

• After Adam and Eve sinned
• After the imaginations of men's hearts were only evil continually
• After Lot had vexed his righteous soul in Sodom and Gomorrah

And then there is this passage. Here were find that God's conclusion was again against man; “they are together become filthy, there is none that doeth good...” Thus is established the doctrine of the depravity of man. No one seeks after God.

But then there is another exceptional case when God looked down upon the children of man; that time of Christ's incarnation.

The work of Christ to seek and to save the lost answers the problem of the depravity of man. Not that Christ's gospel saved all men but that His gospel is sufficient to save all men. It is true that man does not seek after God. But God through Christ, sought after man. And not just elect men but all men so that now, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” What Christ accomplished is sufficient for all and effectual for all who believe.

Ours is not to decide who may or may not be saved. Ours is to go after all the lost trusting that any who call upon Christ shall be without doubt born again.