10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484

What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER NINE

THE NATURE OF MAN AND THE DEVIL

It will be impossible to understand man's activities or God's dealings with man's activities, unless one understands man's nature and the devil's relationship toward man's nature. We believe man is by nature a sinful creature, void of righteousness by his own efforts; and that Satan works diligently to prey upon the weaknesses of man.

I. The nature of man:

A. Man was originally created in holiness and innocense before God, but he voluntarily transgressed God's law and so fell from that state in which he was created:

1. Look at Lhe scriptures which show man was created upright before God:

a. Gen. 1:26-27 He was created in the image of God Himself.

b. Up through Gen. 3:6 man is seen in a perfect garden without the stigmas which plague men today.

c. Eccl. 7:29 says, "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have souqht out many inventions.

2. But, also notice how man sinned and fell from his original state:

a. Notice that Eccl. 7:29 says "But they have sought out many inventions.

b. Back in Gen. 3:6-24 the actual sin and fall of man is recorded.

c. In view of this even Paul says in Rom. 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

B. From that day forward man become by nature a sinful creature:

1. The modernists argue that man is basically good; and if given the opportunity, he will choose good over evil.

2. That is a lie! To the contrary, man is basically evil and when given an opportunity, will choose evil over good.

3. Listen to the truth of God's word:

a. Rom. 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

b. Ps. 14:1-3 shows all men have gone aside.

C. Gen. 6:5 pretty well describes the estate of man.

d. Rom. 1:21-32 describes the rural tendency of man to grow more wicked.

e. Rom. 3:13-18 describes the wicked anatomy of man.

f. Jer. 17:9 Jeremiah got right to the core of things when he said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

g. It is thus that Eph. 2:1-3 says plainly that man is by nature a sinful creature.

4. That's the reason men sin and fail over and over again, like a dog returning to its own vomit, (IIPet. 2:22). It's their nature to do it.

C. It is thus that God describes man in his natural condition and says he is destitute, and absolutely void of righteousness:

1. Solomon said it this way in Eccl. 7:20, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."

2. Listen to Rom. 3:10-12.

3. Isa. 64:6 says i-nan's best deeds are unrighteous deeds.

4. That's why Paul desired God's righteousness Phil. 3:8-9; because he really didn't have any of his own.

D. If this be true, there is then no universal brotherhood of man under which are all sons of God:

1. The only brotherhood of which all men are a part is the universal brotherhood and guilt of sin:

2. The only way to escape that damnable brotherhood is by faith in Jesus Christ:

a. Rom. 3:22 When one exercises faith in Jesus, His righteousness becomes that man's righteousness. Rom. 4:5-6 It is imputed.

b. Thus,Gal. 3:26 says "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

3. All who are yet in their unconverted natural condition are the children of the Devil (Jn. 8:44); not God.

E. Yet, we are continually fed a steady diet of this stinking, putrefying, rotten soul food that all of us are a part of this brotherhood of man, who is at heart really good:

1. Don't you believe that hellish lie.

2. Man is at heart a wicked creature. He may do a few fine deeds for a while; but when he's pushed, he'll turn on you like a mad dog, because that's his nature.

II. The Devil:

A. Belief in the existence of a Devil and sin is today not in style:

1. He's generally regarded as a mythological character by "the enlightened."

2. And, sin doesn't exist. It's not sin; it's what's good or bad for you. (situation ethics)

B. But, the Bible teaches old Satan is a very real person:

1. Isa. 14:12-17 shows him being cast out of heaven.

2. Such passages as Jn. 8:44, Gen. 3:1-6, 1 Pet. 5:8, Eph 2:2 speak of him as being very real and alive.

C. Now, notice that his number one job is stirring up evil among the men of earth:

1. Gen. 3:1-6 That's what he's doing when he's first seen with Eve.

2. II Cor. 4:4 He blinds men's eyes.

3. I Pet. 5:8 He seeks to destroy.

4. Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7 He accuses us before God. (Rev. 12:10).

5. I warn you that the Devil is a trouble maker, who will do his best to stir up the already wicked nature within you.

The understanding of these thoughts will help you see why men often act as they do.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"