In our last column we saw THE SINNER AT HIS BEST, His best deeds are as filthy rags in God's sight. He sins and comes short of God's glory. Apart from faith in Christ, he is hopelessly lost.
Let us now look at the sinner at his worst. He is described in Romans 1 as given up (by God) to uncleanness (v. 24), to vile affections (v. 26), and to a reprobate mind (v. 28). As the result of these Divine judgments the sinner dishonors his own body, is an idolater, pursues illicit sexual activity, and through faulty thinking, does things which are not to his own advantage.
Then the apostle Paul says, "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:29-32). If the sinner is filled with all these sins, he has no capacity for good works.
It is exactly this kind of person that Christ came to save. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7, 8). The greatest favor you can do for yourself is to acknowledge that you are a sinner and accept by faith the redemption that Christ has purchased for you by His atoning death upon the cross. So long as you claim your own righteousness, Christ cannot save you from your sins.
All of us are guilty of many of these listed sins and are capable of all of them. We need God's forgiveness and cleansing. Trust Christ for it today. Tomorrow may be too late.