Spiritual Helplessness

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard (change) his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13: 23 KJV)

What the Lord said to these ancient Israelites is what may be said of every sinner. He is in the worst of conditions, being absolutely helpless. The sinner is unable to change his own heart and mind, his own nature. If his nature is to love and take delight in sin and rebellion against God and his laws, it is impossible for him to make himself to love God and righteousness. Man cannot save himself, or convert himself, no more than a negro can change himself into a white man, or a leopard change his skin. Lord God alone must initiate or begin the work of conversion and salvation. He is the one that must "convert" the heart of the sinner to make it love what it once hated and to hate what it once loved.

Foolish it is to expect the sinner to initiate, or to "take the FIRST STEP" in his own spiritual transformation. No, Lord God must first act upon the will and spiritual appetite of the sinner before the sinner will have "tastes" for God and righteousness. In this work the Lord first causes the sinner to experience the bitter taste of sin. What was once pleasant to the taste is now no longer so delightful.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6: 44 KJV)

It is an oft repeated saying that "God helps those who help themselves." Yet, in a technical sense, this is not true. The scriptures rather teach that God helps those who CANNOT help themselves. Jesus taught that man, because of his sinful state, and of his natural love for sin, and of his dislove for God and righteousness, refuses to be converted, or operated upon by the word and Spirit of God. Yes, he is sick and in need of a physician, but he does not acknowledge his sickness nor his disease; And, if he does see his need, how often does he seek remedy in himself, rather than in Jesus, the "way, the truth, and the life"? (John 14: 6)

This "inability" to repent, or believe in Christ, or to "come" to him for salvation, is due to the fatal consequences of sin and spiritual death. If we have not come to Christ, nor repented of sin, nor believed in Jesus, then there must be a reason or cause for it.

Why do men NOT come to Jesus? On the other hand, those few who do repent, believe, and come to Christ, to what reason can we ascribe it? To something within the individuals themselves? To something within the one's natural or cultured self that was lacking in those who did not? Or, is the reason or cause not all in the hand and will of God to decide and to perform? Are we the authors or ultimate deciders of our own destinies, or is God? Surely such "differences" can only be ascribed to God alone. (I Corinthians 4: 7)

The verses that describe man's "depraved state" under sin and the law inform us that man is wholly shut up to the grace, mercy, and power of God to save him. All boasting is eliminated. The sinner can no more claim credit for converting himself than a black man or a leopard can credit themselves with changing their own skins.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2: 14 KJV)

In this passage the "natural" or "sensual" man is set in constrast to the "spiritual man." The natural man has only his own corrupted spirit, one that is "anti" God and righteousness, while the spiritual man has the Spirit of God within, which has "renewed" and "regenerated" his corrupt nature and spirit, making it clean, pure, and righteous in the sight of God.

How can the natural man become a spiritual man? How can he be saved by believing in a message that he finds naturally repugmant and "foolish"? The answer is as Jesus said - "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Jesus was teaching that sinners will not be able to do this, but must be done by divine initiative and power alone.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17: 9 KJV)

The corrupt and depraved heart "deceives" man, making him "call bitter sweet, and sweet bitter," making him "call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah 5: 20) He has "tasted" sin and found it delicious, and unless he acquire a different taste, a taste for God and righteousness, he will never be saved. The word says - "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34: 8)

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit (do mind) the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8: 5-8 JKV)

The sinner's heart and mind is corrupt and carnal, and is marked by what is called "spiritual death." In this state the heart and mind is "at war" with God, being an enemy to God and righteousness. In this state it is not possible for any to "please God."

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6 KJV)

But lack of faith and trust in God is just the perfect description of the corrupt heart of the sinner. In his state of alienation and death, he is without the power to please God, without the Spirit and the gift of faith.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1: 6 KJV)

This verse identifies God as the one who begins, or moves first, in the salvation of sinners. The sinner has no desire or power to draw near to God, and yet this he must do if he is to be saved.

Friend, if you are in love with sin, then you must be made to recognize this fact and to confess that God and he alone can change you and make you hate the sin you now love. Look to him to change your heart. Confess your own helplessness and look only to the help that comes only from God in Christ.