By Pastor Stephen Hess –
Every two years Ligonier Ministries conducts a national survey exploring the theological beliefs of the American public. In their most recent survey, they asked participants to respond to the following statement: “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.” The results of the survey showed that 66% agreed with that statement, 28% disagreed, and 6% were unsure. Needless to say, there is a great deal of confusion today when it comes to understanding the nature of humanity.
One of the great puritan authors, Thomas Boston, once wrote that in order to understand the nature of humanity we must see that the Bible talks about humanity in four different states.
First, there is the state of innocence. This was the state of human beings at the beginning of creation prior to the fall. In the garden, Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence before God. In this state they were able not to sin. They were not yet fallen, but neither were they yet confirmed in a state of righteousness and eternal life. Instead, they were in a probationary period where they were being tested to see whether they would obey God.
Second, there is the state of nature. Adam and Eve did not remain in a state of innocence but disobeyed God’s law and fell from grace. Ever since the fall, human beings have been corrupted by sin and separated from God. In this state of nature, we no longer have the ability not to sin. Instead, we are unable not to sin because sin itself has enslaved us. As Paul says in Romans 8, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:7-8). In the state of nature, we are in bondage to our sin and unable to save ourselves.
Third, there is the state of grace. We enter this state at our conversion. When a person turns to Christ in faith and repentance that person is no longer in bondage to sin but becomes a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). As new creations in Christ, we are once again able not to sin and to live in holiness. We do this not by our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. We are by no means perfect and we still struggle with sin, but the Spirit enables us to put to death the works of the flesh and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Fourth, there is the state of eternity. This is the state that believers will enter when we are glorified in heaven. In that day the corruption of the fall will be completely removed from our bodies and we will be unable to sin. Thomas Boston writes, “The guilt of sin and the reigning power of it are now taken away in the saints, nevertheless, sin dwells in them, but then, in eternity it shall be no more. The corrupt nature will be quite removed. That root of bitterness will be plucked up and no vestiges of it left in their souls. Their nature shall be altogether pure and sinless. There shall be no darkness in their minds but the understanding of every saint when he has come to this kingdom will be as a globe of pure and unmixed light.”
Understanding these four states gives us clarity about the human condition. The Ligonier survey mentioned above suggests that most people believe humanity exists in a state of innocence, but the Bible says otherwise. Ever since the fall, human beings no longer exist in a state of innocence. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). This means that all of humanity can be grouped into one of two categories: We are either in the state of nature or the state of grace. Those who trust in Christ for their salvation are born again into a state of grace, while those who reject Christ remain condemned in a state of nature. As John’s Gospel says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (Jn. 3:18).
In his mercy, God is delaying the return of his Son so that more people might come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Those who do come to repentance not only experience the joy of being in a state of grace now but have the promise of being in a state of eternity in heaven—free from the bondage of sin forever.