Connect John 3:19 with Genesis 6:5 regarding humanity's inclination towards evil. Humanity’s Dark Inclination • Genesis 6:5 and John 3:19, written millennia apart, speak with one voice: the human heart is drawn to darkness. • Scripture presents this condition as universal, persistent, and deeply rooted in every generation. The Verdict in Jesus’ Words – John 3:19 “And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.” • “The Light” refers to Christ Himself (cf. John 1:4–5, 9). • Humanity’s problem is not lack of information but love of darkness. • Evil deeds flow from an inward preference; the will is bent away from God. The Ancient Diagnosis – Genesis 6:5 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.” • “Every inclination” underscores breadth; “all the time” underscores depth. • The flood narrative reveals that sin’s root is internal, not merely environmental. A Consistent Witness Across Scripture • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” • Psalm 51:5 – “Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.” • Romans 3:10-12 – “There is no one righteous, not even one.” • Ephesians 2:1-3 – We were “dead in our trespasses… by nature children of wrath.” Together these passages affirm that Genesis 6:5’s assessment still stands in John 3:19’s era—and in ours. Tracing the Root: Why We Love Darkness • Pride: a desire to rule ourselves (Genesis 3:5). • Rebellion: active resistance to God’s law (Romans 8:7). • Spiritual blindness: Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Corinthians 4:4). • Idolatry: exchanging the glory of God for created things (Romans 1:23-25). God’s Light Confronts Darkness • John 3:20-21 – Exposure leads either to hiding or to repentance. • John 8:12 – “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness.” • 1 John 1:5-10 – Walking in the light involves confession and cleansing by Christ’s blood. Implications for Our Hearts Today • Conviction: recognition that the problem lies within, not merely around us. • Dependence: no self-help plan can uproot innate evil; we need regeneration (John 3:3-8). • Gratitude: God’s grace intervenes where human effort fails (Titus 3:3-7). • Vigilance: believers still battle the flesh (Galatians 5:17); ongoing repentance is essential. Living in the Light • Confess sin quickly, trusting 1 John 1:9. • Saturate the mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:11). • Walk by the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25). • Pursue fellowship that encourages transparency (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Fix hope on the day when darkness is finally banished (Revelation 22:3-5). |
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