Weekend, February 17, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n The Brilliance of God\u2019s Grace<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. (Ephesians 2:1<\/a> NLT)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I am amazed by anyone who actually believes that people are basically good. I have to say that in many ways, they have more faith than I do to believe that.<\/p>\n As I see the depravity that humanity is capable of, I become more convinced of the fact that people are not basically good. Actually, it\u2019s quite the opposite. And that is clearly what the Scriptures teach.<\/p>\n Ephesians 2:1-2<\/a> says, \u201cOnce you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil\u2014the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God<\/a>\u201d (NLT).<\/p>\n In these verses, the apostle<\/a> Paul paints a very dark background so that we might better appreciate the brilliance of God\u2019s grace. Just as jewelers display beautiful gems on dark velvet so we can appreciate their splendor, so God, against a very dark background, shows us how bad we once were. But He also shows us what He can make us into.<\/p>\n It is this balanced understanding of humanity that gives the Christian the only logical and satisfactory answer as to why the world is the way it is.<\/p>\n Make no mistake about it: We are sinners to the core. We don\u2019t have to teach our children how to sin. It comes quite naturally to them, just as it came naturally to us. We aren\u2019t sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. It is in our nature.<\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019ve heard the story of the scorpion and the turtle. The scorpion was thinking about how to cross a river when he saw a turtle sunning himself on the riverbank. So, he went over to the turtle and said, \u201cMy dear sir, I was wondering if you might give me a lift across this river here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I were to do that,\u201d the turtle replied, \u201cI think that you might sting me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWhat would be the logic in doing such a thing?\u201d the scorpion asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you have a point there,\u201d said the turtle. \u201cClimb on.\u201d So, the scorpion climbed on the turtle\u2019s back, and they started making their way across the river. But suddenly the scorpion lifted his tail and stuck it into the turtle, giving him everything that he had.<\/p>\n The turtle, knowing that they were both about to die, said, \u201cI have just one question: Why did you sting me? Where is the logic in that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no logic in it, dear turtle,\u201d the scorpion said. \u201cIt is just my nature.\u201d<\/p>\n We sin because it\u2019s our nature. We do what we do because we are wired to do it. It\u2019s the way we are built. It is not that we are products of our environment, although that can affect us to some degree. We can be in a perfect environment or a horrible environment and still sin.<\/p>\n It is just our nature. Yet God shows us what we can become by His grace.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2024 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org<\/a><\/strong>![](\"https:\/\/media.swncdn.com\/via\/5363-67149-347375447mktgwebbannersalemmediaupdate-.jpg\")
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Listen to Greg Laurie<\/a>‘s daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
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