Recently, an acquaintance of mine posed the question "Are humans inherently good or naturally evil?" in a status update on their Facebook page. There were a number of responses ranging from a simple yes to a suggestion that there is no real good or evil in anyone, just consequences of decisions a person makes that can be interpreted as either. All of this got me thinking.
If there is no good or evil in anyone, only consequences of decisions a person makes, then good and evil must be defined and measured by absolute truth. This now raises an important and crucial preceding question that must be answered in order to adequately explore the question asked by my acquaintance. Where can absolute truth be found? Without the establishment of an absolute truth, there is no defining answer to this question for what would determine good or evil? Without absolute truth we are awash in a world of purposeless and meaningless propositions. For the purposes of my response to the question posed, I will use as my foundation a most ancient, consistent and trusted manuscript - the Holy Word of God - the Bible.
After much consideration, I would have to answer 'No' to both parts of the question posed by my acquaintance. No, humans are not inherently good, nor are they naturally evil. Let me explain by first addressing the part of the question that asks "Are humans naturally evil?" When we look back to the beginning of the human story, at creation, we see that God created man in his own image. God, the Creator of all things good and perfect (James 1:17), created the human race in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). After creation was complete, God looked upon all that He had made and declared it 'Good'. Based upon God's own testimony, man - the creation - is good.
However, the human story does not end here. Shortly after we see God declaring creation good, we see corruption set in. Genesis 3 gives us the account of the temptation and original sin of man as the great corrupter - Satan - begins his work to try and destroy all that God has made. Romans 5:12 tells us "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sin." Corruption set in, destroying what God intended. God had created humans with free will - the ability to decide for themselves how they will live and what they will do. With this tremendous, powerful gift and it's capacity to do so much good, our first decision was to defy God and disobey the one instruction He gave. This means we must also answer 'No' to other part of the question that asks "Are humans inherently good?".
Some may insist that since it was Adam and Eve that sinned it does not apply to the rest of the human race. We are all born with a clean slate, free from sin some may argue. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Just as you cannot draw fresh water from a salt spring (James 3:11-12), sinful man cannot produce sinless offspring. Sin infected the first humans and it has been passed along to each generation and every person (Romans 5:12). Paul teaches us in Romans 2:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". The Psalmist in Psalm 14:2-3 states "The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!"
Paul further speaks of the power and work of corruption within us in Romans 7:18-19. He tells us "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." Even the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah says "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"
Even if we put Scripture aside for just a moment, we only have to look around our world today to see the effects of corruption and sin in the human race. We fight and kill; we rob and steal; we destroy the environment in the pursuit of obtaining wealth; we are envious and covetous. It does not take much wisdom to discern that there is something seriously wrong with the human race. The answer why this is so is found plainly in Scripture. Take a second look at Psalm 14:2-3. Also James asks in chapter 4 verse 1 of his book: "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?" He provides an answer in James 4:1-3 and James 3:16.
If humanity is so steeped in and affected by corruption, is there any hope for the good that God first created? Is restoration of fallen and sinful humanity possible? Paul asks this very question in Romans 7:24, "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" The answer is found in the immediate verse following. "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." Furthermore, Paul explains in Romans 5:17 "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ."
What is this gift that God has provided? It is salvation and a restoration of right living with God through the death of Christ Jesus. Romans 5:8 tells us "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." But why death? Death is the penalty of sin and corruption. It destroys first relationship - with God and others, then the person's character and ultimately the person. Romans 6:23 teaches us "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." In order for forgiveness to be earned or won, blood must be shed. The sin must be put to death. Hebrews 9:22 tells us that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." In order for humans to be restored to what God created them for, they must be redeemed. This redemption was costly. It cost the life of God's son, Jesus Christ.
But was this enough? Can humanity really be restored and made over good? Scripture assures us in 1 Peter 3:18 "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God." 1 John 2:2 also assures us that "He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins - and not only our sins but the sins of the world." Paul tells us also in Romans 3:25 that "God presented Jesus as the sacrifice of sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood." The perfect and sinless life of Christ shed on our behalf completely and wholly satisfied the requirement for forgiveness. Since Christ was sinless he was able to purchase our salvation by his sacrifice. "Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)
This faith in Christ's sacrifice and acceptance of God's great gift of salvation means one day we will be changed. We will be transformed in a moment when Christ returns to gather us to live with him forever. 1 Corinthians 15:54-56 proclaims for us to hear and understand, "Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here is my conclusion to the matter. Through Adam sin and corruption entered the human race, defiling what God created. While human beings have the capacity to do good, they most often do not. Instead each follows after the sinful desires of their own heart. The sad and terrible consequence of sin is separation from God. However, there is a blessed hope and assurance that Christ Jesus has provided the means by which we can be restored to relationship with God. If we place our hope and trust in Christ, we will be completely transformed and made over new (1 Corinthians 15:54-56; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:1-17).
Are you in need of this gracious gift? I would encourage you to boldly approach the throne of God. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us "Since we have a great High Priest who has entered Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
May God bless you as you become more and more like Him in each and every way. (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)
