Genesis 6:5. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Continuous evil.
This is how Genesis 6 begins. This is where Genesis 3 and 4 have left us. When Adam and Eve sinned it wasn’t a small leak that we simply have to keep our eye on. It was a deluge of evil that has overtaken the entire world, including the inner nature of man – every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually.
Over the years this idea has come to be known as total depravity. What does that mean? Well, there has been debate on that question for centuries, but I’ll tell you what I think it means based on Genesis 6.
First, it means that every part of man is sinful. There is no part of us that is not naturally infected by wickedness. EVERY intention and thought of the heart is corrupted. The word intention here is the Hebrew word yeser. This is the word for the imagination. It comes from the word used to describe the potter’s forming of the clay vessel. First he imagines it, then he forms it. Genesis 6 describes a humanity that can only imagine evil and then inevitably forms that evil into wicked thoughts and wicked deeds. Man can’t escape his sin because sin has taken over at the heart level – the deepest level of both the desires and rationality of man. We literally can’t think straight. We can’t relate without selfishness. We can’t choose without corruption. The cancer of sin has taken over every “cell” of the inner person.
Second, it means that EVERY single person is infected with wickedness – the wickedness of man(kind) was great on the earth. A few verses later, it will say that the whole earth was corrupt and filled with violence. We aren’t talking about a handful of criminals that need to be locked up. This isn’t about rounding up the bad guys and departing them. By Genesis 6, everyone’s a bad guy.
We are seeing what happens when human beings follow their hearts and pursue their dreams – violence. The complete violation of God’s prescribed order. Murder. Polygamy. Warfare. Oppression. We are literally trying to undo the creation of God. God brought order to chaos, now mankind will bring chaos to order.
Third, it means that humanity is incapable of saving themselves. This is Christianity 101. We cannot save ourselves, never could, never will. This is what separates Christianity from every other faith – we need a savior who is other than us. And this I what unifies all orthodox Christianity – we need a savior who is other than us.
And so God decrees judgment upon the earth. What mankind has set in motion, the de-creation of the Earth, God will bring to near completion in the flood. The Earth that once he separated into land, sky, and sea, he will allow to return to its prehistoric state of “without form and void,” a water wasteland of chaos and death.
Genesis 6:7-8. 7So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
But God always confront our depravity with equal parts judgment and mercy.
Judgment: I will blot out man.
Mercy: But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
God will blot out man, but not all. God will blot out the animals and creeping things and birds, but not all. Why not all? Because a savior has been found. One who has found favor (grace) with God. One who called out to God, listened to God, walked with God, and obeyed God. Noah, whose name means “Rest” will find rest in God and his ark.
Total depravity doesn’t mean that we are completely incapable of receiving grace. Noah is proof of that. But it does mean that we all need grace. You and I are proof of that every single day. We all need rest from our self-salvation schemes and from the corruption and violence of our own hearts. Jesus offers us that rest today. “Come to me and I will give you rest,” he says.
Aren’t you tired of sinning? Aren’t you tired from sinning? Me too. Let’s swallow our pride together and walk into the foolish ark of grace. Jesus is waiting inside with open arms.
Questions: Do you agree that you are totally depraved – incapable of saving yourself? How has God met you with both judgment and mercy in Christ? What’s keeping you from resting in the ark of Christ today?
To Live is Christ 