A closed and denying heart…
Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
A deceived and deficient mind…
1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…”
A proud and contemptuous spirit…
Romans 2:4 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that the kindness of God is intended to lead you to repentance?”
A failed and broken relationship…
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Despite God's offer to us for a life with so much joy, purpose and happiness we see from the verses above there's a problem; namely, sin. The Bible insists that while there are sinners who do good and sinners who do bad...we're all still sinners!
Sin is anything in our lives that displeases, disrespects or disappoints God. It's easy then, to agree with Scripture that we are all guilty and therefore, need forgiveness.
Our choices, our wrong desires, in fact, our very natures, as long as we are not changed from within as God requires, keep us from freely entering into the kind of relationship God designed for us. God's perfect nature prevents Him from allowing us with our sin into His presence.
God tells us these truths not to discourage us but to both warn us and to encourage us with the truth.
So, despite our present condition as sinners and separated from God, He has provided a remedy...