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What does the Bible say about the nature of man?

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The Bible teaches that fallen humanity is corrupted by sin in mind, heart, desires, and actions, and therefore cannot save itself but needs God’s renewing grace in Christ. Romans 3:10-18 declares that none is righteous and all have turned aside, while Jeremiah 17:9 and Genesis 6:5 describe the heart’s deep deceitfulness and evil inclination. Romans 7:18 and 7:24 express the believer’s continuing struggle with indwelling sin, yet Romans 6:6 proclaims that the old self was crucified with Christ. Galatians 5:16-21 and Colossians 3:5 call Christians to put sinful desires to death and walk by the Spirit. God alone changes the heart and enables a new, holy life.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Romans 7:18

    For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

  • Romans 3:10-18

    [10] As it is written, "There is no one righteous. No, not one. [11] There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. [12] They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, No, not, so much as one." [13] "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit." "The poison of vipers is under their lips;" [14] "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." [15] "Their feet are swift to shed blood. [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways. [17] The way of peace, they haven't known." [18] "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

  • Colossians 3:5

    Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

  • Galatians 5:19-21

    [19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

  • Jeremiah 17:9

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

  • Genesis 6:5

    Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

  • Romans 6:6

    knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

  • Galatians 5:16

    But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

  • James 4:1

    Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?

  • Romans 7:24

    What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

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