Beth-El Baptist Church

11/13/2011

Greg Tomlinson


What is the difference between God's nature and man's nature?


Many people believe that people are generally good and that there are only a few “bad apples” who make life miserable for every one else. These same people either do not consider God at all or consider God to just allow anything to take place.


  1. How is God's nature described?

Exodus 34:6-8 Isaiah 6:1-5

Deuteronomy 7:9-10 Titus 1:2

Daniel 12:1-3


God is a perfect judge who will never allow any who are guilty to escape His perfect judgment. Everyone who is guilty will be truly found guilty, judged accordingly. The guilty will be condemned to “everlasting contempt” while those who are righteous, even as God is righteous (perfect) will receive the gift of everlasting life. It is God as judge who determines what happens.


  1. How is man's nature described?

Genesis 1:26-27; 6:5-6 Jeremiah 17:9-10

Romans 3:10-18 Isaiah 64:6-7

1 Corinthians 2:14 Luke 18:18-20


At the core of his nature, every human being that has ever lived on the face of the earth is evil, wicked, NOT good. No man naturally has any desire for God nor to be with God. Although people like to claim that people are generally good, the scriptures (Word of God) disagrees with that. There is not nor has there ever been, a person who is “good”. Even Jesus told people that the only truly good being is “God”, none others qualify.


  1. What are the ramifications of the difference?

2 Corinthians 10:12 1 John 1:6-10

John 3:36 2 Peter 2:4-9

Revelation 20:10-15 Isaiah 59:1-4


As a result of man being apart from wicked, he is separated from God for all eternity. The soul of a man endures for ever, even if his flesh is consumed by the grave. Because he is eternal but he has committed a heinous crime of infinite value, every man rightly and justly deserves to spend eternity in the lake of fire – eternal hell. When men understand what they have done to the nature and character of God, they will understand and believe that their eternal condemnation in torment is perfectly justified.


  1. What can be done to deal with the difference?

Acts 16:30-31 Romans 10:9-13

1 Peter 2:21-23 Acts 4:10-12

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Luke 18:13-14


Man's only hope is to cry out to God for mercy because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Only by faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for the penalty of sin does any man have hope of escaping the divine righteous judgment of God. This is the ultimate form of throwing yourself upon the mercy of the court. In God's court though, there is a reason or a basis for the judge showing mercy. It is because the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty that is due.