Are people basically good?

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Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith. (Are people basically good?) Do good people go to hell?

Intro…VIDEO of kids fighting…

• I know it sounds nice to say that we are all basically good, but everyone of us was born selfish. It is our natural tendency to sin.

Big Picture: Many present day philosophies and worldviews claim that people are basically good and that bad or immoral behavior is the exception. The Bible states quite the opposite - that people are selfish and sinful as soon as they are able to express that kind of behavior. Because of this fact, people need a Savior in order to be acceptable to God. In contrast, the implication of the "people are good" worldview is that good people don't need a Savior.

• I know that not everyone commits human atrocities; however, we see examples of it every day and throughout history.
• We can all think of numerous examples of how humans have mistreated each other since the beginning of time.
• And it all started with Adam and Eve…

Text: Genesis 3:1-13

Nugs from this passage and how they relate to the human condition:
v.1 Satan is crafty, deceitful and tricky.
• He’s always trying to get us to think we are better than we really are, that what we are doing “at least isn’t as bad as what he is doing.”
• Look at how he fooled Adam and Eve, v. 2
• “Did God actually say…” “Oh it will be ok, surely you won’t die…” completely contradicting God. Gen. 2:9, 15-16 v. 6-7

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and is passed down to each generation.
• Now before you get all freaked out over that…remember that there is a way out of the sin problem.
• Sin entering the world wasn’t a surprise to God…
• He had a plan all along for our redemption/making things right with God…Jesus.
• It’s really not worth trying to figure out why we have to deal with sin. That’s the way it is and there is a solution!

v. 12-13 Adam and Eve started sinning right away! (just like you and I would have)
• Shifting the blame, pointing fingers…just like little kids.
• He made me do it! It’s her fault!
• They are a fair representation of the human race.
• We all have the propensity to sin and make wrong choices.

For example:
• Marriage? A verbal promise is not enough; we need a contract.
• Home security? Doors are not enough; we have to lock and bolt them. Security systems etc.
• Riding the Coaster from Encinitas to Downtown? The payment of fares is not enough; tickets have to be issued, inspected and collected.
• Police officers? Law and order is not enough; we need the police to enforce them.
• Basketball referees calling technical fouls? We’d argue all day if there weren’t officials.
• All this is due to man's sin. We cannot trust each other. We need protection against one another. It is a terrible indictment of human nature."

But what about the person I know who is so-o nice and has never hurt anyone and in fact does more for people and the community than most Christians I know?
• Gandhi, (Hindu) Mother Theresa, (Catholic) or how about your neighbor.
• Someone like Gandhi or Mother Theresa acted more like a Christian than many Christians we know.

It all comes down to which scale of goodness you are using.
• On man’s scale of goodness, it’s not too hard to be good.
• What does it mean to be good according to human standards?
• On God’s scale, since he is perfect and holy and we’re not, we are not good. That’s just the way it is…

• According to God’s standards, we all need to repent and turn to God.
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

• Now that doesn’t mean we are awful, wicked people 24/7…
• But, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and we will have to fight the tendency to sin our entire lives.

• (Isaiah 64:6) "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

Do good people go to Hell? Do bad people go to heaven? Yes and No.
• There will be “good” people who will not end up in heaven.
• There will be “bad” people who end up in heaven…because of God’s mercy.

We may not be able to fully comprehend that, but it’s true.
• There is a tricky balance between someone who said the “sinners prayer,” and may or may not be saved and the moral “good” person who lives like Jesus.

• What is the real proof of the Christian life? Someone who lives like Jesus.

• We don’t receive Jesus with words alone. Jesus doesn’t become our “Lord and Savior” simple because we refer to him in those terms.

• Becoming a disciple of Jesus is a process that starts with acknowledging a need for God, recognizing your sinful nature, repenting of that and accepting Christ.


All you have to do is study the bible to see numerous examples of God’s justice and his mercy.
• Deut. 9:19 I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.
• Isaiah 51:4-5 “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
• Psalm 33:5 “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”

We HAVE to emphasize both sides of God. They are equally important!
• I want to worship and serve a God who is wholly righteous and demands our best.
• It’s good when we recognize our need of God, where we fall short and to be humbled in his presence.

• 1 Tim. 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

Conclusion: In a trial, in a small town the prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elder woman. He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?” “Why yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, cheat on your wife, manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you are a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher.” The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?” She again replied, “Why yes I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster too. He’s lazy, bigoted and has a drinking problem. He can’t maintain a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. The defense attorney nearly died. The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and said in a very quiet voice, “If either of you two idiots asks her is she knows me, I’ll send you both to the electric chair.”