To be spiritually dead is to be diabolically alive
R. C. SproulRead
Fallen man is free to choose what he desires, but because his desires are only wicked he lacks the moral ability to come to Christ. As long as he remains in the flesh, unregenerate, he will never choose Christ. He cannot choose Christ precisely because he cannot act against his own will. His fall is so great that only the effectual grace of God working in his heart can bring him to faith.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the idea that fallen humanity is bound by wicked desires and cannot choose to come to Christ without divine intervention.
R. C. Sproul's quote illustrates the theological belief that due to the fall of man, individuals are enslaved by their sinful desires. It asserts that without the transformative and enabling grace of God, a person is incapable of making the righteous choice to follow Christ. This perspective emphasizes the necessity of divine grace in the redemption process, suggesting that inherent human weakness prevents genuine self-directed moral choice.
Themes
GraceFaithRedemptionSinDivine Intervention
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon discussing the nature of sin and grace.
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