Just as long as we understand scripture says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?"
Those who can know it are those who strive to negate wants of self when working out there course. Those who silently do what they actually know is good due to the selfless conscience, the Holy Spirit, and the heart, not in spite of them. In spite of greed or carnality. We still haven't cleared up the carnal natural thing and now you look to add to the confusion of the masses by mentioning singular verses out of context in order to derail what I said yet again?
The law is written on the hearts of the heathen and of all men. It can be, and is negated by greed, the powers that be, and societal norms, though ultimately none will change what GOD has established.
Genesis: 8. 21. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. -
We see here the word "youth" and not "since before conception", or "before the foundation of the earth"
Leviticus: 26. 40. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41. And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 44. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. 46. These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
Strange; we see here, even in the ot that the uncircumcised heart is capable of being humbled and turning towards GOD.
Numbers: 15. 39. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
Here we see the difference is greed as shown by emphasis on "your own" as opposed to of the Holy Spirit.
I know many may claim the Holy Spirit only came after the Christ, but I would contend that it was understood after the Christ or abounded, not that man was bereft of it or the selfless conscience.
Deuteronomy: 8. 5. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Why would any be instructed to seek within themselves if they were wholly and helplessly utterly corrupted from the start?
Why would a caring creator create a damned creation?
Deuteronomy: 10. 16. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
For good measure in case any silly folks want to insist that circumsision is literal, or the law isn't written on the heart.
Deuteronomy: 30. 14. But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
I'm going to stop.
I'm stirring up contention and that isn't what I should do.
You are right. Natural man is at enmity with GOD. There is a capacity to naturally do right or at very least know it, but there is also a natural inclination for some to knowingly go against what is good, but at very least for all to act selfishly as opposed to selflessly.
It brings to mind the second command of GOD, and how people misconstrue it to mean love yourself.
I really no longer wish to contend, and it wasn't even my initial drive. My two points still stand as do other things I have stated on this thread, but we do have a natural inclination to sin.
peace
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