Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
The question is often asked, "Can a person be good without God?" as is stated in one of the more popular atheistic slogans. The answer comes to us with a resounding no from the Bible, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, as is clearly stated in the scriptures. The real issue to be settled first is what is the correct definition of being good, after which it can be known for a certainty if there is any human being inherently good by nature, and whether there are those who can aspire to natural goodness without the God- factor.
After our first parents sinned, they lost the ability to pass on to their posterity the goodness and symmetry of character with which they were endowed by our Creator, and for this reason the first son that was born to them became a murderer, thus proving in the infancy of the race that there are latent tendencies to evil lurking in the minds of each individual. And we are not to conclude that because Abel was accepted of God that he was let off the hook as far as being guiltless is concerned, for the sacrifice that he brought was as a result of his own sins, thus showing that both the righteous and the wicked are born with this inherent and genetic problem of having a sinful nature. Therefore there is no person who is naturally good, and there is none who by their own efforts can attain to the goodness that is recognized by God.
An atheist can give his neighbor a loaf of bread, and Oprah can open a million and one schools in west Africa, and Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates can donate their billions to fighting global poverty, and advancing the cause of the disenfranchised and the less fortunate. While all of these activities are good in and of themselves, they cannot make the donors naturally good or acceptable in the sight of God, for the old inherent nature of sin and self still remains, and will taint whatsoever they do at some level or another. The goodness that the Bible recognizes is only to be found in Christ, and is bequeathed to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
The Bible sometimes speaks of a perfect man, such as Job, but this should not be understood as meaning that Job was sinless or had aspired to any natural goodness apart from God. His own activities and personal testimonies teach us that he was in the same boat as we all are, and therefore was just as in need of the grace and forgiveness of God like the abandoned prostitute lurking on street corner of Times Square. Let's take a moment to assess Job's own statements and activities, for they will shed great light on the issue of inherent or naturally aspirated goodness. Let's read:
Job 31:I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
It seems as if he had struggles with resisting girls such as many of us do, but let's read on:
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
The goodness that God is willing and able to impart to the human family is accomplished only through Christ, and not the mere adherence to any amount of good laws, even those that are written in the scriptures. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cements this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that we all be brought to perfection, in and through Christ. Let's read:
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
May The Lord grant to us a humble and teachable spirit that we may understand these sacred truths and live by them. God bless!