All of these things below (not exhaustive but complete enough) were not equally true of all of us before Christ saved us; or perhaps better to say – all of these things were not equally evident or equally manifested in all of us. I share this resource for at least three reasons: 1. So that we believers can be ever more aware of and grateful for all that Christ has saved us from. 2. So we believers can be aware and alert to why our lost friends act and live the way they do and wherein our battle really lies to see them come to Christ. 3. So you who are not born again by the Spirit of God and still in darkness can know just how dark your darkness is, how real your slavery to sin and Satan is, and that you will repent and cling to Christ while He still is giving you breath and time.
Biblical labels for the lost: “slaves of sin” John 8:34; “the world” John 14:17; “natural man” I Corinthians 2:14; “pagans” I Cor. 12:2; “unbelieving” II Cor. 4:4; "slaves...." Galatians 4:8; “sons of disobedience” Eph. 2:2; “children of wrath” Eph. 2:3; “unprincipled men” II Peter 2:7; “the unrighteous” II Peter 2:9; Regarding those still lost in their sins:
They are slaves to sin – “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (Jn. 8:34) He is speaking of sinning here as a lifestyle, not an occasional sin that a believer commits.
Their father is the devil and they want to do his desires – “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father……” (Jn. 8:44)
Because they do not see or know the Holy Spirit, they cannot receive Him or respond to Him. “that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him,…” John 14:17
They suppress the truth in unrighteousness and thus are under the wrath of God – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Rom. 1:18-20)
They are without excuse because of God’s revelation to them – “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:19,20)
They chose not to honor or give thanks to God, and thus became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened – “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom. 1:21)
They professed to be wise, but instead became fools – “Professing to be wise, they became fools,”(Rom. 1:22) –
They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible perfect living God for man made images of animals the living God created and they worship them instead of Him – “and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” (Rom. 1:23) “….and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” – (Rom. 1:25)
They exchange or substitute the truth of God for a lie. – “For they exchanged the truthy of God for a lie…” (Rom. 1:25)
They have been given over by God to the lusts of their flesh and the destructive passions of their sinful natures – “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.” (Rom. 1:24); “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural.” (Rom. 1:26); “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,” (Rom. 1:28)
They have no understanding of spiritual things – “THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD.” (Romans 3:11)
They have become useless or fruitless, having turned aside from God – “ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (Rom. 3:12)
Their words are full of deception, poison and bitterness – “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.” (Rom. 3:13, 14)
They are given to violence and destructiveness – “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,” (Rom. 3:15, 16)
They do not know or experience peace of mind and heart – “AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN” (Rom. 3:17)
They do not fear God – “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” (Rom. 3:18)
They are slaves of sin, resulting in death – “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” (Romans 6:16, 17, 20)
They presented their members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness – “….For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness,….” (Romans 6:19)
Their sinful passions were at work in the members of their body to fear fruit for death – “For while we were still in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” (Romans 7:5)
Unrestrained sin in their lives produces all kinds of coveting and lust. – “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.” Romans 7:8
Unrestrained sin deceived them and brought about spiritual death. – “for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” Romans 7:11
They are in utter bondage to sin. – “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” Romans 7:14
Their minds being set on the flesh are hostile toward God and couldn’t obey the law of God even if they wanted to. – “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,” Romans 8:7
They are utterly unable to please God. – “and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8
The things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to them and thus they cannot accept them or understand them. – “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” I Corinthians 2:14
They are perishing due to their being blinded by Satan – “….it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (II Cor. 4:3, 4)
They are spiritually dead/unable to respond or believe - “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” (Eph. 2:1); and they are fully controlled by this world system, which is controlled by Satan – “in which your formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2)
They are under the wrath of God – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (Romans 1:18); “….and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” (Eph. 2:3)
They are trapped/slaves in the domain of darkness that Satan controls – “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” (Colossians 1:13)
They are alienated from God and hostile in mind towards Him, engaged in evil deeds – “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,” (Colossians 1:21)
They are lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;” (II Tim. 3:2-5)
They are foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending their lives in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another – “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” (Titus 3:3)
They are self willed, arrogant and lust driven – “Daring, self-willed…” II Peter 2:10; “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way…” II Peter 2:14,15; “For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality….” II Peter 2:18
They revile things which they do not understand – “But these men revile the things which they do not understand;” (Jude 10)
They are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage – “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” (Jude 16)
Father, thank you for saving and delivering us from all of our corruption and slavery and wickedness! Thank you for sending your Son to the cross! Thank you for His precious blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness! Please have mercy on our lost friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students and relatives. Save the lost! Open their blind eyes. Destroy the works of the devil Lord Jesus. Send forth laborers unto the harvest in Jesus's name. Amen.
P.S. This could be a good tool or resource to use when partaking of the Lord's supper or communion.