Did God Create Human Nature?

Next Part 'The World at the Creation of Man'

BY DAVID C. PACK

What is HUMAN NATURE? Why does it exist? Where did it come from? Did God create it? Why is it so selfish and evil? Few have understood this subject. Here is the truth.

Human troubles and evils are prophesied to grow far worse in this age. Appalling violence, terrorism and war are escalating as human nature hurtles further out of control. After a recent school shooting where many lay slaughtered, a parent remarked, “I don't understand this world anymore.”

You can understand both this world and the cause of its troubles. Understanding human nature is the key.

All human beings possess human nature. The selfishness, rottenness, violence and terrible evils that spring from human nature have plagued the world for thousands of years. The apostle John said, “The whole world lies in wickedness” (I John 5:19). The cause of this condition lies directly at the feet of evil human nature.

Every “expert” has a different opinion about what human nature is and where it comes from. Yet none understand the answers to these questions or the question of why human nature exists. This is because they reject the SOURCE to understanding the answers to all of life’s greatest questions.

Consider the paradox! Think of all the wonderful things the human MIND is capable of producing. Its ingenuity and inventiveness are practically limitless. Yet it cannot solve the most basic of life’s greatest problems—poverty, ignorance, immorality, crime, war and misery. All of these problems—and many more—are by-products of unbridled human nature!

This teaching comes from the long-held pagan doctrine of the duality of body and soul. It states that all people have a pure, pristine soul locked in an evil body that serves as a prison house until death, when the soul is freed. This idea is an attempt to explain the root of human nature without examining the truth of what God says. People do not have immortal souls—they are souls (Ezek. 18:4, 20; Matt. 10:28; Gen. 2:7)!

No “Original Sin”

Millions more believe the unbiblical doctrine of “original sin.” While Adam and Eve certainly did sin, the Bible teaches nothing about any “original sin” committed by them, which is passed on, generation by generation, to every person. The term is found nowhere in scripture and is a fiction of men.

Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Every human being has sinned on his own account! All are responsible for and guilty of their own sins—not those of Adam and Eve or anyone else!

The sin of Adam and Eve brought the following consequences: (1) It cut mankind off from the Tree of Life and (2) brought the death penalty on all human beings (Gen. 2:17; Heb. 9:27; Rom. 6:23).

What Christ Taught

In Mark 7, Christ addressed those who thought they could be “defiled” by dirt they might ingest through eating food with unwashed hands. The Pharisees went to ridiculous extremes, continually washing their hands to avoid being “defiled,” and they asked Christ why His disciples did not do the same. Of course, Christ knew that accidentally ingesting a little bit of dirt on unwashed hands does not spiritually defile anyone.

His answer explained what DOES defile human beings: “And He said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (vs. 20-23).

First, accept that Christ made the statement—and that it has to be true! This, in itself, is a staggering revelation. But the prophet Jeremiah added more: “The HEART is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (17:9). Of course, most do not understand this about themselves, though they often readily see it in others. Further, the apostle Paul wrote, “The carnal [natural] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7).

These are incredible statements about the minds of all human beings. But how did the torrent of evil thoughts, which pour from all people, come to exist in them in the first place? How did it get there?

Does God infuse human nature into tiny babies at birth? Does an all-wise, all-powerful, loving God take innocent children and turn them toward terrible evil from the moment they are born? And, if God does not put this nature there, then where does it come from?

The Arch Broadcaster

Paul wrote the Ephesian Church about the life that God had called them out of when He revealed His truth to them. Chapter 2, verse 2 references the power of the devil and his influence upon the world: “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the POWER of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.” This is an amazing passage. The phrase “children of disobedience” is also found in Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6. Let’s examine how these references relate to the phrase, “prince of the power of the air.”

Notice that verse 2 states Satan’s “spirit…works in the children of disobedience.” Do you see this? Did you grasp it? Satan has the power to use the “air” to broadcast, through his spirit, an attitude of disobedience! His spirit sends moods, feelings and attitudes of hostility into people’s minds. These “work” within people’s hearts and minds, bringing disobedience. This “air power” gives the devil tremendous INFLUENCE, allowing him to send thoughts of confusion, deceit, anger, pride, hate, foolishness, vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, envy, rebellion and much more directly into people’s thinking!

Think of it this way. The devil owns a most powerful radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day. Revelation 12:9 states that he “deceives the whole world.” This mighty “station” reaches and deceives the entire world! Yet, his incredible cunning has been so seductive that he has even been able to convince most that he does not exist!

The devil is immensely more powerful than most realize. The Bible identifies him as this world’s god. Notice what Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4).

Only one who has enormous power to influence—as a virtual “god” (Satan is this world’s god)—could blind and deceive on a scale so staggering. As a result, he has produced a world filled with disobedience—lawlessness!

On the other hand, a Christian follows God and obeys His Law. Paul recorded that God has a spiritual Law, and that it is holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12, 14)! Christians keep it. But how do they do this?

In Acts 5:32, the apostle Peter referred to “the Holy Spirit, [which] God has given to them that obey Him.” Christians understand and practice obedience to God. His Spirit is given upon repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). This Spirit helps Christians obey the Ten Commandments! (Read our book The Ten Commandments – “Nailed to the Cross” or Required for Salvation?)

Before the invention of the radio, Satan’s power, as arch broadcaster and prince of the power of the air, could not be as easily understood. But now you can comprehend!

We can now better understand the “children of disobedience.” Like Christians with the Holy Spirit, these people are also inspired and guided by a spirit—that of this world’s god. Satan broadcasts a spirit of rebellion against God’s law—disobedience—through attitudes—into humanity. Ephesians 2:2 is plain. But a deceived world knows nothing of this understanding!

If you listen to the radio, you usually pick a station that plays what you want to hear. Today, people “surf” radio or television stations. Eventually, something interests them, and they stop and listen to a station of their choosing. In every case, stations are selected by choice. People have control over what they hear or watch.

It is not the same with Satan’s station. The world—and you—do not decide to tune into the devil’s broadcast. And no one ever sets out to be deceived. But every human being on earth is automatically tuned to Satan’s wavelength! His wickedness, hostility, rebellion, deceit and selfishness are continually “on the air.”

Therefore, it is really SATAN’S NATURE that is being labelled as HUMAN NATURE. In fact, once it is injected into people, Satan’s nature becomes natural to them. It becomes their nature—now, human nature.

Though you cannot see it anymore than you can see radio waves or television signals, the air around you is literally charged and “crackles” with the power and energy of Satan’s broadcast. It is absolutely critical to see how this spirit works in people. It is the single most important key to understanding exactly how Satan can deceive and manipulate over six billion people.

An Important Illustration

Before further examining the devil’s role and how he came to be as he is, consider this illustration. It demonstrates how Satan can influence and sway humanity through his broadcast. The setting involves King Cyrus of Persia. God wanted him to return to Jerusalem and build a second temple to replace Solomon’s, which had been destroyed. Here is how God communicated to Cyrus: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing” (Ezra 1:1).

God was able to communicate with Cyrus through (by “stirring up”) his spirit. Satan does the same thing. Just as God can lead a human being toward a right purpose, Satan’s spirit influences people toward hate, anger, selfishness, violence, competition, vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, murder and deceit. (Read our booklet What Science Will Never Discover About Your Mind to understand more about the spirit in man.)

Of course, when Satan injects his attitudes into an unsuspecting mankind, it has no idea that he is doing it. The devil does not announce his intentions in advance or speak aloud in an audible voice.

Murder, Lies and Destruction

Just as God the Father has children, the god of this world is also a father with his own children! Consider this proof:

On one occasion, Paul addressed a sorcerer named Bar-jesus, who was trying to hinder Paul’s preaching and ministry. Paul directly labelled this man: “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10).

Besides identifying him as a “child of the devil,” Paul teaches that the devil’s children are enemies of “all righteousness” and “the ways of God.” This is what being children of the devil means!

But what is righteousness? Psalm 119:172 defines it: “All Your [God’s] COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Satan’s children hate, and are enemies of, the laws of God—His commandments! Remember, they are “children of disobedience.”

Revelation 9:11 describes Satan as “a destroyer.” The Hebrew word referenced there, Abaddon, means “Satan.” The Greek word used there, Apollyon, means “a destroyer.” This understanding sets the stage for the next scripture.

A confrontation between Christ and people who professed to “believe on Him” occurred in John. You should read the entire account, but here is a summary. Those who professed belief in Christ actually sought to kill Him moments later (vs. 37)! Christ said, “But you seek to KILL Me, because My word has no place in you.” He further added, “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man that has told you the truth” (vs. 40). Many say they want to hear the truth—but not if it means being told that they are wrong, particularly about cherished ideas.

This story comes to a remarkable climax in verses 43-44. Christ asked, “Why do you not understand My speech?” He answers His own question with, “…because you cannot hear My word.” What could possibly cause people standing right beside Christ to “not hear His word”?Verse 44 answers, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Christ plainly said, “You are not of God” (vs. 47), and these devil-inspired religious leaders immediately accused Him of “having a demon” (vs. 48)! Many today who profess to “believe on Christ” are no different than those described here. This is a powerful, instructive statement. The devil is a father who murders, lies and destroys. As the author of killing, deceit and destruction, he broadcasts these attitudes to his children around the world!

The Devil Holds Sway Over Earth

Make no mistake! The world is filled with the children of the devil. It has been observed that children are basically much like their parents. Therefore, Satan’s children lie, hate, murder and destroy. Look at the world. It should now be most clear WHY confusion, war, ignorance, poverty, disease and misery abound among the nations. The fruits of human nature—Satan’s nature—are evident everywhere there are human beings.

Notice how Paul described the “last days” preceding Christ’s Return: “This know also, that in the last days perilous [dangerous] times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the POWER thereof: from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:1-5).

While the world is filled with religion—“a form of godliness”—it neither teaches the truth nor is the religion of God! It denies the power of the true God, as the world unwittingly worships a different being who palms himself off as the God of the Bible.

The devil is also called the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4), the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and one who “weakens the nations” (Isa. 14:12) and “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). We have seen how he does this.

The World Before Man

We need to examine the time prior to the appearance of man on earth to understand how Satan came to be as he is.

Satan rebelled against God’s government prior to the re-creation of earth (Gen. 1:1-3) and the creation of Adam and Eve. He led one-third of all angels into rebellion (II Pet. 2:4-6; Rev. 12:4). Isaiah 14:12-14 reveals that he had once ruled the earth, and Ezekiel 28:15 shows that he was a created being—a powerful, perfect archangel. He remains as ruler over earth until Christ’s Second Coming. Christ qualified to replace him at His First Coming.

(Read our booklets Who Is the Devil? and A World in Captivity to learn more.) Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This sets the stage for our study. In the book of Job, God asked him, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it?…When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (38:4-5, 7).

These “stars” were angels (Rev. 12:4) and are here described as “sons of God.” Literal heavenly stars do not sing. Notice that it says “all” of them “shouted” and “sang together.” The earth was created in a wonderful, beautiful condition. There was great joy and singing. Neither the devil nor demons existed yet in their present form.

Now read Genesis 1:2. This verse is mistranslated and does not reflect the correct Hebrew meaning. The King James Bible says, “And the earth was without form, and void.” Three key Hebrew words are all mistranslated here. This obscures, and actually hides, the true picture being described here. The word translated “was” is hayah. In Genesis 2:7, this word is correctly translated “became,” and in Genesis 9:15, “become.”

The Hebrew words translated “without form, and void” are tohu and bohu. These should be rendered “chaotic, in confusion, waste and empty.” In short, a perfect creation (vs. 1) “became chaotic and confused” (vs. 2). Tohu and bohu are also found in Jeremiah 4:23 and also translated, “without form and void.” Isaiah 34:11 and other verses translate them as “confusion and…emptiness.”

Now notice Isaiah 45:18. This important passage clarifies how God did not create the earth. It states, “For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain [tohu meaning chaotic or waste], He formed it to be inhabited.”

It is clear that the earth became chaotic AFTER God had created it—between the events described in Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Verse 2 actually describes the RE-creation of the earth 6,000 years ago. Verse 1 describes the original creation of the entire universe that, according to scientists, occurred as much as 17 billion years ago.

Psalm 104:30 states that God “renews the face of the earth.” During the seven days of the creation week, God did, in fact, renew a damaged, injured planet, then completely covered with water (Gen. 1:2). This had been caused by the devil’s rebellion against the government of God. Acts 3:19-21 reveals that only the Return of Christ will bring the “restitution [restoring] of all things.” Now that we know what happened, we must ask, how did it happen? How did the earth go from being beautiful and perfect at creation to being chaotic, confused, waste and empty? Since God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33), who caused this?

The answers to these questions have everything to do with the origin of human nature. We have seen that man gets his nature from the devil. But how did the devil become the way he is?

Lucifer’s Rebellion

Let’s now read of Lucifer after he had become Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 gives many clues about where Lucifer was once located, what he did and what happened to him. Read carefully and notice the key phrases emphasized: “How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to hell [the “grave”—see verses 9 and 11], to the sides of the pit.”

No man fits this description, having a throne that can be put above the “stars of heaven.” Only the devil “weakens the nations” and said he would “ascend unto heaven.” Ezekiel 28:12-17 adds important information and parallels Isaiah 14. It speaks of one who “seals up the sum, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty,” who had also “been in Eden the garden of God.” No human being has ever been perfect. And Satan the devil was the serpent who beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Ezekiel 28:13 states, “you were created.” Satan is a created being. Verse 14 calls him “the cherub that covers.” (Exodus 25:17-20 describes the remaining two faithful “cherubs that cover[ed]” God’s throne in the Old Testament tabernacle, where their wings cover the “mercy seat.”) The latter part of Ezekiel 28:14 states that this “king” was “in the mountain of God” and “walked…in the midst of the stones of fire.” This describes the area around God’s throne. Verse 15 states, “iniquity [lawlessness] was found in you,” and verse 16 refers to it as “sin.”

Verse 16 also describes this cherub as having been “cast…out of” heaven. God also said He would “destroy” (Hebrew: expel) Lucifer from heaven. Verse 17 reveals that his “heart was lifted up because of [his] beauty,” and that his wisdom was “corrupted…by reason of [his] brightness.” The verse ends with God “casting him down to the ground,” where the kings of the earth “behold him.” Lucifer was a brilliant being—an “angel of light” (II Cor. 11:13-15).

Lucifer means “the light bringer.” This brilliant, wise, perfect being once brought light to all that were around him. He REBELLED, SINNED—thus becoming the “prince of darkness.” His rebellion turned him into a twisted, perverted being. While of great intelligence, he has literally become an insane, fallen angel who no longer understands right from wrong. He believes he is right and God is wrong. Hate, anger, bitterness, murder, deceit, vanity, pride, envy and resentment entered him. These are the attitudes that Satan broadcasts!

We will learn how mankind opened the door to Satan’s wavelength.