“The Unravelling of The MYSTERY of INIQUITY: Exploring the Roots of Evil in Human Nature”
Throughout history, humans have been plagued by the presence of evil in the world. Despite countless efforts to eradicate it, evil persists, and its origins remain shrouded in mystery. The concept of iniquity, or moral wickedness, and the elusive nature of evil has been a topic of philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry for centuries.
- What motivates individuals to engage in harmful and immoral behaviour?
- What drives people to act in damaging and morally questionable ways?
- Is it a trait of human nature, the result of societal and environmental influences, or is the work of a nefarious entity?
This blog investigates the enduring riddle of moral immorality/wickedness, sometimes known as the “mystery of iniquity,” as well as the origins of evil in human nature. Join me as I embark on a quest to try to understand one of the most lasting and puzzling features of the human condition.
So, what drives people to act in damaging and morally questionable ways?
Some contend that evil, which serves as a contrast to goodness and empowers people to make moral decisions, is an essential part of the human experience. Some contend that evil is a human invention used to explain actions that are thought wrong and is not a true thing.
Even if we are unable to identify this “mystery of iniquity,” we may observe the pervasive effects it has on us and the world around us. The Bible describes how a spirit known as “the prince of the power of the air” works in the hearts of the wicked and disobedient children (Ephesians 2:2). With the fall of man, we sort of gotten “iniquitous”.
God saw that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) – thoughts of iniquity (Isaiah 59:7).
The Lord’s requirement for the circumcision of the heart makes sense. Only through “circumcising” our hearts, a divine process, can we prevent this mysterious entity from exerting influence over us and impeding God’s work. You may recall reading that “the flesh lusts against the Spirit” 5:17 in Galatians
This flesh (the body of sin), what is it?
The result of the fall is a spiritual environment hostile to God that is produced within our very selves (alienated and enemies in our mind by wicked works – Colossians 1:21 – being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance – Ephesians 4:18/2:12).
Regardless of one’s spiritual beliefs, everyone has them ingrained in their personality. Simply said, when the glory of the magnificent gospel of Jesus Christ shines in our souls, you would discover that sensation of unrighteousness, that feeling of uncleanness within us. Simply defined, the awareness of sin.
David cried, Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5). But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed (James 1:14). For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil (wickedness) (Mark 7:21). From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it (Isaiah 1:6). For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18).
Let God be true, but every man a liar (Romans 3:4).
What is that wild, ravenous lust or degeneracy that seeks to control us? What caused one third of the heavenly angels to fall?
A third of the stars in heaven were swept down by the tail of the great dragon, that ANCIENT serpent, called the Devil, and Satan according to Revelation 12:4,9.
What caused even Lucifer, the anointed cherub, to fall from his uprightness? Ezekiel 28:14,15
The “mystery of iniquity,” the evil force alluded to, must be a creation of God, whose identity is currently concealed from us, and it is apparent that it is accountable for all of this.
I prefer to trust God’s word over human convictions. The truth is that sin has caused total depravity to penetrate every atom and fibre of our being. And only Jesus Christ, the Son of the most High can release a person from the power of this death.
There is something that is happening in a person in an utterly incomprehensible way that we are unable to understand (a strong want or tug of lust that comes from the heart – the presence of evil within the heart of man – Romans 7:17-21); this is the result of the “mystery of iniquity” at work. The MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH are some of the other names for this embodiment of wickedness (Revelation 17:5).
According to Revelation 17:4, she is holding a golden cup that is full of filth and abominations that will be spread throughout the entire world. I must say, she has virtually won over everyone’s hearts with her promiscuity in the age we are in. Regrettably, both young and elderly have fallen prey to her.
This spiritual being, or whatever it is, has such power over humanity that it would cause the monarchs of the planet to engage in fornication, and the people of the earth to consume the fornication’s wine (Revelation 17:2). No one born to a woman will be exempt from its effects. How can one who is born of a woman be clean, asks Job 25:4?
A Christian would still have to battle it every day even after being set free from its influence and tentacles by pleading the priceless blood of Jesus Christ. We reckon that its legal claim over us gets rescinded in Christ. While the sinful nature or sin itself no longer has domineering power over a Christian, as stated in Romans 6:14, it can still exert great influence and harass a babe in Christ (immature in spirit; Hebrews 5:13,14), whose flesh isn’t crucified with its affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24/1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
According to the Bible, we must constantly work with the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the old man (the body of sin – Romans 6:6 – where this evil resides – Romans 7:17-21), which is corrupt according to the lusts of falsehood (Ephesians 4:22/Colossians 3:9).
What harm does this evil do if we don’t deal with it? It fights against the intellect to enslave us to the law of sin, according to Romans 7:23. Romans 6:12–16 urges us to avoid allowing this evil to rule in us and to refrain from using our bodies as instruments of righteousness for sin.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24)
To live, haven’t we been told to mortify the works of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit? — Romans 8:13. One could envisage the situation of a sinner and the ungodly if the righteous are hardly saved (1 Peter 4:18)
Now we have brought to light the facets of our flawed nature, through which this nefarious force known as the “mystery of iniquity” exploits us.
See how great a salvation God in Christ hath wrought! Christ Jesus gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (Galatians 1:4).
In actuality, “evil’s” effects have existed in some form or another since the dawn of time, manifesting itself in various ways. History is rife with examples of evil, from the biblical tale of Cain and Abel to the heinous acts of ethnic genocides.
Some believe that evil is a learned behaviour, shaped by social and cultural factors, but I beg to disagree; I think that ‘corruption’ has become ingrained (an inherent aspect) in human nature and that everyone has the potential to commit wicked things as a result of the fall. To whom we yield ourselves servants to obey determines the outcome – Romans 6:16. If so, don’t we have to work on our salvation from depravity? Philippians 2:12/2 Corinthians 7:1
Religions have a variety of justifications for the existence of evil. Yet we need to take seriously what the Bible has shown us.
In conclusion, the concept of iniquity and the elusive nature of evil has been a topic of philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry for centuries. While we may not be able to fully unravel the mystery of iniquity, we can observe its effects on ourselves and the world around us.
The Bible reveals that this mysterious entity has great power over humanity, but we have the power to overcome it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can be delivered from the power of this present evil world. It is up to us to continually work on “circumcising” our hearts and mortifying the works of the flesh, so we can prevent this mysterious force from exerting its influence over us and impeding God’s work.
We must remain vigilant in our battle against the old man and the works of the flesh and continue to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.