The Lord saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis
6.5 Every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood. – Genesis 8.21 Can the Ethiopian change his
skin, or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good, who
are accustomed to doing evil. Jeremiah chapter 13 verse 23
As the world by its maxims, so sin by its allurements, fetters
and controls us. So interwoven with all our faculties
is sin, that we cannot resist its influence. Sooner might an
Ethiopian change the colour of his skin, or a leopard take away
its spots, than the natural man break forth from the dominion
of sin, Though he may not yield to sin in a gross and shameless
way, yet his thoughts and desires are altogether vitiated by it,
nor is so much as one inclination or affection free from sin's
malignant taint. A principle of evil resides within
him and dictates every imagination of his heart. As for you, you
were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to
live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler
of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them
at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following
its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
children of wrath. But because of his great love
for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even
when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been
saved. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1
to 5