Corruption of society: cause, consequence, and cure

Humanity is in the bondage of corruption or decay because the creation was subjected to futility. But the Bible teaches how man can be delivered from this pitiful condition.

By LLOYD RUBEN I. CASTRO

WHILE CIVILIZATION PROGRESSES, the condition of this world deteriorates. Wickedness continues to escalate and poverty worsens. Everyday, we hear news of violent and criminal acts perpetrated in almost all parts of the globe. When some people can no longer bear these hostilities and hardships, they usually put the blame on their leaders. So, they clamor for change, demanding that the leaders, or the government, be replaced, as if such measure were the solution to address the root cause of society’s corruption.

However, from the biblical standpoint, what is the real cause, the evil consequence, and the cure for the corruption of human society?

The cause

The Bible reveals that humanity is in the bondage of corruption or decay because the creation was subjected to futility:

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Rom. 8:20–21 New King James Version)

If people would only understand this, they would not put the blame for society’s ills on just anyone. This lack of understanding explains why man’s efforts to improve the living condition in this world are in vain. As such, “all of creation groans with pain” (Rom. 8:22 Today’s English Version).

Indeed, life in this world is full of sufferings. All people—rich or poor, learned or unschooled—have their own share of “grief and pain” (Eccles. 2:23 New International Version).

This pitiful condition began when sin entered the world and all have sinned (Isa. 24:5–6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23 nkjv).

The consequence

Worse than the miseries in life that sin has brought to people is death, “the wages for sin” (Rom. 6:23 Holman Christian Study Bible). Because all have sinned, all are brought under God’s judgment (Rom. 3:19).

The full judgment of God against sinners is the second death, which is eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). True, indeed, is the biblical pronouncement that the whole creation was subjected to futility having become slave to decay.

Sadly, people’s own efforts to escape from this bondage is an exercise in futility. Attempts to put order to the wretched life in this world have been failing time and again. The Bible depicts the people of this world as looking for light yet walking in darkness, groping and stumbling at noonday like the blind (Isa. 59:9–10).

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.”

Romans 8:20

NEW KING JAMES VERSION

Indeed, the condition of society has not become any better. The escalating wickedness, poverty, and violence have only made it all the darker. People can do nothing on their own to remedy the futility—the corruption—to which humanity has been subjected. On Judgment Day, God Himself will put an end to it:

“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (II Pet. 3:7 nkjv)

The cure

That life in this world is not getting any better but rather the world is rushing to its terrible end does not mean that there is no escape at all. There is great hope “because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21 nkjv). God promised to do this after this world has ended:

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ …” (Rev. 21:5 nkjv)

God will replace this world and its old order with a new one:

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” (Rev. 21:1–3 nkjv)

So, it is wrong to set our heart and mind on earthly things because these will pass away. We should place our hope in the new earth with a new heaven. In the Holy City, life is pure bliss—“no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying … no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4 nkjv).

The procedure

To make the inhabitants worthy of the glory of the Holy City, they will also be made new:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body …” (Phil. 3:20–21 nkjv)

The new home requires a new body for its dwellers. The lowly body will be made glorious like that of Jesus Christ. Immortal, that body will no longer see decay or corruption.

Who will be blessed to partake in the transformation that the Bible reveals? Christ the Savior, the first to experience such transformation, proclaims:

“… Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28 American Standard Version)

Thus, everyone who wishes to be set free from the bondage of corruption and to share in Christ’s glory should first follow Him in the regeneration. To carry out the regeneration, what Christ did was to “create in Himself one new man from the two” (Eph. 2:15 nkjv)—the two being Christ as head and the Church as His body (Col. 1:18 nkjv).

“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

II Peter 3:7

NEW KING JAMES VERSION

To follow Christ in the regeneration, we need to enter this Church, which is also His fold or flock, as He Himself commands:

“I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.” (John 10:9 Revised English Bible)
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

Thus, to become part of the one new man and follow Christ in the regeneration, we must join the true Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo. Clearly, professing faith in Christ is not enough; we must show our faith through obedience. And by obeying the command of Christ to enter His Church, we will be saved from God’s judgment. This is because it is this Church—not the whole world—that benefitted from Christ’s redemption, the “forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13–14 nkjv).

Remember, sin is the culprit of humanity’s being under judgment and subjected to futility to suffer the second death. But those who joined the true Church Of Christ have been “delivered from the bondage of corruption” (Rom. 8:21 nkjv) having been forgiven of their sins. They will no longer be punished. They are blessed to inherit the new earth with the new heaven, the Holy City.

Being now “in Christ” and, hence, “a new creation” (II Cor. 5:17 nkjv), true members of the Church Of Christ have “put off” … their “former manner of life” that “is corrupt” or sinful (Eph. 4:22 Revised Standard Version).

Hence, they heed the Church Administration’s call that they fully renew their lives and banish all forms of sin. They strive to “be renewed in the spirit” of their minds and “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:23–24 nkjv).

Even amid hardships, they do this with all their hearts. Confident that having followed Christ in the regeneration they will be spared from this world’s terrible end. They will be transformed with an immortal body and brought by Him to the Holy City—their new and true home—devoid of any corruption.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph