Recently Donald Trump and Russell Moore have had an interesting exchange. Of course Donald Trump is a real estate mogul, celebrity, and presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Russell Moore is with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Moore has been a public opponent of Trump even contributing to the National Review issue "Against Trump".
Donald Trump responded to Russell Moore with his usually tact and class saying Moore was "a nasty guy with no heart." Most interesting was Moore's response to Trump because he agreed with him saying, "I am a nasty guy with no heart, which is why I need forgiveness of sins and redemption through the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Russell Moore was right on target with his response. In reality Russell Moore, Donald Trump, and the rest of us are nasty guys with no heart. This is what theologians call total depravity. We are all utterly sinful and unrighteous. We are born sinners and are not the good people we think we are (See Genesis 3, Psalm 51:5, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23).
Because of our sin we face the wrath of God and deserve to go to hell. We can only find forgiveness through Christ and his work on the cross. No one deserves to go to heaven. Salvation is by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
(Romans 7:24-25a) "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (ESV)
