Human nature, from the moment we are clothed in flesh, carries a tendency toward evil, driven by self-satisfaction and selfishness. By the time rational thought develops, we already lean toward evil, as our desires pull us in that direction. Jesus, in Matthew 7:11, directly calls us evil, using a term that suggests active, rebellious wickedness akin to the kind satan embodies. He contrasts our morally corrupt nature, which opposes God, with the eternal goodness of the Father, highlighting that even in our evil state, we occasionally do good for our children. Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve chose to define good and evil through trial and error, humanity has been fixed under the curse of sin, with a nature inclined toward evil. Despite being called by God and given the Holy Spirit, we Christians retain a mixed nature, prone to rebellion against Him, and must overcome the baggage of past sins to transform from evil to good. Evil resides within us, as acknowledged by Paul, and it is this internal enemy we must recognize and fight to grow in the image of Jesus Christ. While evil in the world, raw and blatant among the unconverted, is obvious and often avoidable, it remains beyond our power to change. Our focus must be on preventing these external evils from tempting us and on overcoming the wickedness within. Similarly, though satan influences us to disobey God, our battle is not a direct assault but a steadfast defense, resisting him by avoiding temptation, doing good, and subduing our inner sins. Jesus emphasizes in Mark 7:14-16 that the sins defiling us originate from within, a truth He repeats to ensure we understand that the evils we must conquer are those we conceive and nurture inside ourselves.

Human nature is deeply inclined toward evil, as God Himself declares in Genesis 6:5, observing that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, with every intent of the thoughts of his heart being only evil continually. Even after the Flood, which destroyed nearly all of humanity, God acknowledges in Genesis 8:21 that the imagination of man's heart remains evil from his youth, showing that such a catastrophic event did not alter this inherent nature. David, in Psalm 51:5, reflects this reality by noting he was brought forth in iniquity, surrounded by sin from conception, indicating that the pervasive influence of a sinful world inevitably leads to personal sin. He further pleads for God to change his nature, recognizing that only through repentance and a renewed relationship with God can this transformation begin, though it remains incomplete until the resurrection. The Old Testament reinforces this view consistently. Proverbs 14:12 warns that even ways seeming right to a man end in death, revealing the sinful undercurrent in all human actions without God. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:20 asserts there is no just man on earth who does good and does not sin, emphasizing that even the best among us carry the taint of sin in their deeds. He intensifies this in Ecclesiastes 9:3, stating that the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and madness throughout their lives, leading to death. Isaiah 1:4-6 portrays humanity, exemplified by Israel, as corrupt, underscoring that our choices to sin originate from within, and we cannot blame external forces for our wicked actions. As God's children, we are called to combat this evil nature within us, striving to reflect His nature in our actions amidst this dark, evil age.

God speaks plainly about evil in His Word, addressing it as a significant and pervasive issue. Evil and its related terms appear frequently, with "evil" itself occurring 639 times in the King James Version, "wicked" and its variants 494 times, and "cursed" or "accursed" 94 times, totaling nearly 1,200 references. This demonstrates that evil is not a minor concern but a reality God urges us to recognize and confront. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "ra'" describes evil as the opposite of good in thoughts, words, or deeds, signifying what is wrong in relation to God's intent and harmful in its effect on humanity. It encompasses not only evil actions but also inner attitudes of pride, lust, and revenge that manifest in rebellion against God, as seen in the idolatries, child sacrifices, wars, and adulteries of some kings of Israel and Judah. These inner evils brought disaster and dishonor upon themselves and their nations. Additionally, "ra'" covers moral deficiencies and a lack of good character traits that cause harm. In the New Testament, two Greek words define evil: "kakos," meaning bad, base, or wicked in character, akin to ungodliness or sinfulness, and "poneros," which focuses on evil in its influence, causing labor, pain, sorrow, and further evil, often equating to active rebellion against God. The phrase "ho poneros," meaning "the wicked one," points to satan the devil, highlighting the extent and activity of this destructive evil. The struggle against evil is internal and persistent, as illustrated by the apostle Paul, who, even after years of conversion, battled the evil within his flesh. He describes a law or tendency toward evil, a carnal nature that enslaves to sin, despite the mind's desire to do good. This conflict between the spiritual mind and the flesh continues throughout life, though God covers these lapses as we strive to become slaves of righteousness rather than sin.