The statement that mankind, without a divine Redeemer, would be lost is borne out by history and also by individual experience. Without constant aid and guidance from a higher source, nations degenerate morally, even if they maintain physical superiority, until they lose themselves in superstition on the one hand and atheism on the other, and life becomes very much of a case of “dog eat dog.” Consider the human race before the flood, when the wickedness became so great that the Lord actually was sorry “that he had made man on earth.” (Gen. 6:1-7) Read David’s estimate of the moral status of mankind at his time, when the Lord looked down from heaven to see “if there were any that did understand and seek God,” but found that “they are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy.” Then look at the picture drawn by Paul in his letter to the Romans, of the moral status of the Greek and Roman civilizations:
“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips ... their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace they have not known.” (Rom. 3:9-18)
Read also his picture of the last days:
“Perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5. See also Rev. chap. 18)
The natural tendency of the race, if the Spirit of God withdraws, is toward degeneracy. And that is true of the individual, too. Unless a man constantly studies the word of God, attends to his prayers, partakes of the Sacrament, joins in public worship whenever possible, and attends to his duties, as given him by our heavenly Father, he will gradually sink lower and lower, until he becomes, as far as spiritual things are concerned—a corpse.
Without a divine Redeemer, man would be lost.