The lost condition, or what Bryan Chapell calls “Fallen Condition Focus” (FCF), refers to the aspects of human nature or human circumstances that are a result of the Fall. They can be sins or simply the result of living in a Fallen world. I discuss the lost condition in my Book, Inductive Bible Study.
Lost or Fallen Conditions Related to Personal Sin:
Pride, envy, anger, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, deceit, hatred, unforgiveness, idolatry, disobedience, hypocrisy, selfishness, fear (of God’s will), doubt (in God’s word), impatience (with God’s timing), unbelief, despair (in God’s goodness), rebellion (against God’s authority), dishonesty, jealousy, gossip, lying, covetousness, complaining, ungratefulness, anxiety (due to lack of trust in God), neglecting God’s word, discontentment, bitterness, lust for power, lack of love, disrespect, laziness, judging others, abandoning first love, divisiveness, cruelty, hypocrisy in worship, trusting in wealth, boasting, lack of faith, love of the world, hardened heart, seeking human approval, fear of man, neglecting prayer, lack of humility, not seeking God.
Check out the following passages:
- Pride – Proverbs 16:18
- Envy – Proverbs 14:30
- Anger – Ephesians 4:26-27
- Lust – Matthew 5:28
- Greed – 1 Timothy 6:10
- Gluttony – Proverbs 23:20-21
- Sloth – Proverbs 6:6-11
- Deceit – Proverbs 12:22
- Hatred – 1 John 2:9
- Unforgiveness – Matthew 6:14-15
- Idolatry – Exodus 20:3-5
- Disobedience – 1 Samuel 15:22
- Hypocrisy – Matthew 23:27-28
- Selfishness – Philippians 2:3-4
- Fear – 2 Timothy 1:7
- Doubt – James 1:6
- Impatience – Psalm 37:7-9
- Unbelief – Hebrews 3:12
- Despair – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
- Rebellion – Isaiah 1:19-20
- Dishonesty – Colossians 3:9
- Jealousy – James 3:16
- Gossip – Proverbs 16:28
- Lying – Ephesians 4:25
- Covetousness – Exodus 20:17
- Complaining – Philippians 2:14
- Ungratefulness – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Anxiety – Philippians 4:6-7
- Neglecting God’s Word – Matthew 4:4
- Discontentment – Hebrews 13:5
- Bitterness – Hebrews 12:15
- Lust for Power – Mark 10:42-45
- Lack of Love – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
- Disrespect – Ephesians 6:2-3
- Laziness – Proverbs 13:4
- Judging Others – Matthew 7:1-2
- Abandoning First Love – Revelation 2:4
- Divisiveness – Titus 3:10
- Cruelty – Proverbs 11:17
- Hypocrisy in Worship – Isaiah 1:11-17
- Trusting in Wealth – 1 Timothy 6:17
- Boasting – James 4:16
- Lack of Faith – Hebrews 11:6
- Love of the World – 1 John 2:15-17
- Hardened Heart – Hebrews 3:13
- Seeking Human Approval – Galatians 1:10
- Fear of Man – Proverbs 29:25
- Neglecting Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Lack of Humility – James 4:6
- Not Seeking God – Isaiah 55:6-7
Lost or Fallen Conditions that are not sins but the consequence of living in a fallen world:
Suffering, Death, Natural Disasters, Broken Relationships, Injustice, Poverty, Sickness, Fear and Anxiety, Confusion, Grief and Loss, Weariness, Persecution, Doubt, Disappointment, Loneliness.
Check out the following passages:
- Suffering: The presence of pain, sickness, and hardship in the world is a result of the fallen condition. (Romans 8:22-23)
- Death: Physical death is a consequence of sin entering the world. (Romans 5:12)
- Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are part of living in a fallen world. (Romans 8:22)
- Broken Relationships: Conflict and strife in relationships can be a result of living in a world marred by sin. (Genesis 3:16)
- Injustice: The prevalence of injustice and oppression reflects a world that is not operating as God intended. (Psalm 10:1-2)
- Poverty: Economic disparity and lack can be a result of systemic issues in a fallen world. (Proverbs 14:31)
- Sickness: Disease and illness are part of the fallen condition of the world. (John 9:1-3, although this passage also teaches that sickness is not always a direct result of personal sin)
- Fear and Anxiety: Living in an uncertain and broken world can lead to feelings of fear and anxiety. (Matthew 6:34)
- Confusion: Lack of clarity and understanding can be a result of living in a world marred by sin. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
- Grief and Loss: Experiencing loss and the grief that comes with it is a result of death and brokenness in the world. (John 11:33-35)
- Weariness: Physical and emotional exhaustion can be a part of life in a fallen world. (Matthew 11:28)
- Persecution: Facing opposition for faith in Christ is a reality in a world that is often hostile to God. (2 Timothy 3:12)
- Doubt: Struggling with doubts can be a part of navigating faith in a complex and broken world. (Mark 9:24)
- Disappointment: Experiencing unmet expectations and disappointments is part of life in a fallen world. (Proverbs 13:12)
- Loneliness: Feelings of isolation and loneliness reflect the brokenness of human relationships. (Psalm 25:16)
Each of these fallen conditions can be addressed by the gospel, which offers forgiveness, transformation, and the hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Preachers and teachers can use the concept of Fallen Condition Focus to help their listeners understand how the Bible speaks directly to their lives and how they can apply its truths in a practical way.