The bible describes the “natural” man as
- totally darkened and corrupted by sin in his intellect (Ps. 14:3; Rom. 1:21–23; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:5; Eph. 4:23; Gal. 1:6, 7; 1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 3:8)
- in his heart (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Ezek. 36:26; Mark 7:21)
- in his will (John 8:34; Rom. 7:14; 8:7; Eph. 2:3),
- as well as in his conscience (Jer. 17:9; 1 Cor. 8:7, 10, 12; 10:28; 1 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:15)
For the knowledge of truth Scripture always refers us to objective revelation, to the word and instruction that proceeded from God (Deut. 4:1; Isa. 8:20; John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:19; etc.).
Herman Bavinck, Prolegomena, 20
