I hear the word toxic used a lot. We toss it around like “bullying,”
Toxic is a qualifier. We often apply it to people instead of to actions. He/she is “toxic,”
A person doesn’t have a negative trait that makes them less human or less deserving of grace. We all have a sin problem. That means we naturally do evil, and doing good is nearly impossible, at least with the right motives. So in a sense, we’re all “toxic,” until we know Christ. And a person who knows Christ may be just as “toxic” (sinful) without being filled with the Spirit.
It’s hard for me to explain spiritual things, and I’m no Paul. Yet I can’t think of a single verse or verses to quite cover this. Maybe “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” a quick read of Romans 3:10-18 describes every human without God’s grace, without Jesus. Maybe.. “hurt people hurt other people” or something.
I know that before Jesus I was in despair. I had a deep loneliness I couldn’t alleviate. Then, when I accepted Jesus, it was like that dark deep pit had a bit of cool, clean water at the bottom of it. It gradually filled, and although it’s not perfect (because I still sin), it’s bearable. I don’t think Jesus wants us to be successful, or perhaps even truly happy in this life, at least not so in love with the world that we become enemies of God (see book of James), but for me, Jesus makes life bearable. It was unbearable without Him. He came to give us “abundant life”, and I have that sometimes, but even when I step off the path, The Holy Spirit still deep inside like that pool of water, ready to gush forth like a brook when I repent and turn to Him, and keeping just enough moisture that I’m able to live.
People have this idea that You turn to God once and that you’re saved. I do believe that, but I also think that Christians repent (or turn) again and again. Job had to repent, David had to repent, Moses, Jonah. We turn to God again and again until we meet Him face to face, and we are ever in His presence, in Heaven.
John 3:18
You’re familiar with John 3:16. Have you ever read the next few verses?
John 3:16-19 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16-19&version=NIV
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus is the Life, and without Jesus, you will never know Life. Knowing Jesus and God is eternal life. Jesus is the only path to the Father (God). “No one comes to the Father except” through Him.
Hope that helps. Try not to toss around those words so flippantly. They can do some real damage.