What was the spiritual condition of the world when Christ came?
At Christ’s first advent, the world’s spiritual condition was thoroughly corrupt: sin abounded, and the whole world was steeped in idolatry and paganism. Scripture uses this backdrop to show that where sin increased, grace abounded much more, highlighting humanity’s need for salvation rather than any saving power in the law.
Les explains that by the time Christ came in His first advent, the whole world was steeped in idolatry and paganism, and sin abounded (s603-s606). He notes that the law could only show sin; it had no saving power or power of justification, and it cannot justify today either (s592-s598). Les also says that although sin may seem especially magnified in modern times because of large numbers, human nature has not changed—what we see today has been part of the human race throughout history (s607-s614). The passage then turns to grace: where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (s615-s617).