Believer's Guide to Corrosion

In fact, corrosion was mentioned many times in the Holy Bible. The topic of corruption ought to bring to mind many teachings of Scripture. When the Reformed teacher teaches students about "rust" and "corrosion", he should take time to discuss what Scripture says about corruption. (reference)

As a result of the Fall, sin and "corruption" entered into the Creation, bringing forth physical death.

Romans 8:20-22 "for the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
Genesis 3:19b "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"
Sin, itself, is called "corruption".
Isaiah 38:17 "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back".
Peter 2: 12 "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things which they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption (sin)". As a result of sin, man is totally depraved. His nature is totally corrupt and will bring forth only sin and corruption, unless changed by the Holy Spirit. Sin brought spiritual death.
Psalm 53:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good".
Matthew 7:17,18 "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit".
Cor. 15: 21-22 "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". We are called to live as pilgrims and strangers. This is because we seek a spiritual kingdom – not an earthly physical kingdom. Therefore, we are commanded to store up "spiritual" treasures where moth and rust do not destroy, rather than to store up "physical/earthly" treasures where moth and rust do destroy.
Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal". This gives us great hope that we shall be delivered to glory where there will be no sin, death, and corruption.
Rev. 21: 4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things are passed away".
Cor 15:51ff "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality . . . .O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

As we bring forth the concepts in Chemistry about how metals undergo corrosion, it is a timely opportunity to once again bring forth the truths of Scripture about how we have been corrupted by sin, both physically and spiritually, how the whole creation suffers and is corrupted by sin, and how we shall be finally changed so that we are incorruptible, without sin, without blemish, like our Lord Jesus Christ.(reference)

Be sure that the students do not misunderstand us here. Do not let them think that metals just have some surface tarnishing or corrosion, and therefore, man is not totally depraved. Remind them that we are spiritually dead apart from grace. True it is that when metal corrodes it still is metal. True it is, that when man sinned he still was man (Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 14 "corrupt in all his ways, he hath lost all his excellent gifts, which he had received from God, and only retained a few remains thereof, (that he is still a moral, rational creature – the pinnacle of Creation)), but nevertheless, man is totally corrupt apart from the renewing grace of God. Do not allow any common grace to wiggle its way in here.(reference)

See also: Restoration of Christ the Redeemer