July 19, 2005

light.gif   Born In Sin A Born Sinner?

Since we are born in sin are we born a sinner? Having a clear understanding of this issue will help us in our daily christian walk.

Consider the following passages:

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

- Psalm 51:5

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.

- 1 Corinthians 15:21,22

When we were born we were born in sin. Because of Adam's sin, all humanity inherited the results of sin including death.

But does this make a newborn baby a sinner? What is sin, anyway?

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

- 1 John 3:4

Sin is breaking of God's law. Is a newborn baby capable of breaking God's law - have other gods; take God's name in vain, make graven images; not keep the Sabbath day holy; not honoring one's parents, etc?

Hardly! The baby has committed no sin. Therefore, he is not a sinner.

"But," you ask. "The Bible said 'in sin did my mother conceive me', doesn't that make me a sinner?"

Yes, we are born in sin, we inherit all the results of sin, including the sinful tendencies our character will have. But this does not make us a sinner automatically!

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

- Ezekiel 18:20

Adam's sin is not your or my sin. While we inherit the effects of sin by his sin we are only responsible for the sins we commit ourselves. Yes, we are born at a disadvantage. We already have a flaw - that of a human nature with a built-in tendency to sin.

The good news is that our Master also inherited this tendency yet overcame! And because he overcame, we can also overcome with his help. We can do all things through Christ who empowers us!

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

- Hebrews 2:16-18

Christ inherited the very same human nature we inherit from Adam - that of a fallen humanity degenerated with thousands of years of sin and its effects. Christ was "in all things ... made like unto his brethren" - exactly like us, with no special advantage. He had the same tendencies and propensities to sin but did not sin!

Some people would strongly disagree that Christ had the very same human nature we have along with the same sinful tendencies and propensities and would quote books.

Unfortunately, they're only seeing half of the picture.

Yes, Christ have the same sinful tendencies and propensities as we have but he also did not have the same sinful tendencies and propensities we have.

Is this double-talk?!

No! Christ had the same sinful tendencies and propensities we have by inheriting the same human nature after Adam sinned but he did not generate or create his own sinful tendencies and propensities because he did not sin! Because Christ, along with all of us, was born in sin and inherited the sinful nature as a result of Adam's sin) we can say he had the same sinful tendencies and propensities.

But, because Christ did not sin, we can also say he did not have sinful tendencies and propensities.

How is this so?

A habit is formed when a task is repeated over and over again. Pathways in the brain develop and are strengthened. Sin is the same way physically. A pathway in the brain is developed and strengthened everytime we commit the same sin.

In Christ's case, he inherited sinful human nature but did NOT develop or generate his own sinful tendencies and propensities because he did not sin. And the good news is we don't have to retain any sinful tendency or propensity!

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

- Philippians 2:5

We need to have his mind be in us. We need to "die daily" and let Christ live through us. Otherwise, we will never get rid of our sinful tendencies and propensities. Where Adam failed, Christ - the second Adam - succeeded.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

- 2 Corinthians 5:19

Christ reconciled us back to God. At the cross, he offers justification for anyone who believes in him. It is NOT automatically given to everyone but for anyone who accepts God's offer through his Son's death.

Yes, humanity was reconciled back to God but it is conditional and individual, not to corporate humanity.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

- Romans 8:1

There is a stipulation - "to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Accepting Christ is not a one-time event. It must be a continuous relationship. It is not a once-saved-always-saved proposition.

The good news is Christ overcame sin despite being "in all things" like you and me - inheriting a sinful nature. And, we too, can be overcomers - not by our own power - but through Christ.

This is what God's real grace is all about - being forgiven of past sins, empowered to live righteously and credited with Christ's righteousness if we choose to accept.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

- James 2:23

Abraham chose to believe. Based on this decision, God imputes Christ's righteousness.

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

- Romans 4:22

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

- Galatians 3:6

What was imputed or accounted to him for righteousness? The fact that Abraham believed GOD. His faith, his belief, was proven by His work [the fruit] which was empowered by God, lest Abraham [nor any of us] should boast.

The statement "faith without works is dead" readily comes to mind. Abraham's decision to believe God, even though it was empowered or IMPARTED by God, was imputed to him for righteousness. Noah 'moved with fear' and built the ark to the saving of his family. His decision to choose God is evidenced by his 'moving' to build the ark and "became heir of the righteousness which is by faith"!

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

- Hebrews 11:7

Bottom line: both faith and righteousness come from God! We have nothing to do with it - just our cooperation because God will never save us against our will.

To believe means to know and do. Professing to believe in God's only begotten Son does not necessarily mean one is following Christ's beliefs and practices. It's one thing to talk and talk. It's another thing to walk the walk. We must believe and practice as our Master believed and practiced. A true christian is one who follows Christ, not other christians, creeds or churches.

Does Christ believe and/or behave the same way you do?

It's up to you to choose and decide to accept God's grace and as soon as you do, Christ's righteousness is credited to you provided you accept the empowerment God provides through Christ.

Accept this by faith.

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

- James 2:17,18

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