The Bible has much to say about the concept of the sin nature. At its core, the sin nature refers to the innate predisposition towards sin that all human beings are born with as a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Due to Adam’s original sin of disobedience towards God, all humans since have inherited this bent towards sin. The sin nature is at odds with our original created state of innocence and moral purity, and is the root cause of our alienation from God.
The effects of the sin nature are pervasive and far-reaching. Scripture teaches that everyone sins and falls short of God’s standards (Romans 3:23). From birth, the sin nature inclines us towards pride, selfishness, jealousy, greed, lust, and other vices. We have an innate resistance to submitting fully to God’s authority in our lives. The sin nature distorts our perspectives and inclines our hearts away from our Creator. It is the underlying fountain from which all individual acts of sin arise.
Several key biblical passages highlight the doctrine of the sin nature:
– Psalm 51:5 – “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” This affirms we are born in sin.
– Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Adam’s first sin has led to all humanity inheriting a sin nature.
– Romans 7:18 – “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Our sinful nature inhibits our ability to resist temptation and do good.
– Romans 8:7 – “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Our sinful minds are inclined to rebel against God’s commands.
– Ephesians 2:3 – “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” We are “by nature” objects of God’s wrath due to the sin nature.
– Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” The sin nature produces these sinful desires and deeds.
Theologians down through church history have described the sin nature in terms such as original sin, total depravity, and total inability. Theologically, the sin nature has these characteristics:
– Universal – all descendants of Adam are born with the sin nature. No one is exempt (Romans 5:12).
– Pervasive – the sin nature extends to every part of our being – mind, will, emotions, flesh. No part of us is left unaffected by sin (Psalm 51:5).
– Involuntary – we do not willingly choose to have a sin nature, but inherit it without consent. We are born slaves to sin (Romans 6:16-20).
– Spiritually Dead – the sin nature renders us spiritually dead and separated from God (Ephesians 2:1-3).
– Incurable by Human Efforts – we cannot fix, remove, or improve our sin nature through our own efforts. Self-reformation or behavior change cannot cure it (Jeremiah 13:23).
– Producing Personal Sins – the sin nature expresses itself in actual sins that reflect the motives and lusts of the heart (Matthew 15:19, Galatians 5:19-21). Our sinful choices flow from a sinful nature.
– Requiring a Savior – no one with a sin nature can dwell in God’s presence or be acceptable to Him. We need a redeemer to save us from its curse (Romans 7:24-25).
– Remains in Believers – though forgiven in Christ, the capacity for sin remains even in redeemed Christians. Deliverance from the sin nature awaits glorification (Romans 7:14-25, 1 John 1:8).
Where did the sin nature originate? Again, Genesis recounts how Adam and Eve were created in holiness and moral purity, without defect. Yet when tempted in the Garden, they chose to rebel and disobey God’s express command. Instantly their innocence was lost, and they experienced guilt, shame, and alienation from God (Genesis 3:1-13).
This historic fall introduced sin, suffering, sorrow, disease, pain, and death into God’s originally perfect creation (Genesis 3:14-19; Romans 5:12). From Adam, every person since has been conceived and born with a nature inclined towards sin, rather than neutral or righteous (Psalm 51:5). Just as we inherit genetic traits from ancestors, the sin nature traces back to our representative head Adam. The only exception is Jesus Christ, who while fully human was miraculously conceived without a human father, thus bypassing the legacy of original sin (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35).
Why did God allow such a curse of original sin to abide on the human race? Ultimately, Scripture does not reveal all of God’s reasons. He remains sovereign and His ways unsearchable (Romans 11:33-36). However, we do know:
– Humanity sinned by its own voluntary choice, when other options were available (Genesis 3:1-7).
– The sin nature reveals the seriousness of rebelling against our Creator and His holiness (Romans 1:18).
– God is perfectly just, and cannot overlook mankind’s cosmic treason apart from due punishment for sin (Exodus 34:7; Romans 3:25-26).
– God permitted the bondage to sin and death to glorify His grace, mercy, and redemptive plan in Christ (Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:32-36).
What are the primary effects of the sin nature, aside from personal acts of sin? The Bible teaches the sin nature:
– Corrupted every part of our humanity – mind, emotions, desires, will, relationships, etc. (Romans 1:28-32, 3:10-18; Titus 1:15).
– Subjected creation to futility, groaning, and bondage to decay (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22).
– Caused all physical and spiritual death to enter the human race (Romans 5:12, 6:23).
– Resulted in condemnation and wrath from a holy God (Ephesians 2:3).
– Produced total inability and separation from God (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
– Enslaved humanity under the dominion of Satan and sin (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:26).
Is there any hope for people burdened by indwelling sin (Romans 7:14-25)? Absolutely! Scripture presents Jesus Christ as the only solution to the dilemma of original sin. Through His sinless life, substitutionary death for sins, and victorious resurrection from the grave, Jesus redeems lost sinners from the power, penalty, and (one day) the very presence of sin (Matthew 1:21; Romans 6:1-14; 8:1-4). The Bible teaches that in Christ alone we can find:
– Cleansing from the guilt of sin (1 John 1:7-9).
– Victory over sin’s dominion and addictive power (Romans 6:5-14).
– Progressive sanctification and conformity to Jesus’ image (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
– Confidence to approach God’s throne with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).
– Assurance of spending eternity in God’s presence, free from sin forever (Revelation 21:3-4).
– Present peace and joy despite ongoing struggle with sin (Romans 5:1-2; 14:17).
How do Christians appropriate Christ’s full and finished work of redemption (John 19:30)? They must:
– Repent – agree with God about their sinfulness and turn from it (Luke 5:32; Acts 3:19).
– Have childlike faith in Jesus alone for right standing before God (John 1:12; Romans 3:21-26).
– Follow Jesus as Lord through the Spirit’s power (Luke 9:23; Romans 8:12-13).
– Embrace their identity in Christ as God’s beloved, forgiven children (Galatians 3:26-4:7).
– Walk by the Spirit to overcome the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-18).
– Renew their mind according to biblical truth (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8).
– Hope in the promised restoration of all things in Christ (Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:5).
In summary, the Bible teaches all people are born enslaved to the sin nature as part of Adam’s race. Despite this bleak picture, the good news is Jesus fully redeems all who trust in Him. Believers are given new hearts, adopted as God’s heirs, and promised glorified resurrection bodies free from original sin forever (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49). What was started in evil God promises to use for good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). Even now, followers of Jesus can experience victory over the sin nature’s power through relying on the Holy Spirit and claiming their true identity in Christ. One day, the very presence of sin will be abolished (Hebrews 9:26-28). Until then, Christians look back to Christ’s finished work for them, depend on His ongoing grace within them, and look forward to sinlessness in eternity through Him (Romans 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12).