Sin Nature - In Adam’s Image – part 1

It is amazing how quickly conclusions are drawn up when studying the Bible. Many develop a thought in their mind or experience, and then search the Scriptures in an effort to find support for their thought.  Rather than developing our beliefs prior to reading God’s word, we should be careful to develop our beliefs after reading and studying what God’s word teaches. This method of study will help to keep one from error. If in my mind I believe that man was created with a sin nature, and then I go to the Bible to support this belief, I will no doubt find several verses to support the idea. This is nothing more than the work of the devil who wants to deceive people and keep them from being “saved from their sins.” Instead of personal responsibility, many dismiss their choices as being nothing more than their sinful flesh doing what it is naturally programmed to do. I have listened to countless messages where a pastor admits to sinning time and again because of his wicked flesh. He consents to having no choice or ability in the matter and that he will eventually do what his flesh wants to do. This person is mastered and controlled by sin, and the Bible is clear that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” Christ has set the Christian free from sin. Sin no longer has dominion or power over him (Romans 6). Just recently, I listened to a pastor who admitted to sinning at least 4 times an hour. It is possible for a Christian to sin, possibly even 4 times in an hour! To teach that a person has no control over his actions is to teach a doctrine that is contrary to the teaching of God’s word (“Go and sin no more” John 8:11; Romans 8:2 “free”).  The choice each time is up to the individual and is not a result of their nature (“Sin is the transgression of the law” – I John 3:4).

The first verse often used to support the sin nature argument is Genesis 5:1-3. In this passage, the argument is made that there is a transition between man who was created in the image of God, to man now being created in the image of Adam (sin nature).

Genesis 5:1-3 – "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth."

To teach that all of Adam’s offspring were created with a sin nature is beyond the teaching of Scripture. To better understand this passage, consider Adam and Eve’s first children: Cain and Abel. Both were born of Adam AFTER Adam and Eve’s sin. In Genesis 4:1, Eve accurately says, “I have gotten a man from the LORD.” It is amazing the little things that are missed in the Bible when people only look to support their beliefs! As the story goes on, Cain and Abel “in process of time” brought their offerings unto the Lord. God had respect to Abel and his offering, but had no respect unto Cain and his offering (because he brought the fruit of the cursed ground). Cain was angry over this and the Lord began to speak to him - “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” Cain had an equal opportunity as Abel to do what was right. Instead he chose his own way (Jude 1:11; I John 3:11 – “And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil.”). In relation to Cain, sin was “at the door.” It wasn’t in the door, in his heart, in his nature, in his genetic makeup, etc. It was at the door, and it’s desire was to get in the door. It’s desire was to have and rule over Cain! Cain eventually let sin in and shortly after, he killed his brother.

This is no different than all those born of Adam’s seed (Seth included as well as us). In relation to us, sin was at our door and it’s desire was to get in and rule over us. Unfortunately, sin gets in and shuts everyone’s door. This happens not by conception or by the birth of a person, but at that moment when the person makes the willful decision transgress God’s law. The argument is often made, “What about people who don’t hear or know God’s law?” Thankfully I don’t have to come up with an answer to this question, and that the Lord answered it in Romans 2:14-15 “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.” This verse not only answers that question, but it also shows that God didn’t create man’s nature with sin integrated into it already. Instead the law was written by God upon the heart of all mankind, and our nature attests to this fact.

HOW GREAT IT IS THAT THE LORD STANDS AT OUR DOOR AND KNOCKS!!! As we have chosen to let sin in, much more should we choose to let the Lord in. The Lord can’t be let in, however, if the door remains shut! If a man says, “I want the Lord to come in,” but he wants to keep sin and let sin rule, his door is shut! An open door (wide open) pushes sin out and welcomes the Lord in.

I spent a summer at a church in Las Vegas going door to door witnessing in the local neighborhoods. The response to my knocking reminds me of the responses to the knocking of the Lord. Some would yell out, “Go away!” Others would look out their window or a peep hole out of curiosity and not respond. Some would crack open their door just to see who I was and to have a small, meaningless conversation with me just so they could get back to what they were previously doing. Very few would open their door wide open. The reason is that people don’t want to be bothered, they don’t want to reveal what is inside, or some may have even known that I was there to talk about Christ. Reader, take a look at God’s law – the ten commandments - and realize that you have already opened up your door to sin (read comments under the “Salvation” tab). It has you and is ruling over you. Open the door to Christ who is knocking and patiently waiting for you to let him in. Push sin out the door (repent) and let Christ in and sup with Him (believe).

My hope and prayer is that all who are reading my blog would repent of their sin and be converted. For those who have already done this and are teaching that man is sinful by birth and not by choice – I pray that you will cease to give the unsaved an excuse to continue in their sin, which ultimately is keeping them from opening their door to Christ for salvation.

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” – 2 Corinthians 2:11