Man’s Sinful Nature

1. Man’s Sinful Nature NIV Romans 7:18 “in my sinful nature” NIV Romans 7:24 “in my sinful nature”

2. The Philadelphia Confession of Faith • Because Adam sinned, we are born with a “sinful nature” • We are born sinners and there is nothing we can do about it. • We can do nothing good by ourselves • “we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite of all good, and wholly inclined to do evil . . . This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and, although Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and the first motions thereof are truly and properly sin.”

3. The Philadelphia Confession of Faith • Billy Graham (deceased) concerning the virgin birth of Christ: • God chose to have Christ born to a virgin to set Him apart from all others. “Second, theologians have also pointed out that being born apart from the agency of a human father, Jesus broke the cycle of inherited sin which comes upon every person who is born.” • Jesus’ birth gives the believers in inherited sin a great deal of difficulty • Catholics declare that Mary was conceived & born without sin so she could give birth to a sinless Christ • Problem: Inherited sin is from Adam. Luke 3:38 traces Jesus’ lineage back to Adam. How can Jesus descend from Adam without inheriting the sin all supposedly receive?

4. THE FALL OF ADAM • God created man – Genesis 2:7 and everything was very good • Man was given charge to care for the garden - Genesis 2:15-17 • Man and God’s relation was so close that God walked during the cool of the day with Adam – Genesis 3:8 • Yet in Genesis 3:1-6 Man yields to temptation of sin and violates God’s law • The nature & avenue of temptations are same as faced by all men – 1 John 2:15-17

5. THE FALL OF ADAM • Result: Man’s eyes opened – Genesis 3:7; Woman was cursed – Genesis 3:16; Man was cursed – Genesis 3:17-19 • Adam & Eve were given proper clothing – Genesis 3:21 • They died spiritually that day – Genesis 3:23,24 • They eventually died physically – Genesis 5:5 • So far, we all agree – but what happened to Adam’s children?

6. ADAM’S CHILDREN • Cain – Genesis 4:4-7 • Calvinism teaches that sin was already in Cain! • God said it was about to enter! • Enoch walked with God – Genesis 5:21-24 • How could he if he was born in sin? • God does not have fellowship with those in sin

7. Adam’s Children • Isaiah 59:1,2 – YOUR sins separated you from God • 1 John 1:5 – “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” • Noah also walked with God – Genesis 6:9 • Conclusion is that man does not inherit sin, but is responsible for his own actions

8. Scriptures • Ezekiel 18:1-4 “the soul who sins shall die” • Ezekiel 18:20 “the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” • Colossians 3:25 “one who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done,”

9. Calvinistic “Proof Texts” • Psalm 51:5 • Is David agonizing over the sin he inherited from his mother? • Is he grieved for being as illegitimate son? • No – 1 Samuel 16:10,11 • This was after Nathan confronted David with his sin – 2 Samuel 12:1-7 • Psalm 51:1-4; 22:9,10

10. Calvinistic “Proof Texts” • Romans 3:23 – “all have sinned” • James 1:14,15 – “desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin..” • Romans 5:12 – Death passes to all men because all men have sinned – not because they inherited it from Adam

11. INHERITED SIN IS A MYTH • A child enters life in purity & innocence • Young have no knowledge of good or evil- Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 7:15,16 • Jesus said the kingdom is composed of people like little children – Mark 10:14 • Become like children to enter kingdom- Matthew 18:3 • People punished for their own sins – Colossians 3:5