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The Sin Nature
| There are many images
used to resonate with the human desire for peace and harmony. Sadly
many were used to fuel the self-righteousness of college students in
the 1960s who thought they alone had discovered that war and racism was
bad and that it was incumbent upon them to teach an ignorant world. The
idea of unifying the world might have some merit if people are
basically good. However, unifying the world if people are basically bad
would seem to be a dangerous undertaking. For this reason we should
consider the nature of man.
Everyone born after Adam and Eve (except Jesus) was born helpless,
ignorant, and selfish. Selfishness is our sin nature. It does not sound
like much, but it is our basic problem. People think of sin as
something more like murder or robbery. People think of selfishness as
being rude or pushy. Most see this as two different things. In reality
one might think of it as a spectrum. Most people learn to limit their
selfishness so they conform to social norms and they can avoid prison.
Jesus touched on the broader implication of sin when he described
adultery of the heart. (Matt 5:28)
Rom_14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Faith might be seen as our connection to God. This was lost when Adam
and Eve first sinned. Without a connection to God, our instincts are to
seek that which satisfies our own desires (selfishness). The bible
calls this natural state the flesh.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and
such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom
of God. - Galatians 5:19-21
The bible tells us to put on Christ (Gal 3:27), put off the old man and
put on the new man (Col 3:9-10), and to walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16).
These all describe the new nature that is available to those in Christ.
The key to having this new nature is to make choices that let the old
nature die out. This generally means that we no longer seek after the
self, but live for Jesus and others.
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should
not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them,
and rose again.
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