A Sinful Nature?

There is no such thing as a sinful nature. I am speaking biblically now. The terms nature of sin and sinful nature are not found in the Scriptures. We don’t have a nature to sin, we have sin itself in our being, having inherited it from Adam. God looks at man, which He created in His own image, and sees His image tainted with sin.

Just as Paul wrote, “But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good,” Romans 7:20, 21.

One might feel like he, or she, has a sinful nature when he, or she, is tempted; but that feeling is there because sin is actually in us. We were brought forth in iniquity, and in sin our mothers conceived us, Psalm 51:5. Hence, evil is within us.

God also sees and knows we are unable to overcome and rid ourselves of the sin within us. For this reason, He sent the last Adam who was tempted in all things as we are. The last Adam, Jesus, unlike the first Adam, came into the world an infant child and was trained up from childhood, learning obedience from the things which He suffered, Hebrews 5:8. He grew from infancy to manhood living a life in total obedience to the Father, and thereby without sin. Hence, God had His perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

The writer of Hebrews explains in chapter 2, verses 17, and 18, “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Jesus came to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh. Does this mean Jesus was sinful? No. Does it mean Jesus had sin in Him, as do all of Adam’s descendants? No, Jesus’ mother was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, therefore, Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, but without the sin of the first Adam.

The first Adam was CREATED as a mature man in the image of God and given a commandment. Not knowing right from wrong, and having no opportunity to learn obedience, he disobeyed the command. The last Adam, Jesus, was conceived by the seed of the Holy Spirit and was BORN as an infant child, and was trained up in the way He should go (Proverbs 22:6). Having learned obedience from the things He suffered, He obeyed all commands (Hebrews 5:8). (Jesus did not appear IN the image of God, as did Adam, Jesus WAS the image of God).

There are two creations: the first creation is Adam. The second creation is the risen body of Christ. “The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy; the second man [the risen Christ] is from heaven,” 1 Corinthians 15:47. Jesus came to earth as the last Adam, that is, His death brought an end to the first creation, Adam.

This was accomplished by His obedience throughout His entire life, the shedding of His blood, and His becoming sin for us, which He did when placed on the cross—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” Galatians 3:13.

And now whosoever will may become a part of the new creation and leave the old behind. This is done by repentance, rebirth, denying one’s self and taking up one’s cross, and following the risen Christ. And these are all done by faith in what Jesus accomplished as the last Adam and faith in His resurrection, which resulted in the new creation, the body of Christ, or the church of the living God.

But there were two curses to overcome, sin and death. Thus, “But we do see Him, who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings,” Hebrews 2:9, 10.

“Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives,” Hebrews 2:14, 15.

So every Christian is obligated to “walk by the Spirit, in order to not carry out the desire of the flesh,” Galatians 5:16. And, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit [our lives are hidden with Christ in God}, let us also walk by the Spirit,” Galatians 5:24, 25.

We have been crucified, buried, and raised up into newness of life, members of the body of the risen Christ. We must now consider ourselves to be dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

Weigh everything I say on the scales of God’s holy word.

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Published by Jon David Banks