What happened to us?

Original Sin: our inherited corruption

Scripture tells reveals to us that all humanity shares one thing in common, we are born sinful. When Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God , they created a situation all their children would inherit, complete corruption.
We are born sinful, separated from God, without true knowledge of God. Even newborn children are born sinful.

NAB Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

God did not create us as sinful beings. Sin is not something that God designed into humanity. The true human nature is without sin. But through sin, the human nature has become corrupted to its core. Separated from God, the human nature pursues a course of selfish and sinful rebellion.

NAB Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

This has some dreadful consequences. Perhaps the most dreadful and most obvious is death.

NAB Ezekiel 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Original sin brings condemnation to all people from the moment of their birth.

NAB Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

NAB Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Our inherited corruption leaves us without a true knowledge or love of God, but rather makes us blind, God’s enemies, and as good as dead in spiritual matters.

NAB Romans 8:7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

NAB Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

NAB Genesis 8:21 . . . . . .  for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

Our inherited corruption leads us into destructive living

Every sin we commit is a sin against God. We may sin directly against Him, of course, but even when we sin against another person, we have sinned against God, because He wants us to love and care for one another.

NAB Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

Our inherited corruption has corrupted even our thoughts, desires, and emotions. Many times this corruption inside of us erupts outward in sinful words and actions as well. This is why when we confess our sins, we confess that we have sinned in thoughts, word {speech}, and deed {actions}.

NAB Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

Original sin leads us to do what we should not do, and to not do what we should do.

NAB James 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

NAB James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

We can even become guilty by association. We may not have committed a certain sin, but God considers us guilty when we condone or support someone else in their commission of a sin.

NAB 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

There are external causes of sin as well. We often find ourselves encouraged to sin by our external circumstances. Our peers can put pressure on us. So can the general lifestyle that we find ourselves in.

NAB Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

NAB Matthew 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
And of course, our great arch enemy, Satan himself, will try to lead us into sin.

NAB Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Because of the action of our first parents, sinful corruption has come into the world. Every single human being is sinful from birth. This corruption brings forth much damage in our lives as it shapes our thoughts, feelings, speaking, and action. And the consequences are severe.

NAB Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Sin is going to remain a part of our lives. There is a saying that says a Christian is not perfect, just forgiven. Even Christians wrestle with sin. But sin remains a danger for a Christian. The danger comes when a Christian chooses to sin and to continue in sin and comes to not care what God says about it. Then a Christian repeats the steps of Adam and Eve. They have abandoned the grace of God for a sinful way of life. Their salvation is in jeopardy. It is not that Christ’s blood is not great enough to forgive, but that the person is rejecting the gift of Christ’s blood for them.

NAB Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

What is right because of Jesus

Thanks to Jesus and His sacrifice of Himself upon the cross, when we do sin we can find forgiveness. For God’s Spirit is at work to bring us to sorrow over our sin, to daily repentance. Daily God’s Spirit leads us to acknowledge our sin and to repent of it. God’s Spirit leads us to seek pardon. We cannot always undo the damage of our sin. But God forgives us. His pardon is as sure as if we had not even sinned.

NAB 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 

copyright Rev. David D. Reedy, 1998

 

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Rev. David D. Reedy 2002

 

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church   

Dayton Tennessee   

423.775.4253

Prince of Peace is a LCMS congregation located in Rhea County Tennessee, serving the entire county of some 32,000 people.