Are We Born Sinners

Are We Born Sinners

 What is Sin?

1 John 3:4 KJV

Sin is a transgression of the Law. 

Note: Sin is a transgression

• to commit a trespass (an action or an act)

What Law? 

Romans 7:7

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Note: You should not covet. One of God’s Ten Commandments Law

Can one choose to sin?

Yes. Sin is a choice, you can choose to steal or not. You can choose to lie or not. You can choose what you want to do because you are in control of your actions.

What about thinking about sinning like committing adultery?

Matthew 5:27‭-‬28 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Note: It says to lust for her

• It comes with committing the act of lust and not just seeing a woman. 

• So one can see a woman and not commit the act of lust because lust is a choice.

Romans 7:25 NKJV

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

• Note: We become what we think about: Prov 23:7 As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. (Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius 121-180 AD concluded that “we think about”)

James 1:13‭-‬15 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

I thought we were born with sin? 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalms 127:3 NKJV

• God is righteous, good, holy

(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

Luke 2:23 NKJV

As we have seen, sin is a choice. Although we are born with a sinful nature, this is different from being born with sin.

To be born with a sinful nature is to have a desire to sin that dwells within us. This is the thing that leads us to sin, yet this still leaves sin being a choice. One chooses to sin or not to sin.

1 John 3:8,9

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

This is why we must be born again to do away with our sinful nature and to be born of God or in the Spirit of God

Our sinful nature is also known as our carnal way. Consider the following verse: 

Romans 8:8‭-‬9 NKJV

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Romans 8:8‭-‬9 NKJV

Thus when we are born again we are in the Spirit of God: 

Romans 8:10 NKJV

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Don’t we inherit our parents' sin? Since Adam and Eve sinned doesn't it get passed down to us?

No. Consider the following verse: 

Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Yes, we may have to deal with the repercussions of our parents because of their actions. Yet we are not at fault for what (Sin) they did. 

So when Adam and Eve sinned, their actions led them to be cast out of the Garden of Eden and Cain and Abel had to live in those conditions of hard labor. 

Even before Cain rose against his brother to kill him God warned Cain about what he was thinking about doing. It wasn’t a sin till Cain followed through with his thoughts. 

Genesis 4:6‭-‬7 NKJV

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

• Note: Sin lies at the door. It is an action or a step that one needs to take.

Knowing that we do have a sinful nature is why Jesus can relate to us so much more because He knows what it is like to want to sin and not do it. Consider the following verse: 

Hebrews 4:15‭-‬16 NKJV

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is why we can call upon the Father and ask for forgiveness through Jesus' name. Because He knows what struggle we go through and how weak our flesh is. 

• Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NKJV

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 NKJV