SIN

There are three facets to sin: Adam’s original sin, the sin nature, and personal sins. Sin that manifests becomes personal sin. Personal sin is any mental, verbal, or overt activity that violates the character and standards of God.

    Man is born into this world with three strikes against him: Adam’s original sin is imputed at birth; man inherits the nature to sin; and man commits personal sins. Adam’s original sin was disobedience to God’s mandate in the Garden of Eden. Adam ate the forbidden fruit resulting in spiritual death [Adam lost his human spirit resulting in separation from God]. Consequently, Adam’s corrupt nature and spiritual death were passed to all mankind [the imputation of the penalty of Adam’s original sin to the genetically formed sin nature at birth results in each person being born physically alive, but spiritually dead]. The first personal sin, Adam’s original sin, was imputed or officially charged to the entire human race. Since Adam represented the human race, we stand or fall with him.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners. (Rom. 5:19a)

    Through physical birth, we inherit a sin nature. The sin nature is an integral part of every human being which resides in the cell structure of the human body. The sin nature was acquired originally by Adam at his fall and is subsequently passed down genetically to all mankind through procreation. The consequences are spiritual death and total depravity of all humanity, except Jesus Christ. The sin nature is composed of an area of strength, an area of weakness, trends toward legalism or antinomianism, and lust patterns. The volition of Adam is the reason why we all have a sin nature. Adam disobeyed God in the Garden by eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6-8). Adam chose to transgress thereby acquiring a sin nature which he passed on genetically to all mankind. That is what David meant when he wrote, “I was brought forth in iniquity” (Ps. 51:5). By being born through natural procreation, David inherited a sin nature which made him a sinner.

    Consequently, mankind is alienated from God (Gen. 3:2-3; cf. Rom. 5:12). The presence of a sin nature in all members of the human race makes it impossible for anyone to measure up to the perfect righteousness of God.

    The sin nature is the source of temptation to personal sin; our volition is the cause of personal sin. Personal sin is disobedience to God and His expressed will—any mental, verbal, or overt activity contrary to the character and standards of God. Sins are always directed against God, even though they may involve wrongdoing against oneself or others (Ps. 51:4). The Bible defines personal sins by means of several synonyms:

    There are three categories of personal sins: mental attitude sins, sins of the tongue, and overt sins. Mental attitude sins are sins that originate in our mind [what we think]. Examples are: pride, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, vindictiveness, implacability, envy, guilt feelings, fear, worry, anxiety, self-pity. Sins of the tongue are sins that originate through our mouth [what we say]. Examples are: maligning, judging, bullying, gossiping, criticizing, and lying. Overt sins are sins that originate through our actions [what we do]. Examples are: murder, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, and stealing.

    God has a remedy for sin. He gave us the Savior, Jesus Christ. By means of the virgin birth, Jesus Christ came into the world without imputed sin and without a sin nature. He lived a life free from personal sin and, thereby, qualify as the perfect Redeemer of mankind. God also gives us a human spirit, which we receive at salvation, and the indwelling and filling of God the Holy Spirit to keep the temptation to sin from our sin nature at bay.