Featured The Sin Nature

The material on the "sin nature" in this OP is provided by Kenneth Wuest (1893-1961), former professor of the "New Testament Greek," Moody Bible Institute.

It's vital that we grasp an understanding of the sin nature in order to build a foundation in which to approach this all important chapter 6 of Romans. This is what I will attempt to do in the OP, and hopefully, Lord willing, we can move on into the chapter with a better understanding of exactly what the great apostle is teaching us.

Mr. Wuest gives us the definition of the sin nature.

"The sin or evil nature is actually the Adamic nature which imprisoned man at the fall. It has poisoned the entirety of the human race and for all time. It is the nature which encourages sin and which against, man is powerless.

At Calvary Jesus broke the hold of this deadly yoke. However, He did allow it to remain, but powerless. Its remaining is a disciplinary measure. If the Believer correctly follows Christ, there is no problem; however, if we yield to temptation and sin, and then try to overcome in the flesh, the sin nature comes alive with serious consequences.

So, in this chapter we will study this all important subject of sin in the life of the Christian, why it is there, and the victory afforded by Christ -- the only victory there is incidentally."

The Christian and the Sin Nature

When the medical profession speaks of a disease germ that has not yet been isolated, it means that germ has never been identified and thus isolated from those germs which are known. Since that germ has never been identified, medicine has not been able to discover a remedy for it. Once the germ has been isolated, a remedy can usually be found. This is the case of the Believer.

The Christian who has never isolated the evil nature -- that is, who has not discovered the Truth of Romans Chapter 6 where God through the Apostle Paul describes the inner change which occurs at the moment he is saved, and also the Christians adjustment to this inner change, does not have consistent victory over it. But when in the Christian's thinking, this matter is cleared up and this nature isolated, he has the remedy which will enable him to gain consistent victory over sin in his life.

The Bible has thus isolated the germ called sin; identifying it as the fallen nature received of Adam. This nature remains in the individual even after God has saved him, as we learn from 1 John 1:8,

"If we say that we have no sin (sin nature), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

God, in salvation breaks the power of this sinful nature over the Believer, but leaves it in him as a disciplinary measure. When the Believer refuses its behests, saying a complete "Yes" to Jesus Christ, he glorifies God, defeats Satan, and grows in spiritual strength and stature.

If the Believer expects to to gain consistent victory over this nature, He must know two things: A. What God has done in his inner being with regard to that nature; B. What adjustments it is necessary for him to make in relation to it. These two things Paul takes up in chapter 6, which we are now studying.

Sorry for the long post, just one more thing concerning the approach to Chapter 6, as we learn how to learn from the Apostle Paul. Mr. Wuest continues.

The first thing we must settle, regards the word "sin." Does it refer here to acts of sin committed by the Believer, or to the depraved nature (sin nature) still in him?

Inasmuch as the definite article appears before the word "sin" in the Greek Text, in other words, "the sin" this means we are referring here to the sin nature, actually to sin reigning as a king (Rom. 5:21).

Every time the word "sin" is used in this Chapter 6 as a noun, if the reader will substitute the words "sinful nature" or "sin nature" in its place, interpretation will be much easier.

Hopefully we can build a foundation on what Mr. Wuest has here given us. And If anyone would like to go into this Chapter 6 of Romans to understand exactly what Paul is saying about this sin nature, let's do it!

 

"Being sold under sin" and "the sin nature" is the same concept.

The result of being sold under sin is the sin nature.

Rom. 5:20, ...where sin abounded..., does not have the Greek definite article before it. Therefore it would be interpreted as a verb, the acts of sin.

Rom. 5:21 That sin has reigned unto death..., has the Greek definite article, and the word "sin" is a noun, "the sin nature."

Rom. 5:21 is where Paul began to use the Greek definite article.

 

It would have been clear and easy to understand if the translators had placed the Greek definite articles in the context.

You see, Paul didn't use the definite article all the way through the entire 6th Chapter of Romans. But Kenneth Wuest points out that if you use it while reading the Chapter it will be much easier to understand.

 

This is where we need to get into the Chapter where Paul associates "the flesh" with the sin nature.

The sin nature is an on-going conflict because of the weakness of the flesh, the flesh is where the sin nature abounds. When we yield to the temptation the sin nature takes its natural course of sin. But will lie dormant if we refuse the temptation. This is where Paul introduce "walking in the Spirit" to defy the sin nature of it's natural course.

 

Rom. 6 and Gal. 5 go hand in hand, you can't discuss one without the other to complete the understanding.

When both these chapters are put together and explained, then the understanding comes together.

As I told you before this is not easy and must be explained together.

This is also the reason the sin nature is not very well understood in the Church.

 

There's no expense, only enhancement to understanding.

Paul is discussing the same thing in Gal. 5 as in Rom. 6, only to a different audience.

Together the picture is fine-tuned.

 

The sin nature is an inheritance passed down to man through Adam.

Christ was conceived of the Spirit, not by the seed of Adam, the sin nature was not passed to Him.

 

If Christ had been conceived of Joseph (His supposed father) then Christ would have received the inheritance of the sin nature, by way of Adam's seed.

Christ was 100% God and at the same time 100% man. I know that's difficult to understand.

Ps. 51:5
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

David tells us that we are born in sin from birth. That's because we have inherited the sin nature from Adam.

Christ, the perfect sacrifice for our sins could not be born in sin. That was the purpose of the virgin birth, so the sin nature would not be passed to Him.

Christ is same man that Adam was before he sinned in the Garden, without the sin nature. Christ had no sin nature, but yet He was 100% man.

He is made exactly like us but without the sin nature.

 

Mary the Mom of Christ had a sin nature. She was born of the seed of man/Adam.

The sin nature comes from the seed of man, Christ was born of the Spirit with no seed of man.

You'll have ask God how He formed Christ in womb, and how that worked, I haven't a clue.

LOL, no , there are some here who verify that I'm not a Catholic.

 

LOL, Jon, you don't disagree on part of the sin nature, you disagree on all of it.

And that's fine! You're dead set against it and it seems we will have to agree to disagree.

Nothing I can say that's going to suit you.

 

If you don't believe that we have a sin nature, then I can't explain anything to you.

On the other hand, if you do believe we have a sin nature, I can explain it very easily.

So what do you believe?

 

If you want to see the sin nature of man live and in action,

place 2 toddlers in the same playpen with one rubber ducky.