You Do Not Have A Sinful Nature

I. Introduction: Sinful nature is also often called Total Depravity or other more subtle terms. The teaching of this doctrine varies based on who teaches it. Some will just misuse Romans 3:23 while others will pervert other Scriptures. We will get into these things in this outlined study.

A. Perverted translations of the Scriptures have the phrase “sinful nature” in them. For example: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out… Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin” (NIV Romans 7:18; 7:25). *Older NIV versions have the same wording in other passages (prior to 2011), but has since changed those. See the Romans Study for notes on these verses: https://www.biblewot.com/romansversebyversenotes.html

1. When you read Romans chapters seven and eight, it is a contrast of living under the Law of Moses vs. the spiritual mindset in Christ (Romans 7:1-7 and Romans 8:1-8).
2. Some say Paul was confessing to have a sinful nature. The truth is, Paul was not literally talking about himself in Romans 7. Read Romans 7:9-10. Would one dare say Paul was alive when Moses gave the law? CONTEXT MATTERS!!!!!!!
3. Again, Romans 7-8 are contrasting the fleshly law of old vs. the spiritual found in Christ. The law of Moses was a carnal law whereas the Law of Christ is not (Hebrews 7:12-19 and Hebrews 9:1-15).

1. It is called hyperbole (exaggeration). In the context of Psalms 51 the Psalmist asks to be restored (Psalms 51:12). Restored to what? If man has a sinful nature there is nothing good to be brought back to? He said he would then teach transgressors and they would be converted (Psalms 51:13). How, if they have a sinful nature?
2. In Psalms 58:3 one is speaking lies as soon as one is born. What lie does a 1 minute old child tell?
3. Hyperbole is a figure of speech used in the Scriptures (i.e. Deuteronomy 9:1 and Psalms 119:136).
4. If Psalm 51:5 and Psalms 58:3 are taken literally, they would contradict many other Scriptures (which we will see in this study). It would contradict Psalms 22:9-10. You have to be capable of reasoning from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2).

1. Cain had a choice, not a nature passed on to him (Genesis 4:1-10 and I John 3:11-12).
2. If a sinful nature was passed on, explain Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5).
3. The very nature of sin, according to God, requires one to choose to do right or wrong (James 1:12-16 and James 4:17).
4. If sin were natural, how would Romans 1:18-28 make any sense?
5. If one is born a sinner because of being Adam’s offspring, what would that mean of Jesus (Luke 3:23-38)? Yet, Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 9:27-28).
6. Think about what was said about the prince of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:15).
7. Concerning little children, Jesus’ teaching on the matter shows children are not little sinners (Mark 10:13-16).

1. Sin separates you from God (Isaiah 59:1-3 and John 9:31).
2. God does not hear the prayer of an unrepentant sinner (I Peter 3:12).

1. The sinner was told to sin no more (John 5:1-14 and John 8:1-11).
2. The choice is to repent or perish (Luke 13:1-9).
3. God doesn’t say we should sin, He says “sin not” (Psalms 4:4 and I Corinthians 15:34).
4. The word of God is our tool to use in not sinning (Psalms 119:11).
5. Grace does not permit us to sin (Romans 6:1-2; 6:14-16).
6. Christians are to be clean from all filthiness of the flesh (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 and Galatians 5:24).
7. Christians are to depart from iniquity (II Timothy 2:19).
8. Yes, you can and are told to cease from sin (I Peter 4:1-5).
9. But, the response is given that “there is none that seeketh after God” and “all have sinned” (Romans 3:12; 3:23). If an honest person reads the context, in light of who it was written to and why, that person would see that the context is to answer the Jews and Gentiles in the church at Rome that thought they were better than the other (Romans 3:9). It is about the pasts of Jews and Gentiles. Both Jew and Gentile needed the Savior (Romans 1:18-3:31).

• This should be easy. If all means everyone, who has ever lived, what would that mean of our sinless Savior who never sinned (Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 9:27-28, I Peter 2:21-23, and I John 3:5)?
• What about Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5)?
• What about Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:5-6)?
• What about little children (Matthew 18:3 and Mark 10:13-16)?

1. No one of us could ever admonish someone else (Matthew 7:1-5) as we are commanded to do (Hebrews 3:13 and I Thessalonians 5:14).
2. You cannot partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-32).
3. Your prayers are an abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9).
4. God has instructed the impossible (ex. Isaiah 1:10-20).
5. All the good you have ever done is useless (Ezekiel 33:13).
6. Jesus isn’t really your example as we are told (I Peter 2:21), because your nature isn’t the same as His.
7. Christ would be the minister of sin (Galatians 2:17).
8. You have earned death (Romans 6:23; cf. Revelation 21:8).
9. And countless more consequences…

1. You’re going to be judged by what you do and do not do (John 5:28-29 and II Corinthians 5:10).
2. If you sin, that does not mean you’re doomed whether you’re a Christian or not. You can repent and be converted [though the process is different for the Christian than the non-Christian] (Luke 15:1-32, Acts 3:19, Acts 26:18-20, I Corinthians 6:9-11 [cf. Acts 18:8], James 5:19-20, and I John 1:9).

- Brian A. Yeager

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