At What Point Did We Become Sinners?
At what point did you and I personally become sinners - that is, guilty, lost, and condemned to death? Were we born sinners or did we become sinners at some point in our lives? Is sin the actual nature that we are born with or is sin a choice?
These are very important questions. In fact, they are critical deciding factors when we are choosing which gospel message to follow - the true one or a false one. This is because our understanding of sin directly influences our understanding of salvation.
There are two main understandings of sin within Christianity:
Definition A - Sin is our fallen nature itself:
‘Original Sin’ – the state in which we are born because of Adam’s sin.
We are born sinners - lost, condemned, and guilty - at birth because we are descendants of Adam and have inherited a fallen nature.
We are born lost before any choices are made, before we have any knowledge of what is right or wrong.
Definition B – Sin is a choice:
When Adam sinned, something changed in his nature, changing it from a perfect and obedient one, to a disobedient, self-orientated one.
We all inherit this fallen nature from Adam. This means that it’s more natural to do wrong than it is to do right. There is an inclination to wrong-doing.
But though we have inherited Adam’s fallen nature, we are not born sinners.
We become sinners before God - lost, condemned, and guilty - when we personally choose to rebel against God's revealed will.
We are going to suggest at the start of this study that the sin which we are lost, condemned and made guilty for is Definition B: Sin is a choice.
But let’s see if the Bible supports this view. We’ll begin with this question:
Does God hold us accountable for the wrong things we do, if we did not know they were wrong?
Acts 17:30
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Hebrews 5:2
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
These verses tell us that when we are ignorant of what is right and wrong, God “winks” or overlooks those things, and He has compassion towards us. Why? Because God is just and fair. We are not lost, condemned and guilty for the things we do not know.
But what about being wilfully ignorant? Does God “wink” at or overlook our ignorance if we have had the opportunity to know better but have intentionally neglected the opportunities?
Hebrews 2:2, 3
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
God does not overlook our ignorance caused by neglect.
However, those who through no fault of their own, who do not have a knowledge of God’s truth will be held accountable for their response to the light which they do have:
Romans 2:14, 15
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Every single person has a conscience – a moral compass – which tells them what is right and what is wrong. Those who do not have a knowledge of God’s truth – through no fault of their own – will be judged according to how they respond to their consciences.
So, when does God hold us accountable for the wrong things we do?
Let’s look at two instances in the book of John:
John 9:39-41
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
John 15:22-24
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
Before the Pharisees were presented with the truth and shown evidences of it, they did not sin – or were not guilty. However, when the truth / light came and they rejected it, this is when they were made guilty and condemned for their wrongdoing.
Let’s continue to look into this:
John 3:19
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Condemnation comes when we choose darkness instead of light; wrong instead of right; and error instead of truth. When we reject the light revealed to us, this is when we are condemned. So, we actually condemn ourselves in the way we respond to the light.
Within the book of James, there is a single verse which summarises and explains the points we have looked at so far:
James 4:17
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
This verse is as plain as it comes. The sin that we are guilty for, is dependent on our knowledge of what is good. When we know what is good, right, and true, but we do not do it, and we choose to reject and rebel against it, this is when we have sinned the sin that makes us personally guilty before God.
Simply put: The sin we are made guilty for is a sin of choice.
Is this true when we look back at the first sin committed by Adam and Eve?
Genesis 2:16, 17
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Adam and Eve were well acquainted with the knowledge of God’s instruction of right-doing. But what did they do to bring upon themselves guilt and condemnation?
Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Adam and Eve chose to rebel against the revealed will of God – this was their sin; and the sin we are made guilty for is exactly the same – one of choice.
This is the PROBLEM; the gospel has the SOLUTION.
Guilt cries out for forgiveness; therefore, we need a Saviour to forgive it and take away the condemnation:
Acts 13:38
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We also need God’s strength to make the right choices:
2nd Corinthians 12:9
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Jude 1:24, 25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
God’s grace is His strength that He gives to us to do all the things He requires. He has the power to keep us from falling – sinning – if we come to Him. God has everything sorted; His plan of salvation is air-tight.
Our understanding of sin and what it is that we are lost for, not only helps us understand salvation, but it paints a correct picture of the character of God. God is not unjust or unfair.
We hope that you found this study insightful.
Please look out for our next study on Sin: Original Sin?
by LetterBox Bible