The Origin of the Sin Nature Part 3

The Origin of the Sin Nature Part 3
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In our study of the origin of sin, we have learned that it was through the sin of one man (Adam) that mankind received the nature of sin. Romans chapter 5 and verse 12 says, "...by one man sin ENTERED..." We have also learned the sin nature is located in our flesh, and if we walk in the Spirit through the renewing of our minds, we are no longer under the dominion of sin as we were as unbelievers. Again, it was through a willful act of Adam the sin nature entered into mankind. The first Adam, who was created perfect and without sin, failed. But, where the first Adam failed, Jesus did not. W hen Jesus went to the cross, He went to the cross as a free man who chose to become sin. Adam became sin because he sinned. Jesus became sin because He chose to. Adam had to produce a sin to gain sin. Jesus, of His own free will, took sin upon Himself. But, my friend, it was not His sin; it was our sin. W hen Jesus went to the cross, He became SIN.

People often say, "Jesus died for the sins of all the world." That is a true statement, but the way He died for the sins of all the world was by becoming the sin nature which produced all the sins. He attacked sin at the roots. On the cross, He became the sin nature: He possessed none of His own. John said, "Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." He did not say sins. He said, sin. Jesus took upon Himself sin, therefore, when you and I get born again, we are no longer under the dominion of sin. Romans chapter 5 and verse 12 says again, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin..." The word "by" in the Greek means "through." Satan is the author of death. First, Satan was the author of spiritual death. Adam was God's crowning creation on the earth, and God turned all dominion and authority over to him. Adam was the god of this earth. As God ruled over a place called Heaven, Adam was to rule over a place called Earth, and Earth was beautiful. It was designed to look and function just like the planet called Heaven. What place did Satan desire to take over? God's place. Since Adam was God's crowning creation, Satan was going to get him. Satan possessed spiritual death, and he had to get it from the outside to the inside of that man.

Adam was free--spirit, soul and body. He had no death within him. The doorway for spiritual death was the sin nature. "Wherefore, as by one man (the) sin (nature) entered into the world, and death by (through) sin." It would be similar to standing outside a building with no doors. To enter the building we would need to create an opening through which to enter. In the same way Satan had to find an opening into that man whom God created perfect. The only way he could do it was to tempt Adam to take that sin nature. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." The "death" spoken of in this verse is a double death. The sin nature produced two kinds of death: spiritual death and physical death. When the sin nature entered into the body of Adam, instantly his physical body began to deteriorate. The Bible says this outward man is perishing day by day. What causes us to die physically? The fact that we possess a sin nature. Physical death was not the only result of the sin nature; the sin nature also caused spiritual death within Adam. His spirit became separated from God. Follow me: the sin nature in Adam produced an instant death and a process of death. Instant death was spiritual. The process of death was physical. When Jesus went to the cross, He cursed the sin nature and broke it's power. We are no longer under it's dominion. The moment I accept Jesus as my savior, I receive life. At that same moment, I am able to look forward to the time when the sin nature will be gone and I will possess life in my body forever and ever.

Salvation is present tense, but it is also future tense. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 51 -52: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." The corruptible and the mortal is the body. The incorruptible and immortal is the glorified body—the resurrection body. The dead are also m entioned in this verse. Everyone who dies before the rapture will receive a resurrection body. At the rapture, the dead in Christ will gather their flesh back from the dust, and it will be changed into incorruptible. Only those who are alive will change instantly from human to resurrection flesh. Redemption is past, present, and future. There are parts of your redemption that have yet to be fulfilled—parts that will not be fulfilled until the rapture of the Church.

Verse 54 of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 continues: "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption (at the time of the rapture), and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory." The last victory will be the victory over physical death. Verse 55 continues: "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave (the physical grave), where is thy victory?" Notice in verse 56, the sting of death is sin (singular) or the sin nature. The sting of death is the sin nature, and the strength of the sin nature is the law.

Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 13 tells us how through the new birth Jesus removed the barrier between man and God resulted from the sin nature: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Verse 14: "For he is our peace (reconciliation), who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." The "middle wall of partition" is the sin nature. Jesus went to the cross and broke it down. God did not die on the cross. God could not die. Death is foreign to God. God is eternal life. How can eternal life die? The work of the cross was substitution, and God could not substitute for man. A man had to substitute for man; but the man who went to the cross had to be a spotless lamb, and how could he be spotless? It was only through the virgin birth.

The purpose of the virgin birth was not so God could be pure, God is always pure. The purpose of the virgin birth was so God could come to earth in His humanity and be pure. The work of the cross is actually the work of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus became our substitute: God became a man and went to the cross and suffered for you and for me. Jesus' body—His humanity—became an offering. He could not redeem us until He became a man. Therefore, the virgin birth was to give Him a pure, physical body, without spot.

Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 10 says: "By the which will (New Testament/Covenant) we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Verse 11: "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."

Old Testament sacrifices could never take away sins. Sacrifices could not attack sin at the roots. One man came and became an offering for sin, therefore, I do not have trouble with sins because I have victory over sin. If you are having trouble with sins, it is because you have not taken authority over sin.

Verses 12 and 13 continue: "But this man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foot stool." Verse 14: "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Glory to God—the new birth is forever! John chapter 10 and verse 28 says: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." We have been redeemed forever. Verses 15-17: "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant (or the will) that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Aren't you glad God does not remember your sins? He conquered them at the roots. You say, "Well, I just sinned today." Do you want God to forget it? Just confess it, and put it under the blood, and God forgets it. Verse 18: "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Praise God! Once and for all, Jesus died for sin. Hallelujah!

Bob Yandian

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