Sinners by Choice, not Nature'

1
Sinners by Choice, not
Nature.
2
Were only Human, Born
to Make Mistakes!?!

• The world teaches that every person is born in
  sin, that is within mans nature to commit evil.
• Most denominations also teach that we are born in
  sin, sinners by nature and not strictly by
  choice.
• Understanding what the Scriptures teach is of
  great significance to the plan of salvation, our
  beliefs, and our attitude toward sin in living
  for God.

3
Every Person is born innocent and pure before God.

• Our spirits were made in Gods image (Gen.
  126-27).

4
Genesis 126-27 (NASB)

• 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image,
  according to Our likeness and let them rule over
  the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky
  and over the cattle and over all the earth, and
  over every creeping thing that creeps on the
  earth." 27 And God created man in His own image,
  in the image of God He created him male and
  female He created them.

5

• We were made
  in the image of God meaning the spirit of man
  was made in His likeness
  (cf. John 424 Luke 2439).

6

• We are the offspring of God (Acts 1729) we
  resemble God in that we are special and
  intelligent beings set apart from the rest of
  creation.

7
Every Person is born innocent and pure before God.

• Our spirits were made in Gods image (Gen.
  126-27).
• Our bodies are wonderfully and fearfully made
  by God Himself! (Ps. 13913-16).

8
Psalms 13913-14 (NASB)

• 13 For Thou didst form my inward parts Thou
  didst weave me in my mother's womb. 14 I will
  give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and
  wonderfully made Wonderful are Thy works, and my
  soul knows it very well.
• Our body of flesh is not inherently sinful!

9
Our bodies are wonderfully and fearfully made
by God Himself!

• Jesus was born in the flesh (Gal. 44), dwelling
  in a body which the Father had prepared for Him
  (Heb. 105).

10
Jesus was born in the flesh, but was
not born in sin!

• Hebrews 214 (NASB) Since then the children
  share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise
  also partook of the same, that through death He
  might render powerless him who had the power of
  death, that is, the devil.

11
Jesus was born in the flesh, but was
not born in sin!

• Hebrews 217 (NASB) Therefore, He had to be made
  like His brethren in all things, that He might
  become a merciful and faithful high priest in
  things pertaining to God, to make propitiation
  for the sins of the people. cf. Phil 27

12
Jesus had flesh of sin
meaning flesh subject to sin,
not sinful flesh.

• Romans 83 (Darby)
  For what the law could not do, in
  that it was weak through the flesh, God, having
  sent his own Son, in likeness of flesh of sin,
  and for sin, has condemned sin in the flesh.

13
Hebrews 415 (NASB)

• For we do not have a high priest who cannot
  sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has
  been tempted in all things as we are, yet without
  sin.

14
Jesus was born in the flesh, but was
not born in sin!

• To suggest that Jesus was the exception to the
  rule is to erroneously teach that Jesus had an
  advantage in the flesh in overcoming sin that we
  do not!

15
Every Person is born innocent and pure before God.

• Our spirits were made in Gods image.
• Our bodies are wonderfully and fearfully made
  by God Himself!
• Jesus declared that the kingdom of God belongs to
  people who are like little children, including
  babies.

16
Luke 1815-16 (NASB)

• 15 And they were bringing even their babies to
  Him so that He might touch them, but when the
  disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16
  But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the
  children to come to Me, and do not hinder them,
  for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these

17
Luke 1817 (NASB)

• "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive
  the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter
  it at all."

18
Matthew 184 (NASB)

• Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he
  is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

19
Question

• Why would Jesus use infants and small children as
  models for disciples to imitate in character if
  they were (as Calvinists say)
  utterly depraved and made
  opposite to all good and wholly inclined to
  evil!?!

20
Every Person is born innocent and pure before God.

• Our spirits were made in Gods image.
• Our bodies are wonderfully and fearfully made
  by God Himself!
• Jesus declared that the kingdom of God belongs to
  people who are like little children, including
  babies.
• Every person is born into the world pure and free
  from sin.

21
Every person is born into the world pure and free
from sin.

• Calvinists quote Psalms 515 as proof of being
  born in sin.

22
Psalms 511-3 (NASB)

• 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy
  lovingkindness According to the greatness of Thy
  compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me
  thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from
  my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my
  sin is ever before me.

23
Psalms 514-5 (NASB)

• 4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and
  done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art
  justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless
  when Thou dost judge. 5 Behold, I was brought
  forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived
  me.

24

• David confessed his sin and begged for
  forgiveness (vs. 1-3) by
  poetic expression, David declares that compared
  to God, his condition is exceedingly sinful as if
  he had always been sinful even from birth (vs
  4-5).

25
Poetic exaggerations (hyperboles) are used
throughout Psalms

• Another example Psalms
  583 (NKJV) The wicked are estranged from the
  womb They go astray as soon as they are born,
  speaking lies.

26
1 Timothy 115 (NKJV)

• This is a faithful saying and worthy of all
  acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world
  to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

27
The truth Every child is born into the world
pure and free from sin.

• Ezek 2815 (NKJV) You were perfect in your ways
  from the day you were created, till iniquity was
  found in you.

28
When Exactly Do People Become Sinners? (Romans
77-12).

• Sin needs law to stay alive. (Rom. 77-9).

29
Romans 77 (NASB)

• 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it
  never be! On the contrary, I would not have come
  to know sin except through the Law for I would
  not have known about coveting if the Law had not
  said, "You shall not covet."

30
Romans 78-9 (NASB)

• 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the
  commandment, produced in me coveting of every
  kind for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 And I
  was once alive apart from the Law but when the
  commandment came, sin became alive, and I died.

31
Sin needs law to stay alive.

• For there to be sin lawlessness must be committed
  (1 John 34) - a deviation from the law of God.
• The power of sin comes from the law (1 Cor.
  1556).

32
When Exactly Do People Become Sinners? (Romans
77-12).

• Sin needs law to stay alive. (Rom. 77-9).
• Every person, at one time alive spiritually
  apart from the law (i.e., before the law
  arrived) (Rom. 79a).

33
Romans 79 (NASB)

• And I was once alive apart from the Law but
  when the commandment came, sin became alive, and
  I died.
• When was Paul once alive apart from the law?
• Answer Before the commandment came
  (i.e. during his childhood).

34
A Sinner at
the Age of Accountability

• Until Paul gained the maturity to grasp the law
  and had reached the age of accountability for
  keeping law, Paul was not a sinner, dead in
  sin, or separated from God!

35

• This is proof positive that everyone is born in a
  pure and sinless state or alive spiritually
  from the start! (e.g. Rom.
  911).

36
When Exactly Do People Become Sinners? (Romans
77-12).

• Sin needs law to stay alive.
• Every person at one time was alive spiritually
  apart from the law (i.e., before the law
  arrived) (Rom. 79a).
• The commandment (or law) meant for life instead
  results in death because of our transgression of
  it (our choice!)

37
Romans 710-12 (NASB)

• 10 and this commandment, which was to result in
  life, proved to result in death for me 11 for
  sin, taking opportunity through the commandment,
  deceived me, and through it killed me. 12 So
  then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is
  holy and righteous and good.

38
Proverbs 1916 (NASB)

• He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but
  he who is careless of his ways will die.

39
Each Individual is Held Responsible for the
Choices He or She Makes.

• Each individual will be held accountable for his/
  her own conduct on Judgment Day (e.g. Mat.
  1236-37 Rom. 26 1412 2 Cor. 510 1
  Pet. 117).
• Neither sin nor righteousness can be transferred
  from one person to another (Ezekiel 181-20).

40
Ezekiel 1820 (NASB)

• "The person who sins will die. The son will not
  bear the punishment for the father's iniquity,
  nor will the father bear the punishment for the
  son's iniquity the righteousness of the
  righteous will be upon himself, and the
  wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

41

• Where is even one verse in the Bible that teaches
  we can be condemned for another persons sin!?!
  (e.g., Such as
  Adams?)

42
We are not Made Sinners it
is a Choice!

• Adam introduced sin into the world (Rom. 512a).

43
Romans 512 (NASB)

• Therefore, just as through one man sin entered
  into the world, and death through sin, and so
  death spread to all men, because all sinned.

44

• Adams sin,
  the first violation of Gods law in which sin
  had its origin in the world, created conditions
  which made everyone subject to
  temptation
  (Gen. 216-17 36
  cf. 1 Tim. 214 1 Cor. 1013).

45
We are not Made Sinners it
is a Choice!

• Adam introduced sin into the world (Rom. 512a).
• Through Adams sin, spiritual (and physical)
  death entered the world (Rom. 512a).

46
Through Adams sin, death entered the world

• As a consequence for Adams sin, the punishment
  of death was given just as God had promised (Gen.
  217).
• Adam and Eve did not die physically that day
  (Adam lived 930 yrs! Gen 55). Instead they died
  spiritually, for their sin separated them from
  God.
• They were also kept from the tree that provided
  immortality (Gen. 324). As a
  result, they eventually did die a physical death.

47
We are not Made Sinners it
is a Choice!

• Adam introduced sin into the world (Rom. 512a).
• Through Adams sin, spiritual (and physical)
  death entered the world (Rom. 512a).
• Death eternal has spread to all men because all
  have sinned.

48
Romans 512 (NASB)

• Therefore, just as through one man sin entered
  into the world, and death through sin, and so
  death spread to all men, because all sinned
  cf. Rom. 323

49
Even before the Law (of Moses) was given, sin
was in the world

• Romans 513 (NASB) for until the Law sin was in
  the world but sin is not imputed when there is
  no law.
• Sin cannot be charged to ones account when there
  is no law and thus man has always had law
  (Gen. 9 Rom.
  118-20 212-15).

50

• Thus, even from the very beginning, people have
  chosen to violate law.

51
We are not Made Sinners it
is a Choice!

• Adam introduced sin into the world (Rom. 512a).
• Through Adams sin, spiritual (and physical)
  death entered the world (Rom. 512a).
• Death eternal has spread to all men because all
  have sinned.
• Those who receive eternal death for their sins
  cannot blame Adam!

52
The consequence for sin is the same for everyone
Death (Rom. 623).

• Romans 514 (NASB) Nevertheless death reigned
  from Adam until Moses, even over those who had
  not sinned in the likeness of the offense of
  Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
• This text proves that we do not inherit Adams
  sin!

53
We are not Made Sinners it
is a Choice!

• Adam introduced sin into the world (Rom. 512a).
• Through Adams sin, spiritual (and physical)
  death entered the world (Rom. 512a).
• Death eternal has spread to all men because all
  have sinned.
• Those who receive eternal death for their sins
  cannot blame Adam!
• How were the many made sinners through the
  disobedience of Adam?

54
Romans 519 (NASB)

• For as through the one man's disobedience the
  many were made sinners, even so through the
  obedience of the One the many will be made
  righteous.
• The sin of Adam did not cause or make all of
  mankind become sinners!

55
Defining Made (Rom. 519)

• WHAT DEFINITION FITS THE CONTEXT?
• made (KATHISTEMI)
  to set, to place, to put
  a) to set
  one over a thing (in charge of it) b) to appoint
  one to administer an office c) to set down as, to
  constitute, to declare, to show to be d) to
  constitute, to render, to make, to cause to be
  e) to conduct or bring to a certain place f) to
  show or exhibit oneself, to come forward as
  Thayers Greek
  Lexicon

56

• The many were made sinners means that mankind
  was declared sinners because God
  identifies mankind with Adam who is the head of
  the human family.

57
Adam is the Representative of All Sinners

• Adam represents all sinners who have followed in
  his steps of sin, who have failed to keep Gods
  law, yet he does not cause us to be sinners!

58

• Through Adams disobedience (Rom. 519)
  (a symbol that
  represents all sin), we who choose to sin are
  declared (made) to be sinners by God.

59

• Similarly, through the obedience of the One
  (Jesus on the cross) (Rom
  519) many can be made (i.e.
  declared or identified) righteous.

60
Romans 519 (NASB)

• For as through the one man's disobedience the
  many were made sinners, even so through the
  obedience of the One the many will be made
  righteous.

61
Made Righteous how?

• How or when is one made righteous? These verses
  (Rom 512-21) do not explain or even mention
  putting our faith in Christ.
• Yet, we know faith in the gospel of Christ is
  absolutely essential to obtain righteousness
  (Rom. 116).

62
It is Our Choice!

• People are righteous by choice, not by
  inheritance.
• People are sinners by choice, not by inheritance.

63
We Decide Whether or not to be Sinners Who
Practice Sin.

• By nature (i.e. by long practice or habit), we
  become sinners.

64
Ephesians 23 (NASB)

• Among them we too all formerly lived in the
  lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the
  flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
  children of wrath, even as the rest.

65
By nature children of wrath?

• The word nature has numerous meanings in
  Scripture depending on the context and usage.
• Nature in Ephesians 23 stands for
  a mode of feeling and acting which by long
  habit has become nature (Thayers Greek
  Lexicon).
• Those that regularly practice sin are by nature
  children of wrath.

66
We Decide Whether or not to be Sinners Who
Practice Sin.

• By nature (i.e. by long practice or habit), we
  become sinners.
• We cannot blame our flesh for our sins we have
  free will to choose sin or righteousness.

67
We cannot blame our flesh for our sins.

• Beware of the erroneous NIV translation that
  often has the words sinful nature in place of
  the word flesh twenty-three times! (e.g. Gal.
  519).
• Our flesh is not inherently sinful or by nature
  or constitution sinful the flesh is in fact
  neutral to sin until we decide what we do with
  it.

68

• What we do with our bodies of
  flesh is our choice to
  make!

69
Romans 612-13 (NASB)

• 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal
  body that you should obey its lusts, 13 and do
  not go on presenting the members of your body to
  sin as instruments of unrighteousness but
  present yourselves to God as those alive from the
  dead, and your members as instruments of
  righteousness to God.

70
Sinners by Choice
Consider the Implications!

• No need for babies or small children to be
  baptized for forgiveness of sins, they have none!
• No one is destined to follow in their parents
  footsteps of sin.
• No one inherits a right standing before God.
• We are also liberated from biology, genetics, or
  psychology that says we are born predisposed to
  sin.

71

• We can choose for ourselves
  not to sin and follow the
  Lord!