Beth-El Baptist Church

05/01/2011

Greg Tomlinson


Does man really have a sin nature?


Talk to most people, even professing Christians, and they will tell you that in general man is good. They do not believe that man is inherently evil and wicked. At best they will acknowledge that men are not perfect, may be broken, and may even sin. They will deny that man at heart has a nature and a bent to sin.


  1. What is the standard by which men ought to evaluate goodness?

2 Corinthians 10:12 Proverbs 14:12

Luke 18:18-20 Romans 7:7-12


When a man measures his own goodness, or other men's goodness, by looking at other men around him, he is generally able to come to the conclusion that he is a good person, but this is unwise for he usually neglects those around him who are “better” than he is. A man may measure his goodness based upon what feels right to him, but this leads to death for if a man is his own standard of goodness, then every other man is the standard of his own goodness. In this state, murder, rape, stealing, and other “crimes” would have to be declared “good” because their behavior is the standard. However, when a man honestly and properly measures himself against the good character of God, he will undoubtedly discover the greatness of his own error and the wickedness of his own heart. The standard of God is Himself for there is no better or higher standard by which a man can measure himself.


  1. What kind of life does a man live when he does what seems right to him?

Galatians 5:19-21 1 Corinthians 2:14

Romans 6:16-17 Ephesians 2:1-3

Genesis 6:5


The natural state of a man is what a man is like apart from the divine presence of God to mold him, shape him, and guide him. Since the measure of the goodness of a man is the nature and character of God, in comparison, man is “only evil continually”. By his own nature, man does not have any interest in God nor the things of God and when he hears about God and the things of God, they are either foolishness to him or so far beyond his ability to understand them that he rejects them. By nature, man seeks to please himself and satisfy his physical and emotional urges. Promiscuity, lying, cheating, manipulation, and even murder is not a problem for him since these activities are considered to be to his own benefit.


  1. What is the status of man before God?

Romans 3:10-18, 5:6-10; 8:5-9 Ezekiel 22:25-31

Ephesians 2:1-5 Colossians 2:12

1 Peter 2:21-25 Isaiah 53:6; 59:2-4


The natural man is at odds with God. They are enemies. Man desires to do everything his own way, even to declare what righteousness and holiness are all about. The severity of man's separation from God is described as being “dead”. A dead person is completely incapable of helping himself in any way shape or form. By nature, there is not a single person who sought after God for his own sake. It has always been God who made the first move. It is God who sought out Adam, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and even David.


  1. When did a man acquire a tendency to sin?

Romans 5:12-14 Psalm 51:5; 58:3-5

Isaiah 48:5-8 1 Corinthians 15:45-50


Man was born with the tendency or natural state of sinning. Although we like to think of children as being innocent, the reality is that from the very beginning, their only thought is of themselves and in the satisfying of their own desires. Infants cry to be held because they want to be held, regardless of what the other person or persons are doing. When it is time for bed, they don't want to go, they want a parent or someone to go with them. They cry and wail because they are not receiving what they want even though what they want is not good for them. All human beings are sinners from the very beginning.