73 – Hereditary Guilt and Sin
HEREDITARY GUILT AND SIN
§ 73. Not only was the guilt of Adam imputed to his descendants,1 but his children and children’s children have inherited from their first ancestor his corrupt nature,2 being flesh born of the flesh,3 wholly depraved,4 totally blind of understanding in spiritual things,5 of perverse appetites,6 their will opposed to the will of God and only prone to evil,7 all their faculties enslaved in the service of sin,8 without any ability in any measure to work their own spiritual restoration.9
1. Not only was the guilt of Adam imputed to his descendants,
Romans 5:12–21 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, etc.
Romans 5:18 By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.
2. but his children and children’s children have inherited from their first ancestor his corrupt nature,
Genesis 4:1, 8 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bear Cain, and said, I have gotten a Man from the Lord. (8) Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
3. being flesh born of the flesh,
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh.
4. wholly depraved,
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.
Luke 11:13 Ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children.
Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5. totally blind of understanding in spiritual things,
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
II Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.
6. of perverse appetites,
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
7. their will opposed to the will of God and only prone to evil,
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.
Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled.
Psalm 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
8. all their faculties enslaved in the service of sin,
Romans 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 7:23–24 But I see another law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 3:9–10 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
9. without any ability in any measure to work their own spiritual restoration.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him.
II Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.