Sin Nature - Psalm 51:5

Psalm 51:1-5

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Often the first verse used by proponents of “sin nature” teaching is found in this passage. The context of Psalm 51 is David crying out for mercy after he came to himself about the sins he committed in association with his adultery with Bathsheba. Strong language is used in this Psalm, and it is no wonder as the two major sins that David committed – adultery and murder – were worthy of death (Leviticus 20:10; Genesis 9:6). The only hope for David was that God would be merciful to him for these sins – there was no sacrifice available. David’s initial response when confronted by Nathan was “I have sinned against the LORD” (Numbers 12:13). No excuses were given by David then, and no excuses are given in Psalm 51. Simple reasoning will lead the reader of Psalm 51 away from the dishonouring teaching of “sin nature.” Unfortunately, this passage is incorrectly understood by the proponents of “sin nature” when verse 5 is read apart from the rest of the Psalm and the Bible. Had David seriously excused his sin as being a result of how he was born, God would hardly have shown mercy.

Mercy in David’s situation was shown by God as David did not receive his due punishment for his sins. Mercy was given because David acknowledged his transgressions and asked the Lord for cleansing. Mercy is undeserved, and for David, it was very much so. The Lord will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy (Romans 9:15). He will have mercy upon those who turn from their sin and unto Christ (Isaiah 55:7) even though those who do so are still undeserving of His mercy. God will not, however, have mercy upon those who die in their sins without Christ or who offer an excuse for their sin (ie – sin nature).

David took full responsibility for his sin and offered no excuses. Eight times in this passage alone did David refer to his sin as being his own (“my transgressions...mine iniquity...my sin”). His language corresponds to Numbers 12:13 where he says “I have sinned.” One phrase in this passage that will help in understanding is where David says, “my sin is ever before me.” The word “before” explains the relationship of David to his sin. His sin was “before” him and not “within” him. The sin of adultery and murder were at the door and he opened up his heart to their knocking and willingly let them in. Adultery and murder were not there from his birth, they were there from his choices and actions.

Why then did he say in verse 5, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”?

A quick survey of all the verses in the Bible that contain the word iniquity will reveal that iniquity is not something that is inherited, but is something that is performed. Christ used the word iniquity in Matthew 7:23 where He says, “Depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Iniquity is an action that is worked. Webster defines iniquity as “gross injustice; a wicked act or thing.” The workers of iniquity eat up God’s people as they eat bread (Psalm 14:4); speak peace when mischief is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3); lay snares (Psalm 141:9). The money that Judas received when he betrayed Christ is referred to as “the reward of iniquity” (Acts 1:18). It was the reward of his betrayal of Christ. All of these define iniquity as an action. For David, the iniquity he was “shapen” in was the iniquity of adultery and murder. Both were actions that were not the result of his being born with a “sin nature” but of him yielding to the temptation. He was not conceived or born an adulterer, but he became an adulterer. He was not conceived or born a murderer, he became one. Both transgressions were the result of his lust conceiving (not his mother conceiving) and bringing forth sin (James 1:15).

The second part of the verse states, “in sin did my mother conceive me.” The prepositional phrase, “in sin,” could be referring to David’s mother, how David was conceived, or David himself. Those who hold the sin-nature position believe that at the very moment David was conceived in the womb, he was with sin. There are no other verses found in the Bible which offer support to this doctrine (unless you read the NIV – “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”).  In fact, many of the other verses that are used to support a sin nature (which will be discussed later), refer to the birth of a person and not conception. Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Is mankind conceived in sin or born in sin? It cannot be both (see also Job 5:7; Job 14:1)!

David in this Psalm is recognizing the awfulness of his sin and how it shaped him as an adulterer and murderer. David is testifying that as his mother was shaped by her actions of sin, so also is he now shaped by his sin. Another position that has much support is that David is testifying that he was conceived into a world filled with sin. This is more of a testament to how awful and powerful sin in than as an excuse that he sinned just like everybody else. He was conceived in a sinful world, not in a sinful body.

Psalm 51 is clearly not teaching that sin was passed to him at the moment of conception. If this phrase is teaching that sin was passed down to David from his mother, then serious heretical teachings follow. The most blasphemous is that as David received a “sin nature” from his mother, so also did Christ receive a “sin nature” from his mother. The Bible clearly states that Christ was “made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4) and made “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). A  Catholic believes in “original sin” which is their equivalent to “sin nature.” There is absolutely no difference between the teaching of “original sin” and “sin nature.” To go one step further, the Calvanist believes in “total depravity.” This is also the equivalent to “sin nature.” A Catholic, understanding the ambiguities of the “original sin” issue, develops the teaching of “Immaculate Conception” in order to answer the question as to whether Christ was born with a “sin nature.” A Calvanist declares that man is totally depraved from birth and his only hope is if he is one of the chosen (unconditional election). Many self-designated “Bible-believers” also come up with an answer to the ambiguities by saying that the father is the one who passes down the “sin nature” (ie – Adamic nature, Headship of Adam). Since Christ’s Father is God, then it is not possible that he would inherit the “sin nature” they say. If it is the father who passes down the sin nature, then this verse is rendered null and void to support their belief (“in sin did my mother conceive me”). This also contradicts Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.” It also leads to the denial of Hebrews 4:15 – “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” If we are tempted to sin by our “fallen nature” then so also would Christ have been tempted to sin by His “fallen nature.” Otherwise the word “all” doesn’t mean “all.” This surely touches the nerve of many as the Calvanist is ridiculed for teaching that “all” means something different than “all.” Christ was subject to every desire and temptation of the flesh as mankind. If you deny this, then you have the spirit of antichrist (I John 4:1-5). The only other option is that you consent to the fact that Christ was made just like us, and therefore also had a sinful nature (and was therefore destined for Hell like everyone else who is born). The only way to avoid either of those blasphemous teachings is to believe that God made man upright, but he sought out many inventions (ie – sin) – Ecclesiastes 7:29. What made Christ different is that He did not yield to sin as all of mankind yields to sin. That is what makes him the PERFECT PROPITIATION for our sin!

Some writers explain that this verse is written in figurative language. This can be supported by the other phrases throughout the same Psalm that are also figurative – “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean” “the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” This explanation does little to satisfy the mind which is stuck on believing such a blasphemous “doctrine” however.

David was simply stating that he shaped his own life and way in iniquity, just like his mother, and all who lived before him shaped their life in iniquity. He is not talking about his fleshly desires prior to his birth. Rather he is talking about how when he committed his transgressions how that he was shapen in iniquity rather than in righteousness. That is why he requests that the Lord “renew a right spirit within” him.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that man shapes his life in iniquity and sin, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Man doesn’t need help to sin. Satan was created by God and dwelt in Heaven by the throne of God, yet he used his God-given will and desires to sin against God. Adam was created without a “sin nature” and yet he chose to disobey the ONE law that God gave. Like Adam, man is made without a “sin nature” and he chooses to corrupt his own way and sin against God. All choose to sin, and as all chose to sin, much more should they choose to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We like Adam, have a law to follow. Our law is the 10 commandments. From the very moment we are born, we are influenced by a world of sin to break these commandments. It is when a person breaks God’s law willingly that he is separated from God. If he dies physically in this condition, his soul will be damned eternally in hell. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God will show us mercy, and will wash us from our iniquity if we obey His command to repent and believe.