Sin Nature - Job 14:4

Job 14:1-4

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Studying God’s word brings great peace. It is God’s way of revealing Himself to us. He withholds Himself from those who look at His word as another book and shows Himself to those who sincerely search the Scriptures with an open heart. God will reveal Himself to the person who takes his time reading and meditating upon His word especially in this topic of whether or not man has a sin nature. I am saddened when I speak out about what God’s word says on the issue, and I see people hardened to the truth of the Scriptures. What saddens me even more is to know of those who proclaim a sin nature when it benefits them and then claim that everyone has a choice to sin or not to sin. Recently I simply questioned the teaching that sin is passed to all by birth in an institutionalized “church.” Very quickly the response turned sour and I was accused of teaching some “dangerous doctrines.” It was at this very point that I realized the truth. When we speak the truth, we will often be misrepresented, labeled as a heretic, and accused of teaching outrageous things. In the past few months, I have gone through all of the above. I have spoken to several people who are given biblical support to continue believing in an inherited sin nature. Sadly, most of these people have some known sin that they are unwilling to lay aside and are simply looking for some excuse to continue in the same. For those who continue to insist that man inherited a sin nature from Adam, Job 14:4 “shuts the door” on the subject.

All one has to do to understand this passage is to read the book of Job from chapter 11-14 in its context. Unfortunately this is not done, because man runs to the Bible to only get support for his beliefs rather than going to God’s word to teach him what he should believe. Our world has taken on a sort of “fast-food” mentality where they want everything quick and at their fingertips. You can see this all over. The internet is a great example of the mentality. When the internet first came on the scene in the 90s, it was dial-up. Then came cable modems, and DSL, and now everyone has the internet at the palm of their hand by means of a cell phone. Although this is a luxury that I do take advantage of, it is sad to see this mentality of having things quick take hold of “Christianity.” People want an answer, and they want it now. When one has this mentality with sin nature, the end result will more than likely result in the belief that man has a sin nature. Instead of taking the time to read verses in their context and compare scripture with scripture to ensure that there is further support instead of contradictions, many will run to the Bible to attach a verse to their belief as if it was some confirmation of what they already believe or have been taught for generations.

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

In Job 11, Zophar the Naamathite is busy trying to find the answers as to why Job had experienced such great loss and pain in his life. Like a typical Pharisee of today, he suggests that there must be some iniquity that Job has within his heart (“Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” 11:6) Zophar had no concept that it could be the devil at work as an adversary seeking to devour Job (just like the devil is at work seeking to devour all those whom he equips with an excuse for their sin – sin nature). Before knocking Zophar too much, keep in mind that the purpose of Job’s suffering is recorded for us in the first 2 chapters. Zophar was not privy to the conversation God had with Satan. God had testified of Job that he was a perfect and upright man who eschewed evil. Satan had, therefore, gained permission to afflict Job with the intention of showing God that Job served only because of his temporal blessings. Job responded in a way that showed how much his heart was set on God – “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In chapter 11, Zophar prescribes a method for Job to get right with God and to get out of the mess that Job was in. He says,

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Then the result, he says, will be:

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

Chapters 12-14 records the response that Job had to Zophar, and it is not a response of one who is submitting to the preaching he had just heard. Listen to Job’s language:

Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

In chapter 13, Job calls his friends (Zophar included) “forgers of lies,” “physicians of no value.” He asks, “Will ye speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him?” He tells them to “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” One of the greatest verses on trusting God is found in the middle where Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” The whole chapter, Job is answering his accusers. The difference between Job and his accusers was that Job saw what really mattered – keeping his heart right with God. His accusers, on the other hand, thought that rest, security, and prosperity were marks of a blessed life.
His response is continued in chapter 14 where he asks several more questions to his friends and makes some powerful statements. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Trouble is not the equivalent to sin. Job was not filled internally with trouble, rather he was born into a world that was filled with trouble – just like all mankind has been since the fall of Adam and Eve. In 2 Corinthians 7:5 Paul tells the Corinthians that he was “troubled on every side.” Trouble is present in the world as told by Christ in John 16:33, but it is not implanted in the heart, flesh, spirit, life of every newborn child. He is born into and unto a world full of trouble. We can take great comfort knowing that the Lord will deliver us out of all trouble – Psalm 54:7!
Verse 4 is where all the complications start. Job asks, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Instead of surmising that he is providing a doctrinal statement for all churches that would ever be established, remember the context. Job asks his friends, which included Zophar, if they can bring cleanness out of Job who were themselves unclean. Before you say, “Aha! I got you in a corner! You confessed that Job’s friends were unclean!” Job did not say they were unclean by birth but by the fact that they were liars, physicians of no value; while he attested to the fact that he was just and upright (Job 12:4 – which was validated by the Lord’s testimony of him in Job 1). Job here was asking a rhetorical question with the purpose of getting his “friends” to realize that he was just and upright before God and they were unclean before God.
For fun, let’s pretend this verse was all by itself in Job 14. Let’s make believe for just one moment that we can take this verse out of context and use it to teach that all babies around the globe and since the Garden of Eden were born unclean – with a sin nature. Since all have sinned and are thereby unclean by their sin, all that are born inherit the uncleanness (sin) from their parents. My question would be, then, what about the Christian and those born of a Christian? Christians are clean as attested to by many verses in God’s word. The following are just a few examples:
John 13:10 – Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 15:3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A Christian has been cleansed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. One can not claim the Christian is unclean. If Job 14:4 were to be teaching that an unclean person can only give birth to an unclean person (a sinner can only give birth to a sinner), then a person can rightfully deduce that a Christian (who is clean) can give birth to a Christian (another clean person). This is not my belief, and probably not the belief of a majority of those who are pushing sin nature. However, if you hold to the fact that sin is passed by conception, birth, intercourse, blood, etc. then you must also hold to the belief that a Christian is not clean. As horrible as it sounds, most do believe that Christians are not clean! They like to quote the phrase, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace!” Although it sounds pious and doctrinally sound, you can not find one reference in the Bible which describes a Christian as being a sinner. No doubt he can and will sin against God as he is still in a world of sin and oft tempted by the devil, but a Christian is a new creature. The passage in I Corinthians 6 calls a Christian a saint. Then for illustration sake, Paul describes the unrighteous: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners. He plainly says that none of these sinners shall have part in the kingdom of God (righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost – what we call salvation). “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin!
After the above paragraph, I am often met with the response, “Well I guess you are perfect, then. And your children are perfect too!” This technique, known as the Delphi technique, is used by opponents to make it seem like I am completely out of sorts with reality, leaving any who are listening to conclude that the belief in a sin nature is the only logical explanation. I do not believe I am perfect, nor that I have attained anything other than forgiveness and a new life through Christ. This new life has new desires and has seen the old man crucified and old desires pass away. This new man is not at war with the old man, because the old man is dead! I can’t forget that Christ has exhorted me to be perfect and to strive for the mastery. Along the way, my lusts may conceive and bring forth sin, but to be controlled by sin is not what Christianity is about! Christ has saved me from my sins. That is he saved me from the sins I have committed and has saved me from the power of sin. I used to teach that Christ has saved me from the sins I will commit. No doubt, Christ will forgive us from any sin that we confess and forsake (including those committed in the future), but such an attitude should not be present in a Christian’s heart (the attitude that we will sin). Instead we should live freely knowing that He has saved us from the power of sin NOW!
Is it such a terrible thing to preach that a person can overcome sin in this life?! Do I really have to be labeled a heretic by believing in such a thing?! I expect to be called a heretic by the world, but the world tends to understand more about salvation than those found warming the pews listening to some hireling offer an excuse for his and his listeners’ sin. An unsaved person understands the cost of salvation. He understands that to be Christ’s means to no longer live fulfilling the lusts of his flesh. I would like to believe that I John 4:4 and 5:4 speak of a Christian being able to overcome the sin and trouble that is in the world through the power of Jesus Christ! I would like to believe that I can have victory now! It has been my experience that whenever you use these verses to show that a Christian can live in victory and overcome sin, that those who disagree cut these verses out of the Bible and paste them to a time in the future! Although the times of the Old Testament, Tribulation, Millennium, etc. did and will have some unique differences, one thing has not changed throughout time: the ability of believers to overcome sin (Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.)!
It can also be said of you that you DO NOT believe that the blood of Christ has cleansed you from all sin. You DO NOT believe that the words of Christ to His apostles, “Now ye are clean” applies to you! I would much rather believe what the Bible says on the issue. Sin is a choice that each individual makes. It happens when the devil tempts your God-given will to break God’s Law. Hopefully you will see that instead of believing that Job was claiming that all people that are born are unclean! 

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.