The Sinfulness of Man
There is suffering in the world because there is sin in men’s hearts. The record of Adam and Eve is the account of man and woman. It shows us how man was made by God to enjoy fellowship with Him. Man’s sin destroys this happiness and fellowship. We are unhappy because God’s purpose for us is spoiled. In the account of the Garden of Eden, the Bible teaches us these truths. Every man really acts toward God as Adam acted.
We are sinful in two ways:
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We have sinful nature. Each child born into a family is like its parents. In the same way, when we are born into the world we inherit sinful inclinations from our forefathers. The Bible speaks of this quite clearly: look at Psalm 51:5 and Rom 5:12.
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We do wrong things. We choose to do the things that are sinful. We share in the sinfulness of the world not just by accident but by choice. A man who takes strong drink and then drives a car may be the cause of death to other people. The man chose to drink in this way. Although he did not really intend to injure other people, he chose to do evil and by doing so he caused evil. We may not have caused death on the roads in this way but we understand this man’s guilt quite well.
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We know from our own experience that it is possible and easy to choose to be selfish, greedy, lazy and careless. Sin is like a bondage; when we give way to temptation we become like a slave. Every sinful act is like a rope or chain binding us. Each sin makes it more difficult for us to be free from the power of evil. Indeed, we know that we cannot get ourselves free (John 8:34).
Sin is also like a disease: it weakens our wills and darkens our minds. It takes away our strength to choose the right. Paul wrote: “I do not understand my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but I do the very things I hate” (Rom 7:15).
Paul was speaking of the struggle of his own heart to do what was right. He was often defeated in this struggle. All of us, without Christ’s help, are in the same condition that he was in. We can be glad that a great and good man like Paul wrote so truthfully about himself. We all know exactly what he meant. This fight between right and wrong is in our hearts just as it was in his. This is the problem which every man and woman has to face. As sinners, they are separated from God who is the source of life. They know this is true yet have not power to help Themselves. They cry out like Paul: “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:24,25).
Bro Emmanuel Mangente (Magunje, Zimbabwe)
