Day 110

Of the fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

Chapter 6, Paragraph 3.

“...being now conceived in Sin,…“

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 51:5

Job 14:4

Reflection

Philosophers throughout the ages have pondered the moral state of humans. Are we created as blank slates, which our environment then writes on to our benefit or detriment? Are we naturally good people, who just need a little help to keep from doing wrong? Or are we slaves to our biology, able to act only in accordance with our DNA?

When Adam and Eve transgressed God’s covenant, they plunged humanity into sin and misery. Their human nature, originally upright and able to keep God’s law, was now corrupted. This corruption has been our inheritance ever since. It is there at the moment of our conception, and our nature remains so throughout our time on earth.

Our fallen nature is one reason why the life of Jesus is so amazing. Because we all are now conceived in sin, we had no knowledge of what a human nature free from the effects of the Fall was like – until He came. Jesus was not born by ordinary generation, so He did not have a corrupted nature.  His life was perfectly holy, without any sin whatsoever. When you contrast that with ourselves, you are left marveling at His beauty and majesty.

Questions to Consider

• What thoughts come to mind when you realize that there was never a time when you did not have a corrupted nature?