08/01/2025
Man not born in Sin
MAN NOT BORN IN SIN
EXODUS 13:1-2
Introduction 4.1
LUKE 2:23 EXODUS 13:2 PSALM 127:3-5
If we say that we were born in sin, then we are really blaming God for our sinful state. We are created by God and made by God, and if God made us sinful, then how can he hold us guilty for our sin? We could stand before him on the day of judgment and tell him it is his fault. But on that day no one will be able to blame God for his sin as the scripture declares, "every man shall be put to death for his own sin" (Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:4). God has clearly made us accountable for our sin and has commanded all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). This bible study gives plenty of scripture evidence that man is not born in sin with a sin nature.
#4.1 REASONS WHY MAN IS NOT BORN IN SIN
#4.11 Because God created man in his own image
GENESIS 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
27 So God created1 man in his own image, in the image of God he created1 him; male and female he created1 them.
PSALMS 89:47
47 Remember how short my time is: why have you created1 all men in vain?
PSALMS 102:18
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people who shall be created1 shall praise Yahweh.
PSALMS 104:23,30
23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.
30 You send forth your spirit, they are created1: and you renew the face of the earth.
ISAIAH 43:7
7 Even every one who is called by my name: for I have created1 him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.
ISAIAH 43:15
15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the creator1 of Israel, your king.
ISAIAH 45:12
12 I have made the earth, and created1 man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.
ISAIAH 54:16
16 Behold, I have created1 the smith who blows the coals in the fire, and who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created1 the waster to destroy.
MALACHI 2:10
10 Have we not all one father? has not one God created us1? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Note 1: All of the underlined words related to created1 are different forms of the same Hebrew verb בָּרָא (Htr. bāra', Strong's 1254), which occurs 54 times in the Old Testament. It is variously translated with the sense of "create" (42x), "creator" (3x), "choose" (2x), "make" (2x) etc.in the KJV. It usually has God as its subject (but not everywhere), because God creates in the sense implied by "bāra'". The fact that the verb can express creation out of nothing can be seen from the fact that it is used in various passages to do with creation of the universe (Genesis 1:1; 2:3; Isaiah 40:26; 42:5; 45:18; 65:17). It is also used in passages which indicate that the created thing came from something else, such as "man" (Genesis 1:27; 5:2; 6:7), "Israel" (Isaiah 43:1; Malachi 2:10), "cloud and smoke" (Isaiah 4:5), as well as many other things (Psalm 51:10; 89:12; Isaiah 45:7-8; 57:19; Jeremiah 31:22; Amos 4:13).
Note 2: When God created man he created him in his own image (Genesis 1:27), but was that a physical image, or a spiritual image? God is not a man (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29), but rather he is a spirit (John 4:24), and he is invisible (Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17). So we can conclude that man must be created in the spiritual image of God. So let us ask the question, "Is the spiritual image of God corrupt?" If not, then we cannot be created corrupt either. We have become corrupt, but God wants to restore us to his own sinless image that we were created in. This can be shown from the scriptures:
(Colossians 3:10) "And have put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created him."
(Ephesians 4:24) "And that you put on the new man, who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
These scriptures refer to born again Christians putting on "the new man" who is Jesus Christ:
(Romans 13:14) "And you put on the Lord Jesus Christ,"
(Colossians 1:15) "Who is the image of the invisible God,"
(Hebrews 1:3) "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the exact image of his substance,"
The spiritual image of God concerns "knowledge" (Colossians 3:10), and "righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24). Children are not born with knowledge, but they can be born holy:
(1 Corinthians 7:14) "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now they are holy."
The fact that God is still creating people now, and it does not just refer to Adam and Eve, is made clear by the other scriptures (Psalm 102:18; Isaiah 43:7; 54:16; Malachi 2:10). So if God has created us, as these scriptures show, are we now to conclude that God created us sinful; that we were born in sin, having a sinful nature? Surely this is a blasphemy against God. (Genesis 1:31) "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Deuteronomy 32:4) "his work is perfect," God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), his work is still perfect, and he does not create us as evil beings.
#4.12 Because God made man
GENESIS 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make1 man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
GENESIS 9:6 (God)
6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God he made1 man.
DEUTERONOMY 32:6
6 Do you thus requite Yahweh, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he your father who has bought you? Has he not made you1, and established you?
JOB 10:8 (Job to God)
8 Your hands have made me and fashioned me1 together all around; yet you destroy me.
JOB 33:4 (Elihu)
4 The Spirit of God has made me1, and the breath of the almighty has given me life.
PSALMS 119:73
73 Your hands have made me1 and fashioned me: give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
PROVERBS 22:2 (Solomon)
2 The rich and the poor meet together: Yahweh is the maker1 of them all.
ISAIAH 27:11
11 When its boughs are withered, they shall be broken off: the women shall come and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he who made them1 will not have mercy on them, and he who formed them will show them no favour.
ISAIAH 43:7
7 Every one who is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him1.
ISAIAH 44:2
2 Thus says Yahweh who made you1, and formed you from the womb, who will help you; Do not fear, O Jacob, my servant; and you Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
ISAIAH 57:16
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls which I have made1.
LUKE 11:40 (Jesus)
40 You fools, did not he, who made that which is outside, make that which is inside also?
Note: All of the underlined words translated with the sense of made1 are different forms of the same Hebrew verb עָשָׂה (Htr. ʽāshג, Strong's 6213), which occurs 2633 times in the Old Testament. In the KJV it is translated with the sense of "do" (1333x), "make" (653x), "wrought" (52x) etc. and is used as a synonym for "create" a number of times, especially when it is used in parallel with "bāra'" (See #4.11 Note). The reasoning here is the same as the previous section. God made us, just as he created us, and therefore we cannot be born evil.
#4.13 Because God gave the spirit
ECCLESIASTES 12:7
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
ISAIAH 42:5
5 Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens, and stretched them out; he who spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he who gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it:
Note: Here again, this section agrees with the previous two. Sin is a spiritual thing, and if we are born sinful, then God must have given us a sinful spirit. The above scriptures show that our spirit comes from God, not from Adam, or from our human parents, and as scripture says God's work is perfect (Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:4; Ezekiel 28:15; #4.14), so he cannot create us with a sinful spirit. We are commanded in the scripture to cleanse our spirits.
(2 Corinthians 7:1) "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
The spirit is lost if we live in sin, and needs to be saved. The fornicator at Corinth (1 Corinthians 5) was turned over to Satan, "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Corinthians 5:5).
#4.14 Because all God's creations are perfect
GENESIS 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
GENESIS 1:31
31 And God saw everything that he made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
GENESIS 9:6
6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he made man.
DEUTERONOMY 32:3-4
3 Because I will publish the name of Yahweh: ascribe greatness to our God.
4 He is the rock, his work is perfect: all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he.
ECCLESIASTES 7:29 (Solomon)
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
EZEKIEL 28:15
15 You were perfect in all your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.
MATTHEW 7:17-18 (Jesus)
17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
LUKE 6:43 (Jesus)
43 For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
1 JOHN 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Note: These scriptures show that God created man in his own image (Genesis 1:27; 9:26), which is not sinful. His work is described as "very good" (Genesis 1:31), and "perfect" (Deuteronomy 32:4; Ezekiel 28:15), so it is impossible for us to be created sinful beings. As God is like "a good tree" he cannot produce evil fruit (Matthew 7:18; Luke 6:43), and so cannot create sinful beings. God does not change:
(Psalm 102:27) "But you (Yahweh) are the same, and your years shall have no end."
(Ecclesiastes 3:14) "I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God does it that men should fear before him."
(Malachi 3:6) "For I am Yahweh, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed."
(Hebrews 13:8) "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."
(James 1:17) "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning."
God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). So if his habit from the beginning was always to create perfect things (See #1.11), make perfect things (See #1.12), how can he now be creating us with a corrupt sinful nature? He used Jesus, his Word, to create everything (John 1:1; Colossians 1:12-16; Hebrews 1:2), and he doesn't change either (Hebrews 13:8). God even created the Devil perfect in the beginning (Ezekiel 28:15), so do not expect him to give us less of a chance than that. These scriptures all go to show that God still creates perfect things now, and he does not create us born in sin with a sinful nature.
#4.15 Because a Spiritual Nature is not passed on from parents
JOB 26:4 (Job to Bildad)
4 To whom have you uttered words? and whose spirit came from you?
JOHN 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name:
13 Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
JOHN 3:6 (Jesus)
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
HEBREWS 12:9
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
MALACHI 2:14-15
14 Yet you say, Why? Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously: yet is she your companion, and the wife of your covenant.
15 And did not he make one? Yet he had the residue of the spirit. And why one? That he may seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
1 CORINTHIANS 7:14 (Paul)
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.
Note: The answer to the question, "Whose spirit came from you?" (Job 26:4) is obviously "nobody's", because the spirits come from God (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 42:5). God is a spirit (John 4:24), he is called "the Father of spirits" (Hebrews 12:9), and "that which is born of the spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Our human fathers are are men of flesh, they are called the "fathers of our flesh" (Hebrews 12:9), and "that which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6). Our physical attributes like the color of our skin and eyes, and many other physical features, are passed on from our human parents, but our spirits are from God.
#4.16 Because children are born without a knowledge of evil
DEUTERONOMY 1:39
39 Moreover your little ones, who you said should be a prey, and your children, who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
ISAIAH 7:15-16
15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that you abhor shall be forsaken of both her kings.
ISAIAH 8:4
4 For before the child shall know to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
ISAIAH 47:10
10 For you have trusted in your wickedness: you have said, No one sees me. Your wisdom and your knowledge, it has perverted you; and you have said in your heart, I am, and no one else beside me.
JEREMIAH 4:22
22 For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are silly children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Note: The thing that makes us do evil is the knowledge of evil that we learn from the time we are born. The statement, "they are wise to do evil" (Jeremiah 4:22) proves this. When we get the wrong wisdom it perverts us (Isaiah 47:10) and our wisdom is then "foolishness with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19). However, we are not born with any wisdom good or bad. Isaiah indicated that there was a time when even Jesus did not know enough to refuse evil and choose good (Isaiah 7:15-16). As Jesus grew up he "increased in wisdom" (Luke 2:52). He had to learn the scriptures in order to do that. "Butter and honey" (Isaiah 7:15) are figurative of the word of God. Spiritual butter comes from "the sincere milk of the word" (1 Peter 2:2), being churned over and over:
(Proverbs 30:33) "Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter."
It is equivalent to meditating on the word of God, or hearing and seeing the same scripture over and over again. All this proves that we are not born with evil knowledge, and therefore have no ability to do evil when we are born.
#4.17 Because children are our example for us to be like in order to enter the kingdom of heaven/God
MATTHEW 18:2-3 (Jesus)
2 And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Amen I say to you, Except you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
MATTHEW 19:13-14
13 Then there were brought to him little children that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and his disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Allow little children, and do not forbid them, to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
MARK 10:13-15
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said, Allow the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Amen I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter into it.
LUKE 18:15-17
15 And they brought to him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them to him, and said, Allow little children to come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Amen I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter into it.
Note: Why is it that God requires us to become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God if children are born with a corrupt sin nature? The obvious answer is that children are not born corrupt with a sin nature, but rather are born pure and innocent without any knowledge of good and evil. Young children have very little SELF confidence, but have a very trusting heart, especially in their parents. This is how we should be also; pure from the knowledge of evil, and with a steadfast faith in our spiritual father, God. If children are our model then in order to enter the kingdom of God, it proves they are not born with a sin nature.
