The Traditional View of Sin and Human Nature Vs A Christ Centered Framework

Traditional Position on Universal Sin and Human Nature

1. Starting Observation

• All humans sin
  • Empirically observed in history
  • Stated in Romans 3:23
  • Stated in 1 John 1:8-10

2. Logical Steps

• Since all humans sin, it must be inherent in human nature (theological assumption)
• Sin must be ontological (part of what we are)
• Human nature itself must be corrupted
• Sin is therefore inevitable

3. Problem Encountered

Jesus was human and didn't sin

The traditional solutions create inconsistencies:

• Jesus must have had different nature to the rest of humanity (christological heresies that deny his full humanity like docetism, apollinarianism, monophysitism/Eutychianism)
• Or His divine nature overrode human nature (semi-apollinarianism)
• Or He had a pre-fall human nature (contradicting Hebrews 2:17 "He was made like us in every way")
• Or Mary had special nature, so Jesus avoided taking on our exact post-fall human nature (Catholic solution)

4. Conclusions

• Sin (lovelessness) is inevitable in this life
• Cannot truly live like Christ and abide in all His teachings
• Jesus is merely an unreachable ideal not a realistic example that we can follow daily
• Must wait for glorification (death) for victory, for our essential human nature needs changing
• Christian life is sin management through endless cycles of confession and defeat, only partial or temporary victory can be expected at best.
• Actually dying to sin or ceasing sin is not really believed possible (due to faulty presuppositions about human nature)

Problems with this Logic

• Makes an unsubstantiated absolute claim about human nature then needs exceptions
• Defines human nature by observed behavior rather than Christ's revelation of human nature.
• Creates a Jesus who doesn't share our identical nature (denying the chalcedonian creeds statement that Christ was "homoousia" with our humanity - literally "same-essence")
• Undermines salvation (the unassumed is unhealed per Gregory of Nanziansus, ie he became what we are to heal what we are)
• Contradicts Hebrews 2:17, 4:15 (Jesus was made like us in every respect, tempted in every way like us, yet didn't sin)
• Denies clear biblical promises of freedom from sin eg. whoever sins is a slave of sin but whom the Son sets free will be free indeed (John 8:31-36)
• Teaches sin is inevitable in this life even post conversion
• Often (but not always) teaches the inheritance of Adams guilt - denying Ezekiel 18:20 where God overtly says guilt is not inherited
• Contradicts earlier patristic sources like Athenasius who states explicitly sin is not in human nature (Against the Heathen, chp 2) quotation below:

  Against the Heathen, Chp 2 - By Athenasius (Circa 335AD)   Evil no part of the essential nature of things. The original creation and constitution of man in grace and in the knowledge of God. In the beginning wickedness did not exist. Nor indeed does it exist even now in those who are holy, nor does it in any way belong to their nature. But men later on began to contrive it and to elaborate it to their own hurt.

Historical Side Note
Athenasius' position is echoed in Irenaeus' Against Heresies (who lived from around 130-200 AD, who was taught by a disciple of the apostle John directly). Irenaeus' systematic debunking of gnostic error opposed the conception of sin being in human nature or thought of as a substance (either physical or spiritual). The gnostics frequently framed sin as being inseparable from physical matter.  

It is against gnostics who John penned 1 John 1:8-10, despite sinning in the body, were saying their spirit had never sinned and were spotlessly perfect like Christ without blemish in no need of forgiveness.  This passage is so frequently twisted to teach perpetual sin in the Christians lives despite literally every chapter following arguing for the persistent righteousness in love without sin.

A Better Biblical Christ Centred Framework On Sin and Human Nature

1. Starting Points (starts with Jesus not observed Human behaviour )

• Jesus shared our exact post-fall human nature without exceptions (Heb 2:17)
• Jesus lived without sin but was tempted in the same way we are (Heb 4:15)
• All humans eventually sin apart from Christ (Rom 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10)
• Sin originates in choices, not created nature, filling legitimate desires in illigitimate ways - desires that Christ shares with us, for desire is the root of all temptation (James 1:14-15)
• Humans are made upright, but go astray (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
• Freedom from sin explicitly promised through Christ under the new covenant in this life (John 8:31-36, Romans 6:18, Ezk 36:27, 1 John 3, Romans 8:1-4)

2. Logical Steps

• Since Jesus had our nature but didn't sin, sin can't be in nature
• Universal sin must be explained another way
• Sin must be volitional (choice) and relational, not ontological (in our nature/ what we are) and not inevitable
• Humans are born weak, but not sinful, apart from God's Spirit (John 15:5)
• This human weakness experienced apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit explains universal sin without making it natural and essential (Matt 26:41, Romans 7)

3. The Solution in Christ

• Jesus shows our nature can be lived in without sin if united with God
• Through the Holy Spirit, we can live like Christ by His divine power in us
• Restoration of relationship enables this victory (Romans 5:1-5)
• New life in Christ means freedom from sin's power
• Abiding in Christ as key mechanism for freedom from sin (John 15, 1 John 3 and 4)
• Those who abide in Christ do not sin (1 John 3:6,9)
• Perpetual love replaces sin through the Spirit's empowerment
• Victory is continuous, not occasional

4. Biblical Conclusions

• Temptation and desire isn't viewed as sin, only yielding to it with our will is. (Jesus was tempted identically to us yet didn't sin)
• Sin isn't inevitable after salvation
• Can maintain consistent love through Spirit
• Victory possible in this life
• Christian life is transformation, not sin management
• Freedom from sin is practical, not just theoretical
• Abiding in love is positive expression of freedom
• True freedom contrasts with slavery to corruption (2 Peter 2:19)
• The essence of sin is lovelessness, the essence of righteousness is love (sin is always relational breaks between ourselves and God or Man, relational not primarily about rules)

This Christ Centered Framework Better Explains:

1. Universal sin before Christ

• Due to weakness without Spirit
• Relational separation from God
• Frequent wrong choices
• Consistent neglect of God
• Result of seeking "many schemes" to fulfill our natural and legitimate human desires at the expense of God and others (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

2. Christ's Role

• Shows true human potential
• Provides a realistic example for us
• Restores relationship
• Gives his Holy Spirit to us
• Establishes His pattern of abiding (John 15)
• His teachings are the sum of love
• His teachings are a light yoke and are easy to follow when abiding in Him, (Matt 11:29-30, John 15, 1 John 5:2-5)

3. Christian Life

• Real transformation possible
• Actual victory over sin
• Living like Christ persistently
• Maintained by Spirit
• Characterized by perpetual love
• Evidence shown through practice of love and righteousness (1 John 3:5-7)
• Jesus said those that love Him actually keep His teachings, those that don't love Him don't keep them (John 14:23-24)

4. Scripture's Teaching

• "All have sinned" (past reality)
• "Walk by Spirit" (present solution)
• "Cannot keep sinning" (new possibility)
• "Walking Like Christ" (actual goal)
• Truth brings actual freedom (John 8:31-36)
• Practice reveals true children of God (1 John 3:10)
• Freedom from sin means ceasing it not managing it (A good tree cant bear bad fruit)

Key Differences Between the Traditional Views and the Biblical Christ Centered View

1. Understanding Human Nature

• Traditional: Often derived from observing human behavior, emphasizing weakness and failure as inherent.

• Biblical: Rooted in Christ’s true humanity, showing us what human nature united with God can be.

2. View of Sin

• Traditional: Seen as ontological or part of human nature, leading to an endless cycle of confession. This can foster a lukewarm approach, expecting sin to persist while proclaiming freedom from its power. Frequently confuses temptation with sin itself.

• Biblical: Viewed as volitional and relational—freedom from sin is not only possible but promised. True righteousness and love can be perpetually abided in by walking as Jesus walked. Desire and temptation are not viewed as sinful, rather natural things even Jesus walked with, identical to us. Following His example we can submit these to God by the Spirit.

3. Solution to Sin

• Traditional: Focused on sin management until death, believing only physical death ultimately frees from sin's power and presence. The Spirit offers temporary victories but cannot fully sanctify human nature in this life.

• Biblical: Complete victory over sin is possible through the indwelling Holy Spirit in this life. By abiding in Christ, believers can experience perpetual freedom and walk in perfect love, as described in 1 John 2 and 4. No longer focusing on sin avoidence but rather abiding in Christ and love.

4. Christian Life

• Traditional: Often characterized by an ongoing struggle, with sin seen as an inevitable part of the believer’s experience—more akin to slavery than freedom.

• Biblical: A life of victory is possible through a maintained relationship with God. Jesus’ example and the Spirit’s work make true freedom attainable.

2 Peter 2:19 ESV
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

John 8:34 ESV
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

1 John 3:5-7 ESV
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Practical Implications For the Biblical View

1. The Role of Abiding

• Continuous dependence on Christ
• Active maintenance of relationship
• Results in practical perpetual freedom from sin, walking in love according to Christs teachings

2. Evidence of True Christianity

• Not just belief but practice of righteousness
• Consistent love toward others
• Freedom from sin's dominion

3. The Spirit's Role

• Continuous empowerment
• Enables perpetual love
• Maintains freedom from sin

Common Misconceptions

1. About Freedom

• Not just positional but practical
• Not future only but present reality
• Not theoretical but experiential

2. About Victory

• Not occasional but continuous
• Not partial but complete
• Not future hope but present reality

Final Summary

This biblical understanding:

• Maintains logical consistency
• Explains universal sin without compromising Christ's humanity
• Provides real hope for transformation
• Aligns with full biblical testimony and the testimony of the disciples of the disciples.
• Makes sense of both universal sin and victory in Christ
• Demonstrates practical path to freedom through abiding
• Explains how we will be judged by how we live our lives (See Romans 2)
• Explains why the apostles frequently warned even professed Christians that if they lived practically unrighteous lives they won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Conclusion: We can abide in love and live without sin through the Spirit Just Like Jesus

• Jesus is our example (1 Pet 2:21)
• We have the same human nature He had
• We have His Spirit in us, who is Divine by nature (Rom 8:3-4)
• 1 John explicitly states we can live righteously free from sin abiding in love in almost every chapter (1 John 3:6,9)

The only way to reject the conclusion that we can perpetually abide in love and Christ, free from lovelessness and sin is to:

1. Deny Jesus had our exact nature (which contradicts scripture)
2. Claim Jesus sinned (which contradicts scripture)
3. Deny the Spirit's power (which contradicts scripture)
4. Deny the promises of freedom from sin (which contradicts scripture)
5. Deny the promises of abiding in love and Christ (which contradicts scripture)

The Whole Truth Found In the Incarnation

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ in our exact shared human nature proves sin is not in ones nature and inevitable. Rather when our human weakness is clothed in His divine power through the indwelling Holy Spirit, man can abide in perpetual love and goodwill to God and others. Those abiding in Christ dont sin (1 John 3). To sin is to not be abiding in Christ or love. This is the freedom Christ proclaimed that burned in the early centuries of the church. Not a powerless system of sin management but rather sin eradication and abiding in love, in righteousness, in Christ and in God as new creations.

He became what we are to make us what He is, in this life - not merely the next. And He has given all Power to do this (2 Peter 1).

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Mercy if One Stumbles on the Path to Complete Maturity - Perfect Love

Though mercy is always available for those who might stumble, the goal remains to cease from sinning through abiding in love, as 1 John 2 teaches. This passage encapsulates the heart of the message: to abide in Christ is to walk as He walked—without sin, in love, and in perfect fellowship with God - perpetually. Sin can be ceased and we can do as Jesus said - "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11). If we love Him we actually will keep His teachings (John 14:23-24).  

1 John 2:1-6 ESV
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Don't Blindly Follow Tradition

Test all things with scripture, always ask does the text really say this or are we imposing our presuppositions on the text? Let us not be like the religious people of Christ's day.

Mark 7:6-8 ESV
6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

Mark 7:13 ESV
13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

• If Jesus and His apostles say we can sin no more by His Spirits power - I believe Him
• If Jesus says we can His yoke is easy - I believe Him
• If Jesus says only those that actually do His will enter the kingdom of heaven - I believe Him
• Don't follow men, pastors, preachers, or teachers, follow Jesus alone! Just believe His words, truly believe them and do them.
• The mindset shifts from sin avoidance /sin maintenance cycles to abiding in love and fanning the flame so it burns more fiercely. Like the brilliance of a light growing brighter and brighter, yet the light has no darkness in it at all (1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 2:8-11). Likewise those abiding in Christ and love dont commit sin but they do grow in virtue. (1 John 3-5, John 14-15) Remain in His word, live in His teachings and abide perpetually in His presence within your heart. If we abide in Jesus, we will not sin (1 John 3:6, 1 John 2:5-6). If we cease abiding in Him, sin may follow (John 15:4-6). The power to live without sin is in His presence, and His love transforms us to walk as He did (1 John 4:16-17).

Matthew 7:13-23 ESV
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’