Born Into Sin

Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned."

Some dear friends of ours just had a baby boy in the upstate. This beautiful little baby is the picture of innocence and purity, yet inside this precious life exists a sin nature. When Adam sinned in the garden at Eden, sin became a presence in every person who followed him into this world, even little babies. Even though this precious baby has yet to commit sin, the sin nature is still there, and because the sin nature is there, the need for Jesus is there.

Now I am not saying that when a baby dies, they do not go to heaven. Because a baby is incapable of making a decision for Christ, I believe the bible clearly teaches that anyone incapable of fully understanding and comprehending the gospel message is covered by the blood of Jesus. In 1 Samuel chapter 12 we read the story of the baby of David and Bathsheba. The baby is stricken and for a full week David mourns and fasts, he cries out to God for the baby's life, but the child does die. At this point David stops his mourning. David's servants are puzzled by his reaction, but David says in 1 Samuel 12:22-23, "...While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, "Who can tell me whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live. But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." David knew his baby was with the Lord, and one day he would see him again in heaven.

But what of the rest of mankind? Well eventually, we reach an age of accountability. Their is no set age for this, and it varies from person to person, depending upon their ability to understand the truth. But we all must eventually make a decision. We must decide whether to accept the truth about Jesus, or reject it. We all are sinners, and have a sin nature within us, so we all need a means of forgiveness and atonement for our sin. Jesus is that means. He is in fact the only means as provided by God. Because we all sin, and have a sin nature inherited from Adam, we need the atonement offered by Christ's blood to have our sin "exist no more" in the eyes of God.

We cannot escape this sin nature, and even when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, it still resides inside of us. We face a constant battle between the Spirit and the flesh, that will challenge us all of our lives. But with the Holy Spirit also inside of us, we have the means to win the struggle, and overcome. We overcome the sins we commit as they are covered by the blood. We overcome the temptation of the world and the flesh by surrendering to God and allowing His Holy Spirit to control our lives.

Even that sweet little baby who has committed no sin as of yet, eventually will, for he has a sin nature. The proud parents Ed and Felicia I have no doubt will educate their son regarding the truth of Christ, and so eventually, the baby will be old enough to understand the truth. Then it will be up to him. Will he acknowledge his sin nature and turn to Christ, the only means of overcoming our sin? We've said a prayer already for this to happen. Welcome into this world little baby Leese. May you know, understand and accept the truth of Jesus, and serve Him in mighty, mighty ways!