Page 88 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

reflect what they are: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God” (Romans 3:23); “There is no one righteous, not even one”
(Romans 3:10); “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” (Romans 5:12).

Have you ever wondered why people act as they do? Why do they sin?
They sin because of what they are. If you are in Adam, you will do what
he did. If you are in Christ, you will do what He does. I am a Duncan
because I was born into the Duncan family. I look like my father. I walk as
he did. I do not consciously do this because I want to imitate him; rather,
I do it because I am his son and bear the Duncan traits. I was born into
the family. In the same way, we bear the traits of our fallen human family.

Our human nature is to sin, and until we receive a new nature we will
continue to sin. Our old nature will reveal itself. It cannot be otherwise.
In our spiritually dead condition, our actions are characterized by anger,
passion, hateful feelings, insults, and obscene talk—the deeds of the old
self or nature (Colossians 3:8–9). In this condition, we cannot have
fellowship with God, for there is nothing in us to make us worthy. We
are slaves to sin (Romans 7:14), and the ability to do good is not in us—
even though the desire to do good may be in us (Romans 7:18). Spiritually
dead people follow the world’s evil way. And they obey Satan, the spirit
who now controls the people who disobey God. They live according to
natural desires, doing what suits the wishes of their own bodies and
minds. They are destined for God’s anger (Ephesians 2:1–3).

Sin has completely corrupted people
in spirit, soul, and body. In addition
Sin has completely to being spiritually dead, people’s

corrupted people intellects were also affected by the
Fall. In spite of the achievements of
in spirit, soul, and modern society, people are dead to

body. Because of the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14),
and the most intelligent people who
the Fall, people are have not been regenerated “are

spiritually dead. darkened in their understanding and
separated from the life of God because
of the ignorance that is in them due

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