04 – “By One Man’s Disobedience…” (Rom 5:19) (NEW)

Our Seminar is entitled “Our Sinless Yet Sympathetic Saviour,” and we are studying together the all-sufficiency of the Word made flesh {Jn 1:14} to be both Substitute and Example for a fallen race. We need both, don’t we? We need a Substitute, who can meet the infinite standard of God’s law in our behalf, and we need an Example, who can show us how to overcome; One who is sympathetic with our struggle, our needs; One who has been tempted in all things like as we are {Heb 4:15}, has been over the ground that we must pass over, so that we can know with assurance that He knows what it’s like and is able to help us in our struggle on a daily basis. We have such an One in the person of Jesus Christ, both a perfectly sinless Substitute and a perfectly sympathetic Elder Brother.

{Audio starts from this point:} Now we’ve been discussing together how it is that there are two camps regarding this issue on the nature of Christ. Each has a vitally important truth that they are particularly impressed to proclaim and to push. One camp is particularly concerned that Christ be recognized in His humanity as our sinless Substitute. The other that Christ be recognized in His humanity as our sympathetic Elder Brother, and be perceived of as a valid Example. Now, both of those are precious truths and both of them have to be proclaimed. But they must be proclaimed in a way that keeps a balance. And they must be proclaimed in a way that does not deny or make impossible the opposite truth, the balancing truth.

And this is our challenge to maintain that balance. And we have been having a hard time doing so as a people. And it is my prayer that we can come to unity in an understanding of the nature of Christ, that we might together proclaim with one voice the same gospel to a world that needs to hear it so bad {Rev 14:6}, the good news that Jesus Christ is both, sinless Substitute and sympathetic Elder Brother at the same time.

I would like to consider with you in our study entitled: “By One Man’s Disobedience,” {Rom 5:19} another important aspect of this issue at hand. But before we can proceed to study God’s Word, we must again pause on our knees and invite God’s Spirit to be with us. Otherwise, our time is in vain. Shall we kneel?

Father God, we pray in the name of Jesus that You would send your Spirit to be with us. {Jn 15:26} We claim Your promise just now that where two or three are gathered in Your name, there You are in their midst {Mt 18:20}, in the person of your Spirit. Father, we pray, come in our midst as a congregation. Send those angels as well, I pray, that excel in power {Ps 103:20}, that can hold back the powers of evil {MH 253.3} that would so like to interfere in our study to distract us. And Father, we pray that You would not only come in our midst as a group, but come in our midst as individuals as well. We open wide the door of our own body temple and we pray, come in, Lord Jesus. {Rev 3:20} Come in and take Your place in the holy of holies. {1 Cor 6:19; CC 234.3} Take full possession of the highest faculties of our minds. Quicken and energize us, illuminate our whole mind, we pray, with Your lovely and bright truth. By the Spirit of truth, Father, help us to catch glimpses of the truth as it is in Jesus, that we might be set free by it {Jn 8:32, 36}, that we might have confidence in Him, not only as our sinless Substitute, but as our sympathetic Elder Brother; we might believe in Him as our sinless Substitute unto justification, and we might behold Him as our sinless Example unto sanctification. Oh, Father, help us to see the all-sufficiency of Christ to be both for us. We pray this in Jesus’ name and for His sake. Amen.

I do not want to take a controversial approach in our study, brothers and sisters, and I certainly do not want to name any names. But I feel that it is important to address certain issues that are very much public regarding this discussion on the nature of Christ. Let me do so as an introduction to this particular study.

There is a growing school of thought in the camp of those whose primary concern is that Christ be recognized as our Example. There’s a growing school of thought that strongly advocates the idea that He could be, in His human nature, just what we are, and yet not be under condemnation. It is insisted by those who hold this position that we are not sinners at birth by nature; we only become sinners when we willfully sin. Therefore, it is deduced, Christ could take just the same nature we have and, as long as He never willfully sinned, He was not under condemnation as a sinner. This is all done, of course, in an effort to make Him our sympathetic Elder Brother, and still preserve His personal sinlessness, so that He can be our sinless Substitute.

It is felt by those who hold this position that Christ must receive by natural birth all that we do, including our bent toward evil, all our inherited tendencies to wrong, in order to know what it is like to be tempted in all points like as we are. And indeed, Hebrews 4:15: “tempted in all things like as we are,” is a precious, precious truth that must be proclaimed. But we must be very careful not to proclaim it in a way that is not consistent with other truths. Here is our challenge. Though this position that I have just outlined is presented in a way that appeals to human reason, we cannot trust human reason to determine its validity. We must test it by what? By the Word of God. What saith the Lord in this matter? Indeed, He says much. Let us consider carefully together, how is it that we have become sinners? How is it that we have become sinners?

{8’57”} Turn with me to Romans 5:19: “For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners…” Does Scripture say that we are made sinners by our own disobedience? It says: “By one man’s disobedience” we are made sinners. Now it’s very important, brothers and sisters, to understand the significance of this particular verb “made” sinners. By one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners. That word in the Greek is “kathistemi” {G2525 καθίστημι} and it is not to make in the same very general and broad sense that we use that verb. It is a very specific and highly precise verb. It is used two times by Paul in the book of Romans in this very text. There’s a second half to the text. Praise God for that second half. “By One Man’s obedience many will be,” what? “made righteous.” That again is “kathistemi.” That verb is used 21 times in the New Testament all together. And its specific, literal translation is “to ordain,” or “to legally set apart to a certain office for function.”

Examples, just briefly. Let me note them with you. Perhaps you won’t have time to look them up. {11’10”} Matthew 24:45: “Whom his master made ruler over his household.” “Kathistemi” – to legally set apart to a certain office or function. {11’25”} Matthew 24:47: “He will make him ruler over all his goods.” {11’32”} Luke 12:14: “Who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” “Kathistemi” – made. {11’42”} Acts 6:3: “Seek out from among you seven men whom we may appoint over this business.” Appoint – “kathistemi,” this time translated “appoint” rather than “made.” Same Greek verb. {11’56”} Acts 7:10: “And he made him governor over Egypt.” Do you get the idea of this verb? {12’07”} Titus 1:5: “Appoint elders in every city.” “Kathistemi.” {12’12”} Hebrews 5:1: “Every high priest from among men is appointed…” The King James in that case says “ordained.” “…for men in things pertaining to God.” “Kathistemi” again is the verb. {12’28”} Hebrews 7:28: “For the law appoints as high priest men who have weaknesses.” Very consistently this verb is used to mean to ordain or to legally set apart to a certain office or function.

Now, in its usage as well in the context, the one who does the making or the appointing or the ordaining is one who has the authority to do so. He is in a position of authority that enables him to do this appointing or this ordaining. Now, who is it that ordained or legally set us aside or constituted us sinners? Sinners “by one man’s disobedience.” Who’s that one man? That one man is Adam. What was Adam’s position of authority that made it possible for him to ordain, to legally set apart the entire race as sinners? Two factors gave him that position of authority whereby he could legally constitute, ordain, the whole race to be sinners. Two. Please note them with me.

1) He was the federal head or legal representative for the entire race. {PP 48.1; CT 33.1} Thus, his legal standing before God, by the law of representation, was to determine the legal standing of the entire race, for in him the entire race was legally constituted. We will discuss that. But let me note with you the second factor, position, that gave Adam authority.

2) He was the father of the entire race. Thus, his natural state, that is, the condition of his physical, mental and spiritual nature by the law of heredity was to determine the genetic inheritance of all his posterity.

Did you get those two factors? Number 1: he’s the legal representative. His legal standing before God by the law of representation was to determine the legal standing of the entire race. Number 2: he was the father of the entire race. That’s his natural state, by the law of heredity, was to determine the genetic inheritance of all his posterity.

So then, what Adam was, both legally and genetically, ordained or constituted what the whole race was legally and genetically. For in him the whole race was both legally and genetically constituted. We were all in him, and everything that happened to him in that sense happened to whom? To us, in a very real sense. Please follow me.

Let’s consider first of all: legally. Adam’s legal standing before God was to determine by the law of representation the legal standing of the entire race. {16’17”} I read from Manuscript 126, 1901: “Adam was required to render perfect obedience to God, not only in his own behalf, but in behalf of his posterity. God promised him that if he would stand the test of temptation, preserving his allegiance to the Creator during the great trial to which he would be subjected, his obedience would ensure his acceptance and favor with God.” But was that all? Listen. “He would then be forever established in holiness and happiness, and these blessings would extend to all his posterity. But Adam failed to bear the test. And because he revolted against God’s law, all his descendants have been sinners.” {9MR 229.1} Because who revolted against God’s law? Because he, Adam, revolted against God’s law, all his descendants–who’s that? That’s us. Have been sinners. Indeed: “By one man’s disobedience, the many were,” what? “made sinners.”

{17’41”} Again, in Letter 143, 1900. This is found in Manuscript Release 347. Listen closely to the word used here, it’s a very significant word. “Adam disobeyed and entailed sin upon his posterity.” {6MR 3.1} He disobeyed and entailed. What does the verb “entailed” mean? Dictionary definition: To entail. It’s a legal term. 1: It means to settle, as lands, inalienably upon a person and his descendants; to limit the inheritance of anything to a specific line of heirs in such a way that it can never be legally transferred. Number 2: To cause or require as a necessary consequence involved necessitate. What did Adam do? Adam disobeyed and entailed sin upon his posterity. That has two senses; first of all, the legal sense, because he was our legal representative; and also genetically, because he was our noble father.

{19’10”} Again, I read from Signs of the Times, May 19, 1890: “Adam sinned and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences…” {ST May 19, 1890, par. 8} Is that clear language? Brothers and sisters, I don’t dare speak to this issue with my own words. That’s why I use so carefully inspiration in this discussion. I read that again: “Adam sinned and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences.” Do they share only its consequences? No, they share what else? They share his guilt. Signs of the Times, May 19, 1890.

{20’00”} Letter 8, 1895. Again. “…children received from Adam an inheritance of disobedience, of guilt and death.” {13MR 14.1} What do they receive? An inheritance of disobedience, of guilt and death.

{20’22”} Again, Bible Echoes, July 16, 1894: “The fall of Adam was a terrible thing, and the consequences of his sin so fraught with evil that language cannot portray it. By his disobedience of the divine law, the world was thrown into disorder and rebellion. Because of his disobedience, man was under the penalty of breaking the law, doomed to death.” {quote on web found here: ST Jan 8, 1894, par. 5} Because of whose disobedience? Adam’s disobedience, man was under the penalty of breaking the law, doomed to death.

{21’04”} Again, Manuscript 122, 1901: “As a result of Adam’s disobedience, every human being is a transgressor of the law and is sold under sin.” {8MR 98.1} Is that clear? Why are we transgressors of the law? Because of our own disobedience? No. Our own disobedience is the consequence of our being transgressors of the law by Adam’s disobedience. We do not become sinners because we commit sin! We commit sin because we are sinners on account of Adam’s sin. “By the disobedience of one, the many were made,” what? “sinners.” {Rom 5:19} Now, they all sinned. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” {Rom 3:23} But why do they all sin? Because they are all sinners by nature.

{22’17”} Romans 7:14 is obviously what she’s referring to there. “As a result of Adam’s disobedience, every human being is a transgressor of the law and is sold under sin.” {8MR 98.1} What does Paul say there in Romans 7:14? “For we know that the law is spiritual but I am carnal, sold under sin.” You know, in the Greek that is “sold under the sin.” And what sin is that in reference to? The sin of Adam. That’s just what he has been discussing, Paul. As a result of Adam’s disobedience, every human being is a transgressor of the law and is sold under sin.

Note, please note. We are transgressors of the law as a result of Adam’s disobedience, not our own. We disobey because we are transgressors of the law by nature.

Consider with me now the genetic aspect. Adam, being the father of the race, his natural state, the condition of his physical, mental and spiritual nature was to determine by the law of heredity the genetic inheritance of the entire race. So, whatever happened to his nature happened in a very real sense to ours as well, for we were genetically constituted in him; we were “in his loins.” {Heb 7:9-10} Right? When he became subject to mortality, how many of us became subject to mortality? All of us. Why? Because we were all genetically constituted in him. When he became selfish and depraved in nature, how many of us became selfish and depraved in nature? All of us, because we were genetically constituted in him.

You see, he was given by the law of heredity the marvelous capacity to procreate in his own, what? In his own likeness. {Gen 5:3} Now, God gave him that gift intending it to be a marvelous blessing to his posterity, for God wanted his posterity to reap the benefits of his ever-developing and improving mental, spiritual and physical faculties. And this law was given to the race that from one generation to another they might continually reap benefits of previous generations, obedience to God. But the ugly and tragic thing about sin is that it takes God’s precious gifts that he intended to be a blessing to the race and it twists and warps them and turns them into a curse. So that when Adam sinned, how much of the race did Satan get? He got the whole race, and he knew very well that, if he could get Adam, he would get the whole race. Because he knew that Adam had the God-given ability to procreate in his own image, and the stakes were high indeed. And oh, how thrilled he was when he brought about the fall of the father of the human race, because he knew that he had in them the entire race. Oh, what a victory he gained when he got our legal representative and father on his side.

{26’15”} I read from Manuscript 20, 1898: “He (Adam) was furnished with a holy nature, sinless, pure, undefiled; but he fell because he listened to the suggestions of the enemy; and his posterity became depraved. ‘By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.'” {8MR 39.2} Did you hear the context, in which she uses this verse? He fell because he listened to the suggestions of the enemy and his posterity became depraved. “By one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners.”

His posterity became depraved. What is this depravity? We have just touched on it in one of our previous studies, but let’s note it again. {27’17”} In the book, In Heavenly Places, the morning watch book, page 196, Ellen White defines depravity as moral derangement. {HP 196.2} {27’32”} In Counsels on Stewardship, page 24, we have this added insight into what depravity is. “Selfishness is the essence of depravity, and because human beings have yielded to its power, the opposite of allegiance to God is seen in the world today.” {CS 24.2} What is depravity? It’s moral derangement, the essence of which is selfishness.

You see, when man had the law of love imprinted upon his heart {DA 24.2; 329.3}, it kept in perfect order and harmony all of his God-ordained faculties, not only within themselves, but in relationship to God. But when selfishness took the place of love in his heart {SC 17.1}, there was terrible chaos and disorder and derangement of all of his faculties. And man became depraved in nature. {2T 61.2}

Now, when and where did the human family yield to the power of selfishness and thereby become depraved? In the person of their parents in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3 records the event. {28’48”} I read from Manuscript 55, 1902: “His (Satan’s) effort to deceive our first parents was successful. Made in the image of God, the human family lost their innocence, became transgressors, and as disloyal subjects began their downward career… Instead of remaining under God’s influence in order that he might reflect the moral image of his Creator, man placed himself under the control of Satan’s influence, and was made selfish. Thus sin became a universal evil. And what a dreadful evil is sin! Yielding to Satan’s suggestions, our first parents opened the floodgates of evil upon the world.” {9MR 237.4-6} How did they do that? By bringing selfishness, or rather, by allowing Satan to bring selfishness into human nature.

{29’52”} Education, page 226: “Selfishness [is] the root of all evil.” {Ed 225.4; 19MR 93.1} And when man had selfishness implanted in his nature, he opened the floodgates of evil upon the whole race. Because he, by the law of heredity, was bound to have a posterity that was thereafter selfish, by what? By nature. When Adam placed himself under Satan’s control and became selfish by nature, at that moment sin was destined to become a universal evil, for “all sin is selfishness.” {30’40”} That’s a quote from Letter 165, 1901: “All sin is selfishness.” {3MR 331.2} And when Adam became selfish by nature, he became sinful by nature, and all his posterity was destined to be sinful and selfish by nature.

{30’59”} So now we read in the morning watch book, The Upward Look, page 183: “Men and women are finite, erring, naturally selfish.” {UL 183.2} They are what? They are naturally selfish. Why are we naturally selfish? Because we are conceived by those who are selfish, our parents. And why are they selfish? Because they were conceived by our selfish grandparents. And why are they selfish? Until you get back to whom? Adam. When Adam allowed the seeds of selfishness to be planted in his nature, it destined the whole race to be born with those seeds in their nature.

{31’56”} Review and Herald, April 16, 1901: “Satan prevailed on Adam to sin. Thus at its very source, human nature was corrupted.” {RH April 16, 1901, par. 5} No wonder we read that man is by nature corrupted. “Satan prevailed on Adam to sin. Thus at its very source, human nature was corrupted.”

Is this sinful nature that is the result of the transgression of God’s law by Adam and Eve under condemnation? Most definitely it is. Please hear me. {32’49”} Review and Herald, September 17, 1895: “Human nature is depraved.” We’ve established that clearly, haven’t we? Why? Because, when Adam let selfishness come into his nature, it depraved him and thereby all of his posterity was bound to be depraved by nature. Again, back to the statement: “Human nature is depraved and is justly condemned by a holy God.” {RH Sept 17, 1895, par. 7} What is justly condemned by a holy God? Depraved human nature. Brothers and sisters, we have to conclude then, if language means what it appears to be saying, that fallen man is a sinner by nature at birth, even before he commits sin. “By one man’s disobedience,” indeed: “the many were,” what? “made sinners.” Both legally and genetically. “Human nature is depraved and is justly condemned by a holy God.”

Follow this reasoning with me. Listen to these inspired statements, one right after another, and see if it all comes together for you:

{34’42”} Letter 165, 1901: “All selfishness is sin.” {3MR 331.2}

{34’49”} Youth’s Instructor, December 9, 1897: “All selfishness is condemned by the law of God.” {YI December 9, 1897, par. 3}

{34’57”} Testimonies, vol. 4, page 496: “In the human heart there is natural selfishness.” {4T 496.1} What kind of selfishness? Natural selfishness.

{35’11”} Bible Commentary, vol. 5, page 1138: “Selfishness, which dwells in the natural heart strengthens by self-serving.” {5BC 1138.9} Now, do you see what that is saying? We can make ourselves more selfish by our own sin, selfish acts, right? But we start out naturally, what? Selfish. I read that again. Bible Commentary, vol. 5, page 1138: “Selfishness, which dwells in the natural heart strengthens by self-serving.”

{35’52”} Counsels on Stewardship, page 24: “Selfishness is the essence of depravity.” {CS 24.2}

{35’59”} Amazing Grace, page 258: “We must remember that our hearts are naturally depraved.” {AG 258.4} Why? Selfishness is the essence of depravity, and in the human heart there is natural selfishness. Are you following the reasoning here?

{36’19”} Conclusion. Review and Herald, September 17, 1895: “Human nature is depraved and is justly condemned by a holy God.” {RH September 17, 1895, par. 7} Why? Because selfishness is sin and because the natural heart has selfishness in it. That’s why it’s depraved. Therefore, human nature is under condemnation. Is it clear?

The reason that I work so diligently with this, brothers and sisters, is because of these well-meaning but misguided attempts to make Christ our sympathetic Elder Brother and still try to preserve His sinlessness. I believe that Christ is our sympathetic Elder Brother and I believe that there is a way that we can appreciate Him fully as such without taking steps that make Him sinful in nature. If He is everything that we are by natural birth, He was what in His nature? He was selfish. What was His nature? It was depraved. What would it have been then? Under the condemnation of the law. Are we ready, are we willing to come to that conclusion regarding our Lord? If He was under condemnation, brothers and sisters, on account of anything that He was in Himself, could He have gone to the cross and be condemned for your sins and mine? No. He would have been condemned for His own sin, sin of nature if nothing else, even if He never committed a sin; He still would have been, what? Sinful by nature and under condemnation thereby. Do you see, brothers and sisters, that we cannot, we cannot claim that He could be sinless if we give Him everything that we have by natural birth and just say that His sinlessness was maintained because He never committed sin? We are sinners under condemnation before we even commit sin. I hope this is clear.

{38’58”} Education, page 29. What else was the result of Adam’s transgression upon our nature? Listen. “The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which unaided he cannot resist.” {Ed 29.1} What is there in his nature? A bent to evil, a force which unaided he cannot resist. And what is it the result of? The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience.

{39’42”} Again, Bible Commentary, vol. 5, page 1128: “The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being without a taint of sin upon him. He was in the image of God. He could fall and he did fall through transgressing. Because of his sin, his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience.” {5BC 1128.4} Did you hear that expression? Oh, there is a very, very important issue that that phrase settles for us, and we’ll be discussing it later. But let me just trigger your thinking on it. Because of sin, his posterity was born with inherent, what? Propensities of disobedience.

Now, there are those who suggest that propensities of disobedience are ours only when we sin. We then develop a propensity, and this is done because it has been clearly stated that Christ did not have our, what? Our sinful propensities. {13MR 18.1-19.1} And that is explained by simply saying that Christ never sinned, therefore, He never developed a sinful propensity. The only way we have sinful propensities is when we actually commit sin. But in light of that reasoning, what does this say? Because of sin, his [Adam’s] posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. Is this something we have developed by willful transgression? Why of course not. We are born with it even before we commit any sin. And they are developed, does it say? No, they are inherent. We are born with inherent propensities of disobedience. And we will consider that in its context more fully a little later, Lord willing and time permitting. These evil propensities have depraved all the powers of our nature.

{42’05”} Review and Herald, July, 1893. I’m sorry I don’t have the day there. In July of 1893, sometime in that month, this statement: “Every human power is naturally to a greater or less degree opposed to God.” {RH July 4, 1893, par. 4} Every human power is, what? Naturally… What does naturally mean? Inherently. Every human power is naturally to a greater or less degree opposed to God. How many powers? Every human power. But perhaps the most devastating consequence of Adam’s sin upon our natural state and the powers of our nature was that suffered by the human will, which is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision or the power of choice. {SC 47.1} Oh, how tragically Adam’s sin affected us in that realm.

{43’21”} I read from Bible Commentary, vol. 1, page 1083: “The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the divine. Obedience has no longer been deemed an absolute necessity. The human agents follow their own imaginations, which the Lord said of the inhabitants of the old world was evil and that continually.” {Gen 6:5; 1BC 1083.9} When was that perfect harmony of the human will with God’s will broken? It was broken at the fall of our first parents. The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the divine.

Not only did they break that perfect harmony, but they created another harmony of the human will with, whom? With Satan. {44’26”} I read from Testimonies, vol. 5, page 513-515: “…you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man.” {5T 515.1} When was it given to Satan? At the fall, brothers and sisters.

{44’59”} Therefore, we read, in Review and Herald, November 3, 1904: “Naturally man is not willing to be what God desires him to be.” {RH November 3, 1904, par. 1} Is that clear? Are we ready to say that of Christ? Such a rebellious will, even though natural, is under condemnation of the law {NL 25.1; Jn 1:29; PP 64.1; 1SM 316.2-317.2, 330.1, 394.3; AUGleaner August 19, 1903, par. 3}, brothers and sisters.

Listen. {45’31”} I read from Manuscript 72, 1901: “Until the requirements of the holy law were applied as the rule of life, fallen man could not understand his own guilt, nor realize his condemned, lost condition. Jesus made application of the law directly to the soul, and laid under its jurisdiction the will and desires and works of man. Wrongdoing and all thoughts and feelings condemned by the law are to be overcome.” {9MR 235.4} What is under the jurisdiction of the law? The will. A will that is in rebellion by nature against the law of God is under what then? Condemnation.

How is it though, that we can be held responsible and condemned for a will that has been sold, given by Adam, into the control of Satan? How is it? Listen. That which was sold by Adam was bought back by whom? By Jesus Christ. Now we are responsible for our will because of the potential freedom that is ours the moment we accept the price that Christ paid to buy it back.

{47’12”} I read Messages to Young People, page 154: “But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: ‘Yield yourself up to Me, give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure.’ When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will and your character is transformed to be like Christ’s character.” {MYP 154.1} Praise God for that good news. But brothers and sisters, is that naturally possible? No, it is not. That will had to be bought back.

I ask you, if Christ had a will that was sold into bondage as ours is naturally, who was there to buy His will back? No one. Do you see how He has to be very significantly and basically different in this area of the governing power of the nature of man? Do you see how He must be? Indeed He must be. And there is a very specific inspired statement regarding that difference. And we will consider that as we continue in our study.

Indeed, “the inheritance of children is that of sin.” {48’52”} That’s Child Guidance, page 475: “The inheritance of children is that of sin.” {CG 475.3} {49’00”} Or, as David puts it in Psalm 51:5: “Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” {Ps 51:5} Why are we brought forth in iniquity? Why are we born in a state of sin? Because we are conceived in sin. And because this is our natural inheritance, what do we do? Indeed, what is the only thing we can do until rebirth? Sin. {49’33”} Psalm 58:3: “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” {Ps 58:3} So clear, God’s Word on this matter.

{49’48”} Thus we read–and parents, take note–Testimonies, vol. 3, page 565: “Our youth want mothers who will teach them from their very cradles to control passion, to deny appetite and to overcome selfishness.” {3T 564.3} We need to help them to overcome selfishness from where? From the cradle. Why? Because they have received it as a natural inheritance, that’s why. They don’t have to develop it, do they, dear parents? How long does it take for them to manifest that little selfish nature? About two days. Not long at all. And any parent who has raised children knows of the natural inheritance of sin, I believe, unless they have really deceived themselves. From the cradle, parents, we are to help our children overcome selfishness, and we are to lead them from the cradle to the cross {MH 386.2; 2SM 433.2} – their conversion experience. But during that time, from the cradle to the cross, is the most vulnerable, crucial time for our children. And who’s responsible for them? We are during that time. After the cross, they will fight the battle themselves, but we must fight it with them before the cross.

How do we fight the battle after the cross? Listen. {51’21”} In the morning watch book, My Life Today, page 52: “If you will battle against selfish human nature, you will go forward steadily in the work of overcoming hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong.” {ML 52.4} How do we fight selfish human nature? By overcoming hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Because that is what selfish human nature is. It’s hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong.

{51’59”} No wonder she says, in Bible Commentary, vol. 4, page 1154: “God hates hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong.” {4BC 1154.9} God what? He hates hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Why does God hate it? God hates only what? Only sin. Why does he hate hereditary tendencies to wrong? Because they’re sin. Was there something in Christ that God hated? Was there? Hereditary tendencies to wrong, something in Christ that God hated? {Mt 3:17} I submit not, brothers and sisters. He did not have that selfish human nature that we have. If there was any selfishness in Him, even selfishness of nature, He would have been what? A sinner by nature, in need of a Saviour. And pray tell, who is going to be His Saviour?

And how long will we have to do battle with this selfish nature, this hereditary and cultivated tendencies; how long? {53’20”} Review and Herald, November 29, 1887: “From the cross to the crown there is earnest work to be done. There is wrestling with inbred sin; there is warfare against outward wrong.” {RH November 29, 1887, par. 12} From when to when? From the cross to the crown. Let’s get our kids from the cradle to the cross and then they’ve got to fight from the cross to the what? Crown. From the cross to the crown there is earnest work to be done, there is wrestling with inbred sin.

By the way, when do we receive the crown? What is that crown? That’s the crown of immortality, incorruption, that we receive in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye {1 Cor 15:52-53}; that’s glorification. Up until the point of glorification, we have what that we must wrestle with? Inbred sin. And that comes after the close of what? Probation. Now, brothers and sisters, please recognize that even after the close of probation, by nature we are still, what? We are still sinners. But are we sinning after the close of probation? We cannot be. We must come to the place where by God’s grace we are such skilled wrestlers with inbred sin that we have that old man {Rom 6:6; Col 3:9} in a death lock, pinned to the floor, and we would rather die than knowingly transgress God’s law. {5T 53.2} And we can come to that place, brothers and sisters, we can.

But coming to that place, does that make us sinless? No. There have been many who have come to that condition in the past, men of God who would rather die than knowingly transgress God’s law. Yet what did they confess? {55’11”} Acts of the Apostles, 561: Yet they “confessed the sinfulness of their nature.” {AA 561.1} They would rather die than knowingly transgress God’s law, and yet they are what? They are confessing the sinfulness of their nature. Did Jesus Christ ever have to make such a confession? You see, there’s more to sin than just sinning, isn’t there? Please recognize that. We are under condemnation not only for the wrong things that we do, but for the selfish, sinful nature that we have. {1SM 220.1-3} And we must confess that and receive forgiveness for it. And praise God, there is provision in the atonement to cover. {RH September 17, 1895, par. 7: “Human nature is depraved, and is justly condemned by a holy God. But provision is made for the repenting sinner, so that by faith in the atonement of the only begotten Son of God, he may receive forgiveness of sin, find justification, receive adoption into the heavenly family, and become an inheritor of the kingdom of God. Transformation of character is wrought through the operation of the Holy Spirit, which works upon the human agent, implanting in him, according to his desire and consent to have it done, a new nature. The image of God is restored to the soul, and day by day he is strengthened and renewed by grace, and is enabled more and more perfectly to reflect the character of Christ in righteousness and true holiness.”}

Oh, brothers and sisters, I recognize that I have shared with you some pretty grim news, but there’s a good news half of this text, and we’ll get there. Can you hang on? “By one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, but” praise God for that little conjunction: “by the obedience of one, the many will be,” what? “made righteous.” {Romans 5:19} But we’re not ready for the good news until we see fully the bad. The good is only as good as the bad is bad. You show me a man who doesn’t recognize his hopeless, helpless state by natural birth, and I will show you a man who doesn’t rightly appreciate the privilege that is his in spiritual rebirth. Praise God for the Second Adam. {FW 88.3}

In closing, here’s some good news. Let me share it with you. {56’49”} Messages to Young People, page 69 and 70: “Adam fell under the dominion of Satan. He brought sin into the world and death by sin. …Man sold himself to Satan, but Jesus bought back the race.” {MYP 69.4} Oh, praise God for that. But I ask you, if Jesus came as One who was sold, who bought Him back? Please think on these things. This is our condition as by nature we come into this world, we are sold.

{57’27”} Signs of the Times, May 19, 1890: “Adam sinned and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences.” We stop there, but here’s the good news. Listen. “But Jesus bore the guilt of Adam, and all the children of Adam that will flee to Christ, the Second Adam, may escape the penalty of transgression.” {ST May 19, 1890, par. 8} You see, brothers and sisters, that is our solution to this problem of inherited sin. We don’t deal with it through infant baptism or any other way. We deal with it through the provision of the atonement. I read again: “Adam sinned and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences, but Jesus bore the guilt of Adam, and all the children of Adam that will flee to Christ, the Second Adam, may escape the penalty of transgression.” And when our infants are not intelligent enough to know and appreciate the provision of the atonement, who claims it for them by faith? We do as parents. {2SAT 198.5-199.3} And are they covered by it? Yes. Praise God. So we don’t have anything to do with infant baptism {GC 238.3} because of the gracious provision of the atonement.

But I ask you again: If Jesus shared Adam’s guilt and its consequences in the same way the rest of us do, who bore that for Him? He could bear it for us, brothers and sisters, only because He didn’t share it with us. And if we, in an effort to make Him a sympathetic Example, insist that He shared it with us, we at that very point destroy His substitutionary capacity to bear it for us. Do you see that? Yes, He’s a sympathetic Example. Praise God. But let’s don’t seek to make Him One in a way that destroys His substitutionary capacity. We cannot. We need that Saviour, don’t we? Don’t make Him in need of One Himself. Bless your hearts, and perhaps no one here does that. Oh, but we say things sometimes inadvertently or unwittingly that do just that. We don’t recognize what we’re saying.

{59’49”} In the morning watch book, The Faith I Live By, page 113, more good news. Do you want more good news? “Those who [thus] accept of Christ are looked upon by God, not as they are in Adam but as they are in Jesus Christ, as the sons and daughters of God.” {FLB 113.5} Praise God for the Second Adam. But I ask you again, if Christ was in Adam just what we are in Adam, who was His Intercessor, who was His Mediator, who was His Representative that He could be looked upon as something other than what He was in Himself? He, Jesus, is the Second Adam. He was not represented by the first, He is the Second Adam. The new federal Head and noble Father of a new spiritual race. “That by one Man’s obedience, the many,” those who are born of the spirit: “will be made righteous.” {Rom 5:19; Jn 3:3} Oh, praise God for the Second Adam. Shall we pray?

Father in Heaven I thank you so much that though by one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, by the obedience of One, the many will be made righteous. Oh Lord, help us to recognize fully our natural condition as those who were made sinners by that one man’s disobedience. Help us to recognize that both in our legal standing and in our moral state we were constituted sinners by him. And Lord, we thank You that when we recognize the total hopelessness and helplessness of our own condition, we are then, indeed only then, ready to accept fully and appreciate aright, the hope and the help that is ours in Jesus Christ. Lord I thank You that He came and became One of us that He might be both our sinless Substitute and our sympathetic Elder Brother and Example at the same time. And thank You that He is indeed all-sufficient to be both. Help us to understand and appreciate the Incarnate One more as we continue in our studies, this is our prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.