What is inherited sin?

from the old testament

• Sin is disobedience to God's command, as seen in Genesis 3:6 when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, choosing to follow their own will rather than obey God's clear instruction (Genesis 2:16-17).
• Genesis 3:17-19 recounts God's judgment on Adam and Eve. The consequences—toil, pain, and death—are not just for Adam and Eve but for all their descendants.
• In Psalm 51:5, David acknowledges humanity’s inherited sinfulness, saying, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Inherited sin continued for all humanity after Adam and Eve.

from the new testament

• Sin is defined as anything that falls short of God's perfect standard or glory. Romans 3:23 reads, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All of us are sinners by nature and by choice, meaning that we are born with a propensity to sin and we actively sin.
• Sin is also defined as breaking or transgressing the law of God, since John wrote, "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).
• Our sins also include both sins of omission and sins of commission. Sins of omission are sins we commit due to our failure to do something we should (James 4:17). For example, instead of standing for something that is right, we remain silent (see Ezekiel 3:18). Sins of commission are sins we actively commit, such as lying (see Proverbs 12:22). Both types of sin fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).
• All people have inherited a sinful nature from the first man, Adam. As Romans 5:12 explains, “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” This inherited sinfulness means that everyone is born with a natural tendency to rebel against God.

implications for today

In contrast to the idea that people are born neutral and without the stain of sin, Scripture indicates we are born with a sin nature that is inherited from our parents and their parents before them. Because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, sin has been an "inheritance" for all of their descendants.

Very few would deny that people make mistakes, yet many do not wish to accept the biblical view that people are born as sinners. But the best explanation for the universal practice of sin in our world is that it is part of our human nature. This does not excuse us from sin, but it does explain why we sin.

Because of inherited sin, we are sinful in nature and in practice. This inherited nature does not remove our responsibility—we are still accountable for the choices we make (Ezekiel 18:20). Every time we sin, we are choosing to rebel against God's holy standard. While our sin nature explains why we sin, it does not justify it. The just consequence of sin is death—both physical and spiritual (Romans 6:23). But in His mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take our punishment upon Himself. Jesus lived a sinless life and died in our place so that we could be forgiven (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we put our faith in Him, He removes the guilt of our sin and gives us His righteousness, offering eternal life as a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15 that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." Though we may feel we are the worst sinner in the world, Jesus came to save us, which includes forgiving us from our sins. Paul wrote, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved and made into new creations, with their old sinful nature replaced by a new one empowered by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation enables us to live according to God's will, able to resist sin and pursue righteousness (Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 5:16).