What is human nature?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Human nature is what makes us inherently human and distinct from all other creatures. Human nature includes the capacity to create, reason, love, and experience a wide range of emotions. Such a capacity is found in no other form of life. Humans were created in the image of God, giving us a unique capacity for reason, morality, and relationship with God and others. However, after the fall of Adam and Eve, human nature became corrupted by sin, inclining us toward selfishness and disobedience. This sinful nature affects every aspect of our being—our thoughts, emotions, desires, and actions. While we are capable of great good, we are also sinners by nature and by choice and prone to sin, and without God's intervention through Jesus Christ, we remain enslaved to our fallen nature. Through Christ, our nature can be redeemed, and we can be transformed into a new creation that reflects God's righteousness and holiness.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• ● Humans were created in God's image (Genesis 1:26–27). Human nature is a unique creation that in some ways reflects the Creator.
• ● Soon after creation, Adam and Eve sinned, and sin and death entered into the world. As a result, all human nature has been corrupted. Our nature is now bent toward sin, so that man's unregenerate heart is "deceitful … and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• ● As a result of the fall, every part of man—his mind, will, emotions, and body—is affected (Romans 3:9–18). Sinful human nature is referred to as "the flesh" in some translations of the Bible (Romans 8:3; 2 Peter 2:18).
• ● Without Christ, we are victims of the weakness of the flesh. The apostle Paul described his natural state as "unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin" (Romans 7:14 NIV).
• ● The only way our human nature can be redeemed is by faith in Christ. We desperately need a Savior to save us from what sin has destroyed and distorted, and that's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came "in the likeness of sinful flesh" and through His death and resurrection "condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). Those who trust in Christ become a new creation: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The "new creation" includes a brand-new nature "created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).
• ● Human nature will ultimately be changed at the end of time when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). In eternity with God, believers will be set free from the curse. There will be no more pain or sorrow, and all will be made perfect. It is God's purpose that His children "share in his glory" (Romans 8:17 NIV).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Even after we are born again, the human struggle with sin continues (Romans 7). Paul’s words in Romans 7 highlight the ongoing battle between our sinful nature and the desire to do what is right. This struggle is not unique to a few; it is a universal human experience. James 5:17 reminds us that even those we consider righteous, like the prophet Elijah, shared the same human nature, complete with its weaknesses and temptations.

However, the difference for believers in Christ is important. While sin once held us in its grip, controlling our actions and desires, our new identity in Christ breaks that power. Through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we are no longer slaves to sin. Romans 12:2 encourages us not to conform to the patterns of this world, which are often driven by sinful desires, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This transformation is an ongoing process, requiring intentional effort and reliance on God’s grace.

Living a holy life before the Lord is a continuous, deliberate journey. Philippians 2:12 urges believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." This doesn’t mean we earn our salvation through our efforts but rather that we actively participate in the process of becoming more like Christ. It involves daily choices to resist sin, renew our minds with God’s Word, and cultivate a life of prayer and obedience. It’s a process marked by both victories and failures but one that is ultimately guided by God’s faithful presence and empowering grace.

UNDERSTAND

• ● Human nature was created to reflect God's image.
• ● Sin distorted our human nature.
• ● Through Jesus, our nature can be transformed and renewed.

REFLECT

• ● How does knowing that you are created in God's image impact the way you view yourself and others?
• ● In what areas of your life do you struggle most with your sinful nature? How can you rely on Christ for transformation?
• ● How does the concept of being a "new creation" in Christ challenge or encourage you in your daily walk with God?

ENGAGE

• ● What does the way God created our human nature reflect about His character?
• ● How is life impacted by the fact that humans were made in the image of God but corrupted by sin?
• ● How do you see the effects of our fallen nature in the world around us, and how can we as believers respond?