The Characteristics of the Sinful Nature in the Bible
- Jack Selcher
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Benedict Arnold betrayed his country by offering the military fortress at West Point, New York, to gain a British military commission and 10,000 pounds.1 A Benedict Arnold lurks inside us.
It continually tries to sabotage our desire to follow Jesus. The sinful nature in the Bible longs to live independently of God and do whatever tickles its fancy. The enemy is our fallen human nature. It seeks its way in everything.
Pick fallen human nature up, turn it upside down, shake it as long as you like, and no good will fall from its pockets because there is none there (Romans 7:18). It is hostile to God and wants what is contrary to and in conflict with what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through us (Galatians 5:17-18).
Its passions, desires, and thoughts perpetually resist the Spirit’s work. We have already spent too much time gratifying it (Ephesians 2:3). All who continue to live that way will reap destruction (Galatians 6:8).
We must put to death a way of life characterized by the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:12-13). We must say no to all lustful, ungodly inclinations, set our minds on what the Spirit desires, and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14, Ephesians 2:3).
Our fallen human nature resists loving God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). It distrusts God. It engages in mutiny against Him. It thinks it knows better than He what is best for it.
It is perpetually ungrateful for God’s blessings. It generates doubts about God’s willingness and ability to fulfill His promises. It uses fear to suffocate faith when God promises the power to overcome fear (2 Timothy 1:7).
It magnifies the cost of following Jesus while ignoring the price of not doing so (Mark 8:36). It labels “impossible” things God says are possible (Luke 18:27).
It says we cannot do what Christ says we can (Philippians 4:13). It urges us to quit when God says our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
It whispers we are too tired to continue when God promises strength to complete the task (Isaiah 40:29-31). It tells us we cannot carry out some good work when God guarantees wisdom to complete it (James 1:5).
It unpacks self-hatred. It labels us unlovable and unworthy for God to do anything for us when He promised that since He didn’t spare His Son, He would freely give us what we need (Romans 8:32).
It insists that we are worthless when God paid Jesus to get us (John 3:16).
It drones on that God cannot forgive us or that we cannot forgive ourselves when He promises that if we confess our sins, He will (1 John 1:9).
It wears us out through worry when God promises His peace if we trust Him to handle our problems (Philippians 4:6-7).
It portrays us as all alone in the world when God promises He will not leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
The Apostle Paul describes life with fallen human nature at the helm: People will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud.
They will scoff at God, disobey their parents, and be ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
They will be unloving and unforgiving. They will slander others and have no self-control.
They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT). What is your takeaway?
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