https://youtu.be/g3WkVez_xIE
In our verse by verse study of Romans we are looking at the word "hamartia" that is translated "sin" in Rom 3:9; We have noted that the word "harmartia" in the singular normally refers to the old sin nature when it is used.
The sin nature is the predicate for all personal sins. We commit personal sins because we have a sin nature that creates the temptation to sin.
Last time we noted that phrase "body of sin" in Rom 6:6 that emphasizes the old sin nature's residence in the cell structure of the body. Its genetic home is the chromosomes of the cell structure of the body.
"Corruptible man" in Rom 1:23; also refers to the sin nature. Corruption describes the old sin nature and the result of the old sin nature. Man is corrupted physically, spiritually, and morally. "Perishable or corruptible seed" in 1Pet 1:23; refers to the transmission of the old sin nature.
There are passages that describe sin, and good or evil as coming from the "heart." The heart, or right lobe of the soul, has nothing to do with the old sin nature but the old sin nature attacks and takes over control of the "heart" and enslaves it when negative volitional choices are made regarding God's truth
This is the old sin nature influencing thought so that sin, human good and evil are in the thinking that comes from the heart is the result of the sin nature programming the heart. Jer 17:9; Matt 12:34-35, Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21-23.
We will note how Paul describes this situation in Rom 7:14-25; shortly.
Rom 6:6; has three references to the old sin nature. "knowing this, that our old man (old sin nature) was crucified with Him (retroactive positional truth), that our body of sin (old sin nature) might be rendered powerless, in order that we should no longer be slaves to sin (old sin nature)."
This verse tells us that everyone is in total slavery to the old sin nature apart from the retroactive positional truth that occurs when we believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Gal 2:20;
When the old sin nature gains control of the soul, it is often called a "desperately wicked heart." Jer 17:9, "The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." The Hebrew word "anash" translated "desperately wicked" is also translated incurable.
The Hebrew word "leb" is used for the right lobe of the soul, but here it refers to the right lobe when it is connected with the temptations that come from the old sin nature that are processed through the soul and its functions.
The right lobe of the soul is the place where sin is defined before volition grabs it and runs with it. All sin originates from the volition, and temptation puts pressure on the soul to choose to sin.
This explains Jer 17:9; that relates the right lobe of the soul to the old sin nature. Matt 12:34-35; and Matt 15:19; say that the heart is the source of certain sins. This refers to the right lobe of the soul that is enslaved to and under the control of the old sin nature.
In other words, the sin nature that resides in the cell structure of the body and presents a temptation that goes into the right lobe. There it is defined in terms of language or emotion.
Once the source, the old sin nature, gains access to the soul, then the temptation is defined. At this point, there is temptation in the language of the soul.
At that point a decision regarding that temptation is presented. Negative volition means you will commit the sin that you are being tempted with, whether you know it's a sin or not. Positive volition means you say no to committing that sin, so that the temptation merely remains a temptation.
A temptation is not a sin until the volition executes it. This is true of all people, normal or abnormal. God holds every person responsible for the personal sins that they choose to commit.
Rom 7:14; has two references to the old sin nature. "For we know that the law is spiritual (comes from God, a Spirit), but I am of the flesh (old sin nature in body), having been sold into bondage to sin (slavery to old sin nature)."
1John 1:8; "If we say (contend, maintain, assert) that we have no sin (nature), we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us."
1 John 1:10; "If we say (contend, maintain, assert) that we have not sinned (after salvation), we make Him a liar and His word of truth is not in us."
The old sin nature is the genetic home for God's imputation of Adam's original sin at physical birth that establishes real spiritual death. Real spiritual death is separation from God in a state of total depravity and complete inability to do anything to fix it on his own.
The old sin nature resides in the cell structure of the body and is the source of all inner temptation. Anything that is a temptation to you must be processed through the volition of your soul for it to become sin.
The sin nature is passed down genetically through the twenty-three male chromosomes in conception. Man's soul comes from God but the old sin nature originates from Adam. The old sin nature works through the soul. All inner temptations come from the old sin nature.
Most temptation comes from the old sin nature though occasionally we face an overt temptation. All of Jesus' temptations were overt because He did not have an old sin nature.
At birth two imputations occur simultaneously. When the fetus emerges from the womb, God imputes human soul life. God creates that human life in every case.
Simultaneously, God's justice imputes Adam's original sin to the sin nature that is its genetically prepared home in the cell structure of the physical body.
The result is real physical life in a biological body with human soul life and real spiritual death.
Adam's sin nature is transferred genetically through the physical chromosomes but God transfers Adam's original sin through imputation at birth.
There is a vast difference between biological life and soul life. Biological life originates at conception. God originates Human soul life at birth.
The sin nature does not become active until birth, when biological life is combined with soul life to form human life in a biological body.
God cannot and did not create the sin nature. The sin nature originated from Adam's disobedience to God. God is not the author of sin or temptation; that is blasphemous and unthinkable because God is perfect.
Biological life is genetic, originating in the zygote at conception. Soul life originates from God at birth. Biological life begins at conception; Human soul life begins at birth.
The sin nature is propagated through biological life. Therefore, the sin nature is transmitted through the body, not the soul. For this reason, the Greek word "sarxz" translated "flesh" is used as a synonym for the sin nature.
Biological life begins with mother dependence in the womb. Soul life begins with God dependence at birth.
Both the men and the women are carriers of the old sin nature but transmission of the old sin nature occurs only from the twenty-three male chromosomes that are passed down from the man to the woman in conception.
The man is the transmitter of the old sin nature because Adam committed the original sin of cognizance, and Eve committed the original sin of ignorance.
1Tim 2:14; "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression.
Rom 5:12; "Therefore, just as through one man (Adam), sin (the sin nature) entered into the world, and (spiritual) death through the sin nature, so (spiritual) death spread to the entire human race because all sinned."
Psa 51:5; "Behold, I was born in iniquity, and in sin (the sin nature) I was conceived." David means that Adam's original sin was imputed to the old sin nature at the point of birth. He is not saying that he was conceived or born to unmarried parents.
The sin nature is genetically formed in the womb, along with biological life. Because there is no human soul life in the womb, God is not the author of sin.
We noted the old sin nature influencing thought so that sin, good and evil are in the thinking that comes from the heart is the result of the sin nature programming the heart. Jer 17:9; Matt 12:34-35, Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21-23.
Paul describes this situation that is described as fragmentation in his description of the fragmented life in Rom 7:14-25;
v14; "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of (belonging to the realm of) the flesh (sin nature), sold in bondage to sin (sin nature)."
v15; "For that which I am doing (fragmentation), I do not understand. For I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing that I hate (self-fragmentation)."
v16; "But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do (fragmenting my own life), I agree with the law that it is good." In 1 Timothy, Paul says that the law teaches what sin is.
Rom 7:17; "But as the case really stands, I am no longer the one doing it, but the sin nature which is indwelling me."
v18; "For I know that nothing good of intrinsic value dwells in me, that is in my flesh (sin nature), for the desire is present in me to attain the good (virtue), but I cannot do it."
v19; "For the good of intrinsic value that I desire to do, I do not do (fragmented believer), but the evil which I do not desire to do I keep practicing."
v20; "But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish to do (and I am), I no longer accomplish it, but the sin nature residing in me."
Rom 7:21; "Consequently, I discover this principle, that when I desire to do the good (virtuous, noble), evil (fragmented life) is present with me."
v22; "For along with other believers, I delight in the law of God (God's protocol plan) with reference to my inner man (doctrine in the thinking)."
v23; "But I see a different law (principle) in the members of my body, making war against the law of my mind (status of fragmentation), and making me a prisoner to the law of the sin nature which is in the members (cell structure) of my body."
v24; "I am a miserable (wretched) person! Who will rescue me from the body of this death (the old sin nature)?"
Rom 7:25; "Grace belongs to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, on the one hand, with my mind I am myself serving the law of God; but on the other hand, with my flesh (when the old sin nature is in control of the soul), I am serving the law of the sin nature."
The old sin nature produces at least six categories of fragmentation. Personal or self-fragmentation is related to the sin nature's area of weakness and area of strength.
Heb 6:1, "Therefore, leaving behind (graduating from) the elementary teachings about Christ (basic doctrines of the Hypostatic Union, Christology, and salvation), let us advance to maturity (the execution of protocol plan, the manufacture of the invisible hero, glorification of God),
not laying again the foundation (doctrines of salvation and spirituality) of repentance away from dead works, and of faith toward God, . . ."
Dead works come from the area of strength of the old sin nature. When under the control of the sin nature, all the good works that are produced are not accepted by God and therefore are described as " dead."
Polarized fragmentation is related to the trends of the sin nature. The sin nature has a trend either toward self-righteous arrogance and legalism or toward lascivious lawlessness and antinomianism.
Perpetuated legalistic fragmentation results in moral degeneracy. Perpetuated antinomian fragmentation results in immoral degeneracy.
Pre-salvation sinning is solved by faith in Christ. Jesus Christ on the cross was judged for both the sins of legalism and the sins of antinomianism. At the moment anyone believes in Christ, the problem of pre- salvation sinning is solved, for those sins are all blotted out, Isa 43:25, 44:22; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14.
Post-salvation sinning requires the use of problem solving device #1, the rebound technique. 1 John 1:9; 1Cor 11:31;
Polarized fragmentation creates conflict among believers who are following the opposite trends in their old sin nature. There is no toleration of others. This conflict can drive positive volition away from doctrine.
Fragmentation related to subjective arrogance includes unrealistic expectation and role model arrogance. Unrealistic expectation is subjective preoccupation with self; role model arrogance is subjective preoccupation with others.