Why Adam’s Sin Makes us All Guilty

But there is still good news…

The Bible tells us that when Adam sinned we were all counted sinners.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned — ” (Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

To many people it seems unfair to punish a group of people — particularly the whole earth — for the sins of one person.

But there are actually legitimate reasons why Adam’s sin makes us guilty. This article will briefly look at three of these.

We were all in Adam.

From a biblical standpoint, we were all in Adam’s body when he sinned, so we were all sinning along with him. Consider how the author of Hebrews presents the priesthood of Melchizedek as superior to that of Levi.

“One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.” (Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Though Levi was Abraham’s great-grandson, he was said to be acting through Abraham because he was in Abraham’s loins. In the same way, all mankind was in the loins of Adam when he sinned, so we all sinned with him.

Adam was our representative.

When I was a kid, my mom pulled me away from a church function to hurry home. She explained that we had just gone to war with Iraq.

Of course, none of the members of our family had declared war, it was our president. However, since I am an American citizen, I was considered at war because our representative had decided that it was so.

In the same way, when Adam opposed God, it was the same as all humanity declaring war against God. As such, we all became enemies of God.

“…we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭3,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Adam’s sin has corrupted our nature.

The most obvious way that Adam’s sin makes us guilty is that it has corrupted our hearts and made us sinners. The Bible says that we are sinful even from the womb.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭5,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

When God looks at mankind, He sees only wickedness and rebellion.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬, cf. 8:21)

As a result of our sinful nature, we have each willfully rebelled against God. We have all gone our own way and done things we knew were wrong.

“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭12,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Jesus Christ is our only hope.

Jesus has come to redeem all that Adam has ruined.

Just as in Adam all became sinners through his disobedience, so all in Christ become righteous through his obedience. Just as Christ died and rose again, we who are in Christ are considered by God to have died to sin, and have been raised to a new life.

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

Adam failed as a mediator, but the Bible says that Jesus always serves to be the mediator before God for all who follow Him. What this means is that even when believers still sin, Jesus intercedes for us and prevents us from being condemned.

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭25,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Also, just as we have received a corrupt nature from Adam, we who follow Jesus have received a new nature through the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that our sinful nature has been crucified in Christ.

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

Of course, crucifixion is a slow death. Christians may still sin, but we can rejoice in knowing that the Holy Spirit is continually making us more like Jesus.

More than all this, just as Adam’s sin made us enemies of God, Jesus’ righteousness has made those who follow Him sons of God.

As God’s children, we are his heirs. One day we will inherit his kingdom where we will live forever with Him.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭36,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Live for Jesus.