The Impact of Sin and the Fall • ~10 min read
Welcome back, dear friends, to our study on God's design for sexuality. Last time, we began to explore the profound impact of sin and the Fall. Today, we're going to delve deeper into how sin didn't just affect Adam and Eve in the garden, but its reach extended to all humanity, creating a universal brokenness and an ongoing struggle within each of us. Understanding this deep-seated reality of our fallen nature is crucial as we seek to comprehend God's grace and His plan for wholeness.
One of the most foundational truths of Scripture is that sin is not a problem limited to a few, but a reality that encompasses every human being. The Bible is clear that no one is exempt from its grasp.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23
This verse from Romans is a powerful declaration. The word "all" leaves no room for exceptions. Every person, regardless of their background, culture, or upbringing, has chosen a path that deviates from God's perfect will. To "come short of the glory of God" means we have failed to live up to the divine standard, the perfect image of God in which humanity was created. We were designed to reflect His character, but sin has marred that reflection, leading to a universal state of spiritual deficiency and separation from His ideal.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:10
This reinforces the sobering truth: no human being, in their natural state, is perfectly righteous before God. We are all touched by the stain of sin, which impacts not just our actions, but our very nature and inclination.
The impact of sin goes deeper than just our outward actions; it has fundamentally affected our inner being, our thoughts, desires, and motivations. The Bible describes the human heart, apart from God's transforming grace, as inherently prone to self-deception and evil.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
This verse paints a stark picture of the human condition. Our hearts, the very core of our being, are described as "deceitful" and "desperately wicked." This doesn't mean every person is always doing overtly evil things, but it speaks to a deep-seated tendency to rationalize our actions, to pursue self-interest, and to resist God's perfect ways. We often struggle to truly know our own motives, let alone the motives of others, because our hearts are so complex and corrupted by sin. This inner brokenness is a direct result of the Fall and affects every aspect of our lives, including our understanding and experience of sexuality.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5
This psalm acknowledges the profound truth that we are born into a world and a human lineage already marked by sin. From the very beginning of life, we inherit a fallen nature, a predisposition towards sin that is part of the universal human experience.
Because of this fallen nature, we often find ourselves in a constant battle within. We may know what is right, what God desires, but struggle to do it. Conversely, we may find ourselves doing things we know are wrong, even when we wish we wouldn't.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Romans 7:18-19
Here, the apostle Paul articulates a struggle that resonates with many of us. He acknowledges that in his "flesh" – referring to his fallen human nature – there is no good thing. He recognizes the desire to do good, to obey God, but finds himself unable to consistently achieve it. Instead, he struggles with doing the very things he wishes to avoid. This powerful passage highlights the universal internal conflict that arises from our fallen nature. It's not just a lack of knowledge, but a deep-seated inability to consistently choose and perform God's perfect will without divine intervention and power.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
This verse further illustrates our universal tendency to stray from God's path, each turning to our "own way." This self-centered inclination is a hallmark of our fallen nature and is the root of much of the brokenness we experience in ourselves and in our relationships.
Our journey today has led us to a profound, yet sobering, truth: sin is a universal reality that has touched every human being. From the inner workings of our hearts, as described in Jeremiah, to the outward manifestations of our struggle with doing good, as articulated in Romans, we see the pervasive impact of a fallen nature. We all "have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and this brokenness affects every facet of our existence, including our understanding and experience of God's beautiful design for sexuality. Recognizing the depth of this universal brokenness is not meant to condemn us, but to clearly define the problem, so that we can fully appreciate the incredible grace and power of God's solution for wholeness.