Daily Devotions

Were you really “born that way”?

February 8, 2017

“I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.” 
Ps 51:5 GWT Whether your struggle is with alcohol, drugs, sex, anger, gossip, unforgiveness, stealing, lying, or gambling, one thing’s certain—we are all born with a propensity toward certain behaviors. So it’s not a genetics issue, it’s a spiritual issue. It’s not about science, it’s about sin. Any of us might find ourselves struggling with these issues—not because we inherited a gene for it, but because we inherited Adam’s fallen nature the day we were conceived. David said, “I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.” Solomon said there are no exceptions: “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (Ecc 7:20 NLT). So the answer is yes, we were all “born that way.” The reason these behaviors come naturally to us is not because we “can’t help being the way we are”; it’s because our sin nature is stronger than our desire to please God. Even when we try, at times we lose the fight! Paul, the greatest of Christians, admitted to failing when he tried to do right. “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Ro 7:18 NIV). So if we are all born that way, what’s the good news? Paul gives it to us: “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro 7:24-25 NLT). When you were born you received Adam’s corrupt nature, but through the new birth you receive Christ’s sin-conquering, life-changing, righteous nature!