Guided by The Gospel – Issue 142 (Questions of Faith: Why Would God Allow Us to Have a Sin Nature?)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the most perplexing questions in our faith journey is why a loving and sovereign God would allow humanity to have a sin nature. Why create us with the capacity to fall into sin, knowing the pain and brokenness it would cause? While this question doesn’t have simple answers, scripture offers profound insights into God’s purpose, love, and ultimate plan for redemption.

God’s design for humanity included free will—the ability to choose or reject Him. This freedom, while risky, reflects His desire for a genuine, loving relationship with us. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 invites us: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.”

Without the capacity to choose, our love for God would be robotic, void of sincerity. Free will makes our devotion meaningful, even though it also opens the door to sin.

The Role of Sin in God’s Redemption Plan -

1. Revealing Our Need for a Savior: Humanity’s sin highlights our inability to save ourselves and our absolute dependence on God’s grace. Romans 3:23-24 reminds us: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
2. Demonstrating God’s Justice and Mercy: Sin provides the backdrop for God to reveal both His justice in judging sin and His mercy in offering salvation through Christ.
3. Deepening Our Relationship with God: Experiencing the consequences of sin can draw us closer to God, teaching us to rely on His strength and forgiveness.

While believers are made new in Christ, the process of sanctification is ongoing. God allows this struggle to refine and grow us in holiness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches us: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Our sin nature serves as a constant reminder of God’s grace and the promise of ultimate transformation in eternity. 1 Corinthians 15:53 offers hope: “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”

Practical Takeaway: What Does This Mean for Us? Understanding why God allowed us to have a sin nature encourages us to embrace His grace, trust in His sovereignty, and live with hope for our eternal future. Our struggles with sin are not the end of the story but part of a greater narrative of redemption and restoration.

Reflection and Challenge - Reflect on how your awareness of sin has shaped your relationship with God. How has His grace and forgiveness transformed your life? Thank God for His mercy and ask Him to continue sanctifying you through His Spirit.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions! Share them in the comments section or send me a direct message if you’d prefer.

With Hope and Faith,

Edward C. Thomas

Guided by The Gospel

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