Epigenetics and New Life

When I became a Christian, a friend said, “It happens suddenly, in a moment, but then you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out what happened.”

He was talking about spiritual rebirth. Our human nature is from Adam, made in God’s image. He was created without sin, but he said NO to God and YES to sin. From that, his innocence was lost. His relationship with God (and even his wife and the world) was changed. From that fall into sin, all of humanity has been born into sin. Our innocence can be regained only by faith in Christ which produces a change in who we are — new creatures in Christ.

I wonder how Adam’s sin could be passed on to everyone after him. Could it be that sin changed Adam’s DNA? Epigenetics, a relatively new branch of genetics, says our genes get turned on and off and are expressed to greater or lesser degree depending on lifestyle factors. That means sin may have changed Adam’s genetic makeup and that change was passed on to every person. The Bible hints this could be so:

One verse says that “death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam . . .” (Romans 5:14)

Another adds, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

To get back to the sinless innocence Adam was created with, we need to be ‘born again’ and that new birth is what brings a person into the kingdom of God. Jesus said it this way:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5–8)

When that new birth happens, God says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Tozer says the new birth is far beyond the physical birth. Our senses can touch it. We can see, feel, hold and weigh a baby, wash, clothe and feed it. But this invisible, mysterious birth isn’t about our flesh. It is a birth of the Spirit requiring a much different element for life and growth.

Besides, as Tozer says, no one would have listened if Jesus meant physical birth. It is too common — everyone is born. Spiritual birth is uncommon. It is a birth of a new life, not about our bodies but our souls, not about time but eternity. This new birth changes the way we think about God, ourselves, other people, and sin. It changes the way we talk and behave.

One thing must be made clear. DNA may change because of a change in thinking or lifestyle, but the new birth is not caused by new thoughts or behaviors. It is a work of the Holy Spirit. If this new birth is related to epigenetics, then it could be said that God changes our DNA by grace through faith, and then our lives change. When He pours His Spirit into us, we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and are also reborn and given new life.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I am speculating. I’ve no proof that Your work to make me a new person and change my life has any effect on my genetic makeup, but from what I’ve read, both about epigenetics and from the Bible, I would not be surprised. Thank You for giving me something very interesting to research and think about today! It also motivates me to pay close attention to the way You want me to think, talk, and live.