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— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 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. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12–21)One OT verse describes sin this way: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
Christian martyr Watchman Nee helps me understand the nature of sin. He describes humans as spirit, soul, and body. The inner spirit is what enables me to connect with God. The soul is my faculties of intellect, emotions, and will power. The body is the physical connection to the elements around me. Adam was created to communicate with God through his spirit, with the soul saying yes to what God says and his body responding in obedience.
Adam was given one command that he disobeyed. This broke the spiritual connection with God. He was left with a soul that confused or ignored what God wanted because he became spiritually dead to it. Not only would he die physically, but he would die without hope of being with the One that gave him his spirit. This broken condition is what is called sin.
The only cure for this condition is receiving new life to the spirit from the only One who can give it. However, many rely on the power of their soul to live and some do a fine job of what looks like an obedient-to-God life. They fill their minds with their ideas influenced by their peers, false teachers, etc. and train their desires to choose ‘good’ things, choices that bring them assurance they are righteous and okay with God. Yet without the life of Christ, these efforts do not awaken a dead spirit. Only Jesus can do that.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)Body facilities cannot think God's thoughts, experience His emotions, or will themselves into true spirituality and more than I can become an opera singer by positive thinking, or being at peace if my house is on fire, or be the next mayor of our city by wanting it to happen. Reading the rules informs my soul, but my soul is only able to fool myself into thinking how I think, feel, or act is what God wants.
Confessing sin is an important step toward a renewed spirit yet that also involves listening to God. Any other voice, inside or outside might choose for self-pity or self-promotion rather than true humility. How desperately Jesus and God's Spirit is needed to get us out of sin’s trap.
Lord, even as a redeemed person, my ideas, feelings, and wants can strive for obedience rather than listen to You or even admit that inner war is trying to trip me up. Satan told Adam and Eve that if they just said no to God and yes to their desires, they would be like God, but they already were! At that, evil won — until You came, died, and defeated death for us and because You obeyed Father God rather than give in to Your perfect will. It is still a wonder and even a mystery, yet You are the way, the truth, and the only life that brings me out of sin’s bondage to live the way You intended.