Q: Are we born with an evil “human nature” that we are bound by throughout the days of our lives?

In looking at mankind in the past and present, we see a commonality throughout cultures for a disposition towards the same attitudes, feelings and emotions. Of more concern are the baser inclinations of man that have led to all evils that have existed in the world. Some may conclude that mankind is born this way.

As discussed in a previous Q&A, Adam and Eve were not created with this nature, but rather had it shaped and influenced by Satan (Also, please see our second Q&A on the subject). But once they had acquired it, it did not mean that their descendants would automatically have it as well.

Heredity does not explain why Cain acted the way that he did, as it would also have to account in the same way for his brother Abel who was called righteous (Matthew 23:35). Also, if it was passed on genetically, then Christ could not have lived a sinless life, having been born of Mary – but He did (Hebrews 4:15). Of course, we read that Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), as He was begotten in Mary’s womb and born of her. He had human nature, but He never sinned, showing that His nature or flesh did not automatically force Him to sin. We read that God said to Noah that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth (Genesis 8:21)—not from birth. In fact, we read in Ecclesiastes 7:29 that “God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”

In fact, as children we do not start off with the nature that we eventually acquire. Most recognize little children as being “innocent” and not schooled in the “ways of the world.” By contrast, when we look at the atrocities of the world, we see how far wrong people can go in a fairly short time.

Scripture bears out that human nature is not passed on innately from parents to child. In Luke 18:15-16 Christ chastises His disciples for not allowing the infants and little children to be brought to Him. He goes on to say, in verse 17, that “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” That is, unless we become again as these little children who have yet to take on the ungodly characteristics of Satan, we cannot have a part in the Family of God. There are two germane points that we can glean from this: Firstly, that babies are not born with the nature that most will eventually take on; and secondly, that even though we acquire Satan's nature and make it our own, we still can and should put on a different nature.

How then do we move from the nature that we have adopted to the one that God wants us to have?

Primarily, we follow the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21-22) who came and lived a perfect and sinless life in this world, while combatting the society around Him and the pulls of the flesh. He also successfully overcame and defeated Satan at every turn – not allowing Himself to be influenced adversely (Matthew 4; Luke 4), and never taking on any aspect of a wrong nature.

Jesus did this by and through the Holy Spirit in Him which is the power of God. Subsequently, Christ paved the way for those that God has called, to have access to the same help. After going through the process of baptism and the laying on of hands, God gives us a portion of the Holy Spirit, which is a guarantee or downpayment on salvation (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5). With the receipt of God’s Spirit, we will become begotten children of God, to be changed into Spirit beings as God’s born-again children at the time of Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:50; John 3:5-6).

Until the time of the resurrection to eternal life, we are to be displacing our human nature, which is really Satan's nature, with God's divine nature. We are to continue to put on His very nature (2 Peter 1:4), which He initially imbued us with – by the using and renewing of His Spirit within us (Ephesians 4:23; Galatians 5:25). Through this power, we transform our heart and mind (Romans 12:2; Ezekiel 36:26); and consequently, our nature becomes more like God's and less like Satan's. With the Holy Spirit in us, we can turn our deceitful and desperately wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9) into a pure and clean one (Psalm 51:10). We can change our mind from its carnal state (Romans 8:7) to the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

The condition of mankind is not a fait accompli by any means. We are not relegated to being this way by birth, nor must we continually succumb to the supernatural efforts of the devil. Rather, if we use the Holy Spirit to become more God-like, while resisting Satan (James 4:7), we can begin a conversion process that will ultimately lead to the abolition of our “human nature” and inculcation of God's nature.
 
Lead Writer: Wray Zehrung