Nature vs. Nurture

 

What is sin? Sin is missing the mark. It is falling short of God’s standard – which is perfection.

  • 1 John 5:17 Every wrong is sin, but not all sin leads to death.
  • Romans 3:23, NLT. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

 

No one is good. No one is better than another—we all sin. Notice the universality of sin expressed in the following verses.

  • Job 14:4 Who can create purity in one born impure? No one!

·        Psalm 53:1-3 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good! 2 God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. 3 But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!

·        Isaiah 6:6-7 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. 7Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy.

  • Romans 3:9-18 Well then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10As the Scriptures say, “No one is good— not even one. 11 No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. 12All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.” 13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their speech is filled with lies.” “The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips.” 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“They are quick to commit murder. 16Wherever they go, destruction and misery follow them. 17They do not know what true peace is.” 18“They have no fear of God to restrain them.”…23For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

 

We don’t even stand a chance of ever being good on our own. We are BORN sinners!

·        Psalm 51:5 For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

·        Psalm 58:3 These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

 

We find ample evidence in the long memory of the Scriptures that we can be defined by our lineage. A godly grandparent can define a grandchild. A godly grandparent can give deep roots to a young life. Zephaniah was defined by his lineage.

·        Zephaniah 1:1 The Lord gave these messages to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.

 

A predisposition to particular sins can be passed on from generation to generation. For instance, alcoholism may become a family “curse”. However notice that though the predisposition will pass on to 3 to 4 generations, the benefits of godliness pass on to thousands.

·        Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

 

Further, just because a parent is toxic, this doesn’t mean the child will necessarily fall into the same patterns.

·        Matthew 1:7-8 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.

Note: Rehoboam was a bad father who had a bad son named Abijah. Abijah, a bad man, had a good son named Asa. Righteous Asa however, raised Jehoshaphat who was a good son. But he in turn had Joram, who was a bad son! 

What can we learn from this? Our father’s righteousness cannot be inherited. This is bad news for me. But we also see that if goodness is not hereditary, neither is badness. This is good news for my children.

 

You can learn valuable lessons even from a family that has not had an exemplary history. The trick is to get that history, along with those lessons, passed on. A rootless child will fall for any passing wind.

  • Zechariah 1:2-6 “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. 3Therefore, say to the people, ‘this is what the Lord Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.’ 4Do not be like your ancestors who would not listen when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘this is what the Lord Almighty says: Turn from your evil ways and stop all your evil practices.’ 5“Your ancestors and their prophets are now long dead. 6But all the things I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said they would. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord Almighty. He has done what he said he would do.’”