SINFUL FLESH IS NOT THE SAME AS SINFUL HUMAN NATURE

Sinful flesh is not the same as sinful human nature (even though some use the

term “sinful human nature” to mean “sinful flesh”). Sinful human nature is human nature infected and thus affected by sin. Because sin is in the imaginations, thoughts, and consciousness, human nature functions sinful

with no conscience and the lower powers influencing the higher powers,thus human nature is immorally affected. So thus sinful human nature is human nature infected thus adversely affected by sin. Romans 7:5,11,13,18.

Sinful human flesh is different, the term does not refer to human nature with

sin, nor does it really refer to human nature; the term refers to human flesh biologically or genetically affected by sin. This means that the flesh of man has infirmities or biological weaknesses and liabilities of corrupt

emotions flowing because of human nature being infected by sin for thousands of years. The Bible tells us that Jesus had sinful human flesh. Romans 8:3.

The following explanation should help us understand the difference between

“sinful human nature,” and “sinful flesh.” We may note that, since human

nature is physical, intellectual and moral, and these three aspects have

various components, there is nothing wrong with the science or construction

of human nature. This is the way man was built by God. But when human

nature becomes infected by sin, and the Physical has corrupt and misguided

passions and appetites and also actions, the Intellectual has a demented

Reasoning thus evil thoughts perverting its Will and thus misdirecting its

Choice, and the Moral is extinguished or suppressed, then we can use the

term “sinful human nature.” This term does not mean a “sin nature” nor is it

the root of sin in man; to think so is to mystify the causes of sin in man and

to blame the human nature itself. Sinful human nature merely means human

nature infected thus affected by sin. Human nature is perverted and operates

wrongly, (the physical impelling the intellectual which has idols, instead of

the moral motivating and guarding both the intellectual and the physical);

thus it is affected by sin because of being infected by sin, with sin or idols

existing in the intellectual. So, what does the term “sinful human nature”

really mean? It means a human nature infected and affected by sin. This is

not exactly the same as “biological affectation,” in which the flesh of man

is genetically depreciated with infirmities and liabilities through the

accumulation of generations of bodily weaknesses from generations of

ancestors affected by sin through being infected by sin. The human race

from the time of Adam, being infected by sin in its human nature, has

inherited a body or flesh biologically and morally weakened by sin. This is

what sinful flesh means, and it is not sin. Sinful flesh is not an indication of

sin existing within the mind or flesh of the person, it merely means a flesh

biologically affected by sin in the infirmities and liabilities it possesses.

This is not to be called sinful human nature, since sinful human nature is

not flesh alone, and it certainly is not the biological or genetic results of sin

on the flesh of man. Sinful human nature is a nature morally infected and

affected by sin, but sinful human flesh is flesh biologically affected by sin

so that the physical effects of sin on human flesh can be seen in infirmities

and liabilities. However, when someone speaks about a “sin nature” in man,

there is NO such thing existent. The term is really used to show how deeply

sin is rooted in human nature, without really understanding where sin is in

man, or how it is in man. Thus we must not confuse the difference; “sinful

human flesh” or “sinful flesh” which some unwisely call “sinful nature” is

merely the flesh of man biologically affected by sin in its infirmities and

liabilities, while sinful human nature is human nature morally infected and

affected by sin.

The following chart shows the difference between sinful human nature and

sinful human flesh.

Sister Ellen G. White sometimes uses “sinful nature” to mean just “sinful

flesh,” we must understand this and be more precise in our terminology

using the phrase “sinful flesh” instead of “sinful nature.”

Here Mrs. White defines our nature as sinful flesh.”

“He took our nature and overcame, that we through taking His nature,

might overcome. ’Made in the likeness of sinful flesh,’ He lived a sinless

life.” Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 312.

Thus we can understand the use of “sinful nature” by Mrs. White to mean “sinful flesh.”

“Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level

of those He wished to save. In Him was no guile or sinfulness; He was

ever pure and undefiled yet He took upon Him our sinful nature.

Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate with fallen

humanity, He sought to regain for man that which, by disobedience,

Adam lost for himself and for the world.” Ellen G. White, Review and

Herald, Dec. 15, 1896.

“He took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might know

how to succor those that are tempted.” Ellen G. White, MedicalMinistry, p. 181.

We shall now investigate how to deal with sin by dealing with human nature.

We are told that Christ had sinless human nature.

“We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the

human nature of Christ.” Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, June 9, 1898.

We would also have sinless human nature like Jesus Christ and we ought to

have.

“In His humanity, He laid hold of the divinity of God and this every member

of the human family has the privilege of doing. Christ did nothing that

human nature may not do if it partakes of the divine nature.” Ellen G. White,

Signs of the Times, June 17, 1897.

“In His human nature He maintained the purity of His divine character.” Ellen

G. White, Youth Instructor, June 2, 1898.

“The enemy was overcome by Christ in His human nature.” Ellen G. White,

Youth Instructor, April 25, 1901.