Sin had its beginning at the core of Adam’s being, his human nature. This deadly work began in his core and it became sinful. Sin was now the governing and driving principle within. Sin became its intrinsic atmosphere. The source of his thoughts, emotions, attitudes, purposes, and instincts, was corrupted by sin.

Today the word we usually use to express this sinful root is self. The core of the natural man is self. The scriptures give us another name. Man’s corrupt human nature, his inherited tendency to evil received from our first parents, is called “the old man.”

Colossians 3:9

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds

Romans 6:6

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Ephesians 4:22

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts

Yet man is neither silent nor inactive. All of his thoughts are articulated in words. All of his

instincts are translated into actions. Therefore, if the fountain is corrupt, then all that flows out from it will also be corrupt.

“This inner nature manifests itself in outward acts. The hidden desires of “the old man” come to the surface in deeds. Covetousness grows into theft; deceit becomes falsehood; impurity of thought and desire manifest themselves in sins of the flesh; unforgiveness and hatred crystallize into revenge and murder; fear becomes fretting; unbelief shades off into worry; dislike degenerates into backbiting; impatience becomes nagging; dissatisfaction and discontent clothe themselves with murmuring and complaining; self-righteousness slips into censoriousness; pride takes on the colour of boastfulness; envy becomes slander; ambition arms itself for war; selfishness grows into oppression; and jealousy attempts to end its torment in suicide or homicide.” “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

In the Word of God, this truth is made very clear in its distinction between sin and sins.

1 John 1:8-9

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Leon Tucker in his Studies in Romans states the difference as follows:

“Sin is character; sins are conduct.

Sin is the centre; sins are the circumference.

Sin is the root; sins are the fruit.

Sin is the producer; sins are the product.

Sin is the sire; sins are his offspring.

Sin is the fountain; sins are its flow.

Sin is what we are; sins are what we do.”

Sin is the old nature itself; while sins are the manifestation of the old nature.

Although this picture of the consequences of sin in the life of the natural man is a very dark one, a thorough and prayerful study of God’s Word, along with your own honest observation of human life as it is, will prove to an open-minded, humble man, that the picture is true.

This does not mean that every person has committed each one of these sins. Although there is a difference in the degree of sin manifested in the natural man but not in the fact of inherent sin. God who knows what is in man says, “There is none righteous; no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) This means that every man is a sinner in the sight of God and that the whole world is guilty before Him.  It means that man, who was made in the image of God, has become flesh. 

Romans 3:19

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Source: “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

Gracious God, may we know that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to settle the matter of sin and sins. This settling was done through the creation of the “new man.”  (Ephesians 4:23) We ask You to open our inner eyes to see ourselves as You see us.

In Him,

Marion