The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Shaina D. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research on "The Nature of Man"
Man is born with a sinful nature. A great example of this can be seen when observing babies. No matter how many times you tell them not to touch the plug, they will always work their way over to it and attempt it. We are like babies, we want to do what is right but our sinful nature gets the best of us. Paul explains this fact well in Romans 7:14-19 when he says, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." I like this passage because it shows the human side of Paul as he strived to do what was right. It feels good to know you’re not alone in the struggle to be more like Jesus. Paul was an amazing missionary and as the passage proves he struggled too. God’s word has given us many illustrations of how to live a life victorious over sin, in spite of our nature.
Because of our sin nature we have earthy desires. For example, God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery, but instead of being thankful as soon as things became difficult they complained about what they had to eat. When I was younger I used to think that they were ungrateful. I now realize that we are not so different. Never being thankful for what God has given us, and always wanting more are both part of our sinful nature.
Once we accept God's gift of salvation, know that when we make mistakes we'll be forgiven. Galatians 5:24 says: "Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. The Lord also reassures us He has equipped us to handle the temptations to sin." 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." While man is born with a sinful nature, it can never be used as an excuse to sin. When we are tempted we must remember that God always provides a way of escape.
