Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
There is an interesting issue raised in the book of Genesis as it relates to David’s statement in this verse. When God created mankind, He created him in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Yet after the fall, the Bible says that Seth was made in the image and likeness of Adam (Genesis 5:3). Later, when speaking to the prophet Ezekiel, God continually refers to him as “son of man,” or in Hebrew, ben adam — literally “son of Adam.” This distinction seems to suggest that, before sin entered into the world, man would have been regarded as a son of God; in fact, this is precisely what is said of Adam in the genealogy of the Messiah (Luke 3:38). It further suggests that, after the fall of man, something changed; those begotten by fallen Adam and his children were made in the image and likeness of fallen man — i.e. conceived in sin.
This is to say that, like David, all of us were born with a sinful nature and the inclination to do evil. As it is written, “Man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). How is it that an innocent baby can develop into a terror when they are a toddler without anyone teaching them to act so? Because we were all brought forth in iniquity and conceived in sin. I’ll recommend that David was not stating this as an excuse to sin but to acknowledge that all man is prone to sin because we were born with an evil inclination.
Knowing this is beneficial if it brings us to the realization that we are in need of redemption. This issue is at the heart of why Yeshua told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). If we are to be reconciled to God, the corruptible seed inherited from our father Adam must be replaced with the Incorruptible Seed that is the Messiah, the last Adam. That is why, when we are born again, we are no longer regarded as “sons of Adam but, as Scripture declares: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Amen.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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