Thursday Devotional - Born Good or Bad?

Are people born good, but become bad? Or are all people born bad and some become good?

Romans 5:17-21 ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adam’s sin brought death while Jesus’ obedience brought life. Sin and death entered the world through Adam. Everyone is born a sinner. We aren’t born good and don’t become good. Only God is Good. However, as we’ve been talking about being credited with Christ’s righteousness, we can receive God’s gracious gift of righteousness (vs. 17) because of Jesus’ one “good” act (vs. 18).

Watching children, it doesn’t take long to realize they enter the world sinful and selfish. As caring as James can be, he and Sarah both wanted to go first when we played Candy Land last night (and since they argued about it, I went first!).

Have you accepted the fact that everyone is born a sinner? How does that change the way you and I view others or situations around us?

Have you accepted God’s gift of righteousness? If so, how are you and I enjoying His gift and experiencing life now?

We’re born sinners, but we can accept God’s gift of righteousness!

Alice