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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 70

"Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

Text: Ephesians 2:3

“BY NATURE”

What, indeed is the nature of man? There are a number of ways to answer this question.

1. Working definition of the word “nature” (“phusis”)

What did Paul mean when he used the word “nature”? Let us consider the following thoughts:-

a) That quality that distinguishes one species from another
b) Thus man, though he may have certain similarities with animals has a distinct nature of his own.
c) Man is described as being made in the image of God (Cf. Genesis 1:27)
i) Capable of knowledge (Cf. Colossians 3:10)
ii) Capable of righteousness (Cf. Ephesians 4:24)
iii) Capable of holiness (Cf. Ephesians 4:24)

2. Pre-Sin Nature

Adam and the Lord Jesus Christ were the only two people who possessed a human nature that was uncorrupted by sin.

3. The sinful Adamic nature

The Scriptures are very clear and straightforward in describing the true nature of man. The following texts from various parts of Scripture demonstrate the grim reality of the sinful nature of man.

a) Old Testament

“The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good, no, not one.
PSALM 14:2-3

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity;
And in sin my mother conceived me.”
PSALM 51:5

b) New Testament

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,
and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men,
because all sinned.”
ROMANS 5:12

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,
and His word is not in us.”
1 JOHN 1:8, 10