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 Answer:
No,
we're not. The Bible
authoritatively sets forth the truth on this issue when it states
"There is no one righteous, not even one…”
David addresses this subject in Ps 51:2 when he states “Surely
I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
This is true not only of David, but of all humanity. Human beings are sinful at conception due to our sin in Adam.
This is commonly referred to as original sin.
Adam was both the father and federal representative of all
humanity when he sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit in the
garden of Eden. When he
sinned, by way of representation, we sinned and became sinful as well,
and his guilt was imputed to us. Some
might argue by stating that they were not even born then, and therefore
they had no part in his sin; but the same could be said concerning their
redemption in Christ in that since they were not born when Christ went
to Calvary, then the imputation of his forgiveness and righteousness
would not apply either, though we know it does.
Positive proof of this participation in Adam’s first sin and
the corruption of all humanity due to sin is found in Rom 5:12 which
states “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all
sinned.” The totality and
extent of this sin is addressed in Gen 6:5 “The LORD saw how great
man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” That’s why
the prophet Jeremiah wrote “The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure” and why even the Apostle Paul could write “I know
that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.”
However, after stating the significance of this problem in Rom
7:24-25, Paul also provides the solution saying ”What a wretched man I
am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through
Jesus Christ our Lord!” In
Christ, the presence, penalty, and power of sin is dealt with.
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