Ephesians 2:3 Is NOT Talking About Sin Nature.
Verse
Ephesians 2:3
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Their Argument:
"This clearly shows that our nature is corrupt and sinful."
Our Response:
While on the surface this appears to be making an argument for sin nature, the reality is much different. When reading the Bible, it's important to take the time to look up what words mean so we don't misinterpret what the author meant.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the word "nature" in Ephesians 2:3 means, "a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature." So it's not talking about being born with sinful desire; rather, because of the evil world around them, doing wrong has become a bad habit.
Let's take a look at another instance of the word "nature" in the Bible:
Romans 2:14-15
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
How is it possible that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law? Are some people born with good natures and others sin natures? Maybe we should do what modern theologians have done for the last 500 years and make up a curse that was never mentioned in Genesis 3? If they can use text outside of Genesis 3 to try and prove Adam's sin secretly created a sin nature, why can't I use Romans 2:14-15 to prove Adam's sin secretly created a good nature? Or maybe it's just bad theology to read curses into Genesis 3 that were never mentioned by God?
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the word "nature" in Romans 2:14 means, "Guided by their natural sense of what is right and proper." Which makes sense because Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, not the Tree of Knowledge of Sin Nature and Original Sin. The belief that man falls into sin of his own choice is also what the early church originally held to:
"Neither do we maintain that it is by fate that men do what they do, or suffer what they suffer. Rather, we maintain that each man acts rightly or sins by his free choice. . . . Since God in the beginning made the race of angels and men with free will, they will justly suffer in eternal fire the punishment of whatever sins they have committed."
- Justin Martyr (100 AD - 165 AD)
"We were not created to die. Rather, we die by our own fault. Our free will has destroyed us. We who were free have become slaves. We have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been created by God. We ourselves have manifested wickedness. But we, who have manifested it, are able again to reject it."
- Tatian (120 AD - 180 AD)
"There is, therefore, nothing to hinder you from changing your evil manner of life, because you are a free man."
- Melito (140 AD - 180 AD)
"But man, being endowed with reason, and in this respect similar to God, having been made free in his will, and with power over himself, is himself his own cause that sometimes he becomes wheat, and sometimes chaff."
- Irenaeus (120 AD - 200 AD)
So to conclude, you do not have some sinful desire that was passed down from Adam. Sure, sin is desirable, but that's because of your own desires tempting you. (James 1:14-16) You have a free choice to sin or not to sin. Choose God!
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