In Philosopher John Locke’s 1690 “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, he championed the idea of “Tabula Rasa”- that the mind is a primary blank or empty state before receiving outside influence.
But in Christian theology we are not considered to be born as morally blank slates due to the original sin of Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12), for we are born with a sin nature:
Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Whether you agree with this or not, it is fair to say that God has made us in such a way that we will be greatly influenced by outside influences. And, if left to follow our natural sinful inclinations, we will give ourselves more over to sin:
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:21-25 ESV).
So, what is the remedy?
Well, first, we must be born again (John 3:3), and by the grace of God become new creations:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
And, enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must walk by the Spirit that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
For only through God can we walk in “newness of life”:
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4 ESV).
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 ESV)
So, even though we are born with a sin nature, God offers us the opportunity to believe in Jesus and receive new life in him, for sin shall not be our master (Romans 6:14).
Praise God that He not only saves us but enables us to live increasingly more faithful lives. With this being God’s biblical essay on humanity.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Rob