Do we sin by choice or not? David stated he was brought forth in iniquity (Psa. 51:5) and Paul stated that everyone was made sinners in Adam (Rom. 5:19)? So, do we sin by choice or are we just made sinner robots from birth?
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Romans 5:19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
The above verses teach that the entire human race (except for Jesus Christ) was born with a sinful nature. We each inherited this sin nature from Adam when he sinned in the garden. As the federal head of all mankind, his guilt was imputed to all his seed — to both you and I. Some definitions are warranted here.
Similarly, the entire human race may be summarized under the representation of two Adams:
(1) the first Adam in the garden is the federal head of the entire human race under the covenant of works (Gen. 1-2) and
(2) the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:45, 47), is the federal head of all believers under the covenant of grace (Rom 5:12-21).
The entire human race is naturally born under the federal headship of the first Adam in the garden. Adam as the federal head of the human race corrupted all his seed. So, all humanity is collectively guilty and condemned before God. Every human is totally depraved and lost.
So, it's a universal fact that everyone (except Christ) sins (Rom. 3:1-18). Even Christians sin (cf. 1 John 1:8-10; 2:1). And absolutely none are saved by their own works (cf. Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-6).
Only in Christ can one be forgiven. Just as the first Adam represented all humanity, Christ is the federal head of all believers. He is their representative, and his righteousness is imputed to them when they believe in him. In Christ we have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).