There’s a popular idea floating around in Christian circles that says we were given a sinful nature. But what if that’s not the whole picture? What if, instead of being “given sin,” we simply lost something vital—and that loss led to everything else?
Let’s talk about life, death, and… maggots. Yes, maggots.
We Didn’t Gain Sin — We Lost Life
The Bible doesn’t say Adam and Eve were given sinful nature. What it does say is that when they sinned, they died—spiritually. Life left them.
“…on the day you eat of it, you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
And when life is gone, what comes next?
Decay. Corruption. Rot.
Think about it like this: imagine piling up organic trash in your kitchen. If the garbage pickup doesn’t happen for a few days, maggots will show up.
But did the garbage guy create the maggots?
No. His absence allowed decay to take over.
That’s what happened to humanity. The absence of life brought decay.
Our spirit died, and our bodies—the vehicle of that lost spirit—became vulnerable. That decay is what Scripture calls the “body of sin.”
Our Nature Shifted Because Life Was Gone
Romans 6:6 says:
“Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with…”
The “body of sin” isn’t about your physical body being evil. It’s about the condition of humanity in the absence of God’s life.
When life left, sin didn’t just show up—it took over. It started guiding our desires, our thoughts, our behavior. The maggots multiplied.
Then Jesus Brought Life Back
Jesus didn’t just come to make bad people good—He came to make dead people alive.
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
First he killed the maggot infested, body of sin, by crucifixion. The body of sin was done away with!
Then came life!
And what happens when life comes back? Decay stops. Maggots cannot grow.
The body of sin is crucified with Christ. The sinful nature loses its home. The dominion of sin is broken.
Now, something new grows inside of us—divine nature.
Why Sin Feels Wrong Now
If you’ve truly been born again, you’ve probably felt this:
You sin… and it just feels off.
Not because someone’s watching.
Not because you got caught.
But because… it’s just not you anymore.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
That’s not condemnation.
That’s transformation.
Your desires have shifted. The real you doesn’t crave the old decay. You want something deeper. Truer. Eternal.
“Do Not Let Sin Reign…”
That’s why Paul doesn’t say, “Pray that sin won’t reign.” He says:
“Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.” (Romans 6:12)
Before you knew Christ, sin ruled without resistance.
Now? You’re in charge.
Life has returned. You are no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6), and your body is no longer an instrument of unrighteousness (Romans 6:13).
You can choose to let life lead.
Life Has Consequences Too
Here’s a question worth asking:
If the absence of life brought death, disease, and decay…
What should be the consequence of having life again?
Not just in eternity—but right now?
We should expect to see fruit—love, joy, peace, patience (Galatians 5:22).
We should see healing, wholeness, freedom, and a heart that no longer desires sin but hungers for righteousness.
Final Thought
You weren’t born again just to get a “clean slate.”
You were raised to new life—a life where the old maggots of sin no longer have a place to feed.
Jesus didn’t come to upgrade your behavior. He came to resurrect your spirit.
So don’t live like you’re still in the trash heap.
Don’t let what’s dead rule what’s now alive.
You are a new creation—full of life, free from decay, and born to bear fruit that lasts.
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