Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

Preface:   The basic idea is this: the sin nature is passed down genetically by the man, as the man sinned against God knowing what he was doing. The woman was deceived. A child born from a woman only would have had no sin nature. The fact that a virgin gave birth to the Lord was not simply a matter of fulfilling a prophecy; but it was also necessary so that the Lord was born apart from sin.

The ESV; capitalized translation will be used primarily. My ultra-literal translation will be used from time to time; as well as my mostly literal translation. The curse of the sin nature comes through Adam was originally posted in Psalm 51 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

1.     In Gen. 3:14–15, we have what is known as the proto-evangel; the first message of evangelism in the Bible.

        1)     Very literally, this reads: And so says Y^ehowah Elohim unto the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle and above all life of the field. Upon your belly you will go and dust you will eat all days of your life. And enmity I will place between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her Seed. He will bruise you [on your] head and you will bruise Him [on his] heel.”

        2)     Moving away from the obsessively literal translation, we have: Consequently Y^ehowah Elohim said unto the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock and above all beasts of the field. You will go on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. Furthermore [lit., and], I will place enmity [and antagonism] between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He will bruise your head and you will bruise His heel.”

        3)     God is speaking to the serpent, which is indwelt or empowered by Satan. There will be enmity (hostility, antagonism, division) between Satan and the woman, and between her seed [Seed] and Satan’s seed.

        4)     We may reasonably understand Satan’s seed to be those who are descended from Satan or those who follow after Satan. Since nothing is ever declared in the Bible about Satan and his ability to procreate; but we do have Satan having sway over a third of the angels and over mankind; we can reasonably understand his seed to refer to those who follow after him.

        5)     The woman’s seed cannot be understood in the same way. Even though women do not possess the seed per se in procreation, they do give birth; and they do have descendants.

        6)     Throughout the Bible, we primarily speak of the father as being primary when it comes to the siring of children. They take his name; they assume the identity of his family; they do not take the name of the mother; they are not considered as having descended from her family.

        7)     Therefore, this is quite significant, particularly so early on, to speak of the seed of the woman.

        8)     Let me suggest to you that this refers to the Lord Jesus Christ; and His seed would refer back to all His descendants, which would be all of those who believed in Him (the Lord had no physical descendants).

2.     The man and the woman are cursed.

        1)     Every person has the genes of Adam and the genes of the woman (Eve). We all come from that same stock. Their third son, Seth, married one of his sisters (we assume that it was only one) and the children which he sired make up the human race. This will further be confined to the line of Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives.

        2)     The punishment of the woman was as follows: To the woman He said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." (Gen 3:16; ESV; capitalized) She would (in pain) bear children; she would have her desire for her husband; and he would rule over her.

        3)     Gen 3:17–19 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ground would be cursed because of Adam; and he would sweat in order to eat. God made him from dust and he would return to dust. Our bodies, when life is taken from them, rot and decay, and are reduced to the elements which they were made from.

3.     The curse of the sin nature comes through Adam. This is taken from Psalm 51.

        1)     Adam and the woman were created perfect, without sin. Gen. 1:26–27, 31

        2)     Adam and the woman chose to sin by eating the forbidden fruit. Gen. 3:1–6a

        3)     The woman was deceived in the fall, taking the fruit to be like God. Gen. 3:1–6a, 13 1Tim. 2:14

        4)     Our passage, Psalm 51:5b speaks of sin as related to conception, so that, we understand the time of conception as the moment that we receive a sin nature (even though we would be hard-pressed to see the results of this in the womb). At conception, there are no outside influences—just the sperm of the man and the egg of the woman. Therefore, sin (the sin nature) has to lie in one of those.

        5)     Adam sinned knowingly, choosing the woman over God. Gen. 3:6b 1Tim. 2:14

        6)     As a result, sin came into the world (Rom. 5:12, 19) and death reigned over all mankind (Rom. 5:17).

        7)     All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

        8)     No man is righteous. Eccles. 7:20 Rom. 3:10

        9)     Our life on earth is marked by being dead in trespasses and sins, as children of disobedience, fulfilling the lusts and desires of our flesh. Eph. 2:1–3

        10)   Even some of our greatest saints had a sin nature. Job 15:14–16 Rom. 7:15–20

        11)   Even though Adam originally came into the world in the image of God, his son came into the world in Adam’s image, which would have included having a sin nature. Gen. 1:26–27 5:3

        12)   Man is therefore born unclean and under judgement. Job 14:3–4

        13)   Messiah would come into the world and not commit violence nor would He be deceitful. Isa. 53:9

        14)   Jesus was born without sin and there was no man involved with His conception. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matt. 1:18–20 Luke 1:34–35

        15)   Jesus was born only of a woman. Isa. 7:14 Matt. 1:23 Luke 1:35 Gal. 4:4

        16)   Rom. 8:3–4 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. We, as believers or unbelievers, are unable to keep the Law of God because we are weakened in the flesh, which is a reference to the resident old sin nature. Jesus Christ is in the likeness of sinful flesh, which means, He has a body, just like ours; but no resident sin nature.

        17)   Heb 2:14–15 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. The slavery is to sin; more specifically, to the sin nature. We are subject to lifelong slavery because the sin nature is a part of us. Jesus Christ is flesh and blood, as we are, but He lacks the sin nature.

        18)   Even though Jesus shared flesh and blood with all mankind, He was also separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26).

        19)   He had no indwelling old sin nature. 1John 3:5

        20)   Furthermore, by choice, Jesus never sinned. Heb. 4:15 1Peter 2:22

        21)   This is why the Old Testament offerings always emphasized an animal without spot or blemish (Lev. 4:3, 23, 28). The animal represents Jesus Christ, who is the true Lamb of God (Gen. 22:8 John 1:29, 36).

        22)   It would be illogical for God to be connected in any way with sin. Since Jesus is fully God, He can have no connection with sin. John 1:1–3, 14 Col. 2:9 Heb. 1:8

        23)   The only connection that Jesus had with sin is, it was imputed to Him on the cross and He took the penalty for our sins. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2Cor. 5:21). See also Heb. 9:28 1Peter 3:18

        24)   Because Jesus is fully human (Heb. 4:14–15), the sin nature must therefore be passed down through the man.

                 (1)    Jesus is without sin. Matthew 27:24 John 19:4 2Corinthians 5:21 Hebrews 4:15 1Peter 2:22

                 (2)    Jesus is conceived apart from a human father. Matt. 1:18 Luke 1:34–35

                 (3)    Scripture reads that God sent His Son, born of a woman. Gal. 4:4

                 (4)    Therefore, logically, the sin nature must be passed down through the man.

                 (5)    That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). Although this verse has a different context, the principle is still true.

        25)   Not only does David emerge from the womb with Adam’s original sin imputed to him, (Psalm 51:5a 58:3) he acquires this sin nature at conception (Psalm 51:5b). Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5; ESV)

4.     The curse or stain of the sin nature is illustrated with the Curse of Coniah:

        1)     Coniah was in the line of David and Solomon. However, God cursed him in Jer. 22:24–30, saying that none of his descendants would sit on David’s throne.

        2)     However, we find Coniah’s name in Matt. 1:18–19 in one of the two genealogies of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus; but not the genetic father.

        3)     There was another line that went through David and Nathan that led to Mary. That line is given in Luke 3.

        4)     So, Coniah is like the sin nature, being passed along by the man from generation to generation. However, if someone is born without the genetic contribution of a man (that is, born without the curse), then he has no genetic sin nature.

        5)     The Lord was born apart from the line of Coniah; apart from a sin nature.

        6)     David’s Family Graphic from Pastor Ed Collins; accessed April 23, 2014.

        7)     See a more complete doctrine of the Coniah Curse and the Sin Nature (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

5.     The importance of the woman as related to the Messiah is again found in Isaiah:

        1)     Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (ESV; capitalized)

        2)     This is clearly a Messianic passage and has always been understood to be that.

        3)     Immanuel means God with us. The Messiah would be God in the flesh; God with us.

        4)     What ties this to Gen. 3:15 is, there is no man involved here. A virgin will give birth. Now, even though the word for virgin could simply mean young woman, here it does not because this is a sign. It is not a very impressive sign if some random young woman gives birth. That happens all of the time (more today than occurred then; but in any case, not much of a sign). If a virgin gives birth, then that is a sign.

6.     Jesus as the Seed of the woman, is the Child Who is born in this passage. Here, He is presented as royalty, much as a young child born into royalty would be presented. What is in view here in v. 7 is the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

        1)     Isa. 9:6–7 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. What we have here is the 1^st and 2^nd advents of Jesus Christ placed together, without any mention of the Church Age. This is done over 30 times in the Old Testament. See the Doctrine of Intercalation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

        2)     It is important to understand that event though this Person is called Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; He will be the result of a human birth. Obviously, to people reading this Messianic passage, this would be a very tough circle to square.

7.     The angel Gabriel will tell Mary that she will bear the Messiah, the Son of God. He is descended from King David; but He will be known as the Son of the Most High.

        1)     Luke 1:26–27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

        2)     Luke 1:28–29 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

        3)     Luke 1:30–33 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor [= grace] with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." *(ESV; capitalized)

        4)     Mary is quite concerned as, she is a virgin, so how is it that she can conceive? Luke 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

        5)     Luke 1:35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. The angel affirms the virgin birth (the Holy Spirit would come upon her); and the child will be the Son of God. Quite obviously, this is some very heady stuff for a young woman to take in.

8.     This prophecy is fulfilled in Matt. 1:18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

9.     Her husband, Joseph, knew that he had not been a part of her pregnancy in any way; but he did not wish to cause her harm. Matt. 1:19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

10.   An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, and tells him what is going on. Mat. 1:20–21 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins."

11.   All of this fulfills the prophecy given by Isaiah. Matt. 1:22–23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). (Isa. 7:14)

12.   Based upon all that happened, Joseph did not have relations with his wife until after Jesus was born. Matt. 1:24–25 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus. (ESV; capitalized used throughout)

13.   Paul confirms that Jesus is born of a woman (the implication being, no human male was involved in her conception). Gal. 4:4–5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth hbvis Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Again, God’s Son, but born of a woman.

14.   There was a difference in transgressions; and therefore, we have different roles in life. 1Tim. 2:12–15a I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing...

        1)     Adam was formed first; but he chose to sin.

        2)     The woman was deceived and then she led her man into the transgression.

        3)     Therefore, men are to take the lead role in life; but women are delivered through childbearing. That is, the Lord would be born of a woman.

15.   There is additional emphasis given to the woman as bearing the Lord in Rev. 12:1–5.

Addendum