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Graham: "...mankind inherited its fallen, corrupt nature from Adam."

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Billy Graham on inheriting a sinful nature and guilt-


"The history of the human race from that day (of Adam's fall) to this has been the story of man’s futile effort to gain back the position that was lost by Adam’s fall and, failing that, to reverse the curse.

“But this is unfair!” you may say. “Why should we suffer today because the first man sinned way back in the furthest reaches of time? Why hasn’t mankind recovered during the intervening years? Why should we go on being punished every day of our lives?” There is a thought current today that it is possible to improve man by improving his environment. Isn’t it strange to recognize that the first sin was committed in the perfect environment?

Let us turn again to the story of the river—the cold, dark river that runs at the bottom of the deep, dreary gorge. Why doesn’t this river make its way back up to the warm, pleasant fields that lie above it? Why doesn’t it leave its mournful route and become the happy, bubbling stream it was when it burst spontaneously from the earth?

It doesn’t, because it can’t. It has no power within itself to do other than it has always done. Once it has plunged down the steep banks into darkness, it cannot lift itself again to the bright, sunny land above. The means by which it could be lifted exists, the way is at hand, but the river does not understand how to make use of it. This reminds me of the Yangtze River in China (also called the Chang Jiang). This river spews its mud for miles out to sea, turning the blue-green waters of the ocean to a murky yellow. It is helpless to do otherwise.

A miracle stands ever ready to bring the river of humanity out of its misery and to place it once more in the warm valley of peace, but the river doesn’t see or heed it. It feels that it can do nothing but continue on its tortuous way until it finally loses itself in the sea of destruction.

The story of the river is the story of man since the time of Adam, winding, twisting, plunging ever deeper into the frightening darkness. Though we lift up our voices and cry out for help, still we deliberately choose—as Adam did—the wrong way. In our despair we turn against God and blame Him for our dilemma. We question His wisdom and judgment. We find fault with His mercy and love.

We forget that Adam was the head of the human race, even as in this country our president is the head of our government. When the president acts, it is really the American people acting through him. When the president makes a decision, that decision stands as the decision of the entire people.

Adam stands as the federal head of the human race. He is also our first forefather. Just as we inherit characteristics, such as intellect, coloring, body size, temperament, etc., from our parents and grandparents, mankind inherited its fallen, corrupt nature from Adam.

 

When he failed, when he succumbed to temptation and fell, the generations yet unborn fell with him, for the Bible states very clearly that the results of Adam’s sin shall be visited upon every one of his descendants. We know all too well the bitter truth of those passages in Genesis 3:17–19, which describe the tragedy that Adam’s act brought upon us all..."





Billy Graham, Peace with God: The Secret of Happiness (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2017).

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