Paul uses 'sin' in the singular to refer to the old Adamic sin nature—the fallen nature inherited from Adam—not individual wrong acts.
In Romans, the singular word "sin" repeatedly points to the old Adam, the indwelling sinful nature, which acts as a fountainhead. The plural "sins" refers to the outward acts that this nature produces. Les Feldick stresses that keeping this distinction is essential for understanding Romans.
Romans 5:12 — This verse introduces the singular 'sin' entering the world through one man, Adam, setting the foundation for Paul's use of the term.
Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." This places the origin of sin in Adam's transgression. The same chapter states, "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression" (Romans 5:14). The scripture shows that what was passed to all was both a condition (sin) and its consequence (death).
Les Feldick teaches that throughout Romans, whenever the word "sin" appears in the singular, it refers to the old sin nature—old Adam—the fallen nature every person inherits from Adam. He makes a strong distinction between singular "sin" (the inward source) and plural "sins" (the outward acts produced by that source). Using the analogy of a whiskey still, he explains: "The still is one thing, but what it produces is what bends people's mind." Old Adam is the factory, and sins are the products. Les instructs readers to substitute "old Adam" for "sin" throughout Romans without doing violence to the text.
Les Feldick uses the board illustration of a factory. Sin (singular) is the factory—the old Adamic nature inherited from Adam. Sins (plural) are the acts promoted by that nature, such as theft or adultery. He says, "Sin is that factory that's within us. Sin is that fallen nature that we inherited from Adam. Sins, plural, are the acts that are promoted by old Adam." In another clip, he uses the analogy of a whiskey still: the still itself is not what makes people drunk but what it produces. Likewise, old Adam produces sins.
Les says that unless the context clearly says otherwise, the singular 'sin' in Romans should be understood as the old Adamic nature. He states, "You can, without exception, substitute the word sin with old Adam. Old Adam. The old sin nature that we're born with." He does add a caveat: "And of course if it just doesn't fit, well then back away from it." He also says readers "won't do any violence to Scripture" if they use 'old Adam' synonymously with singular 'sin.'
When Paul uses 'sins' in plural, Les teaches that it refers to the results, or acts, that come from the sinful nature. For instance, in a comment on being "dead in sins," he explains, "Now that's plural. In other words, I've pointed out now since we've been in Roman. The word sin deals with that old Adamic nature. But when it's plural, it's the results of that Adamic nature." In Romans 7:5, Les explains that "the motions or the results of sins" are what old Adam produces.
Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a 30-minute walk through the Scriptures teaching in-depth Bible truth that change people's lives. Now here's your host, Les Feldick. Now we're ready to go and let's turn right back here in the studio audience to Romans chapter 8. For those of you joining us on television again, we always like to remind folk we're just an informal Bible study.
Sin vs. Sins: The Factory and Its Products
Les defines singular 'sin' as the old sin nature and plural 'sins' as the acts produced by it, using Romans 5:12 as his starting point.
Old Adamic Nature, Not Individual Acts
Les explains that even in Romans 6:14, 'sin' refers to the old Adamic nature we're born with, not acts like theft or adultery.
Whiskey Still Analogy
Les uses the analogy of a whiskey still to illustrate that the old Adamic nature (the still) produces the sins that affect behavior.
Fountainhead of Sins
Les clarifies that singular 'sin' is the fountainhead from which plural 'sins' flow, and this distinction must be kept as one studies Romans.
Substituting 'Old Adam' for Sin
Les says that throughout Romans, the word 'sin' can be substituted with 'old Adam' or 'old sin nature' without doing violence to the text.
Law Shows How Sinful We Are
Les explains that since humanity inherited a sinful nature from Adam, the law could only show man how sinful he was, not fix the nature.
Old Adam as Manufacturing Point
Les uses Romans 7:5 to show that old Adam is the 'manufacturing point' that produces plural 'sins' as the results.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
This verse is the foundational statement that singular 'sin' entered the world through Adam.
Romans 5:20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
This verse shows the relationship between the law, sin, and grace, which Les discusses in the context of the old nature.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul's use of singular 'sin' is explained as the old Adamic nature, not individual acts.
Romans 7:5: For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Les uses this verse to show the distinction between the old Adam (source) and the motions of sins (results).
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This famous verse uses the singular form, reinforcing the concept of the sinful nature and its ultimate consequence.
Les Feldick says that unless the context clearly says otherwise, singular 'sin' in Romans refers to the old Adamic nature. He says you can substitute 'old Adam' without doing violence to the text, but if it doesn't fit, then back away from it.
Plural 'sins' refer to the outward acts that are produced by the old Adamic nature. Old Adam is the fountainhead, and sins are the results.
He uses two illustrations. One is a factory and its products; the other is a whiskey still. The still produces the whiskey that bends people's minds. Likewise, old Adam produces the sins that cause problems.
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means