Yes—people are sinners by birth because of Adam's disobedience, not merely because of personal sins.
Romans 5:12 says that through one man sin entered the world and death passed upon all men. Les Feldick teaches that Adam's act made him a sin-natured individual, and every human descendant inherits that nature. Therefore a person sins because he is already a sinner by virtue of being Adam's child.
Genesis 3:6 — Records the first disobedience through which sin entered the human family.
Romans 5:12 — States that through one man sin entered the world and death passed upon all men.
Romans 5:19 — Explicitly says that by Adam's disobedience many were made sinners.
John 3:18 — Shows that condemnation is already present for the one who does not believe.
The Bible's answer to why humans are sinners centers on Adam. 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." Romans 5:19 adds, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Genesis 3:6 records that first disobedience: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." Jesus also speaks of an already-existing condemnation in John 3:18: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Les Feldick repeatedly answers that humans are sinners because of Adam, not because of personal behavior. He says, "We're not sinners because we have done something wrong... We're sinners first and foremost because we're sons of Adam" (Clip 2). In his teaching, Adam served as the federal head of the human race; when he chose to eat the forbidden fruit, he immediately became a sin-natured individual, and every human since has inherited that nature (Clip 3). Because of that inherited nature, people do not become sinners by sinning—they sin because they are already sinners (Clip 7). Les also stresses that Adam's choice was deliberate: Adam loved his perfect wife and chose to stay with her rather than obey God, and that act was in absolute violation of God's Word (Clip 0). This is why sin and death entered through Adam rather than Eve, even though Eve ate first; Adam was the federal head, and Eve, who came from Adam, inherited the same sin nature (Clip 5). This is why even outwardly good, moral people are still sinners before God. The old Adam nature within every person is contrary to God and constantly wants what God forbids (Clips 1, 6). As Les puts it, "We do not become sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners" (Clip 7).
Les is emphatic that the second idea is backwards. We are sinners by virtue of being offspring of Adam; then, as sinners, we commit sins (Clip 1). He explains that Romans 5:12 uses "sin" in the singular because it refers to the sin nature that came on the scene through one man—the old Adam nature that can think only what is contrary to God (Clip 1). That nature is inherited, so people do not become sinners by their choices; their choices reveal the sin nature they already have (Clip 2).
Even though Eve ate first, Les points out that the human race did not come under sin by virtue of Eve. Adam was the federal head of the human race, and everyone afterward, including Eve, came from Adam's line. Eve inherited the same sin nature through Adam, and Scriptures such as Romans 5:12 trace sin's entry to "one man" (Clip 5).
Les teaches that when Adam was created he was perfect, with not an ounce of sin in him (Clip 6). The moment Adam took that step of disobedience, he immediately became a sin-natured individual, and all he could constantly think, in spite of himself, was that which was contrary to the very laws of his Creator God (Clip 3). Every human being has inherited that nature ever since. Therefore people break the law because they are sinners, not the reverse (Clip 3).
Les cites Jesus' words in John's Gospel: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already" (John 3:18; Clip 7). He applies this to the human condition: by virtue of being a child of Adam, a person is condemned when they come into the world. The inherited sin nature does not need a list of personal sins to make someone a sinner (Clip 7).
Adam's Deliberate Choice
Les explains that Adam's sin was a knowing, voluntary choice to stay with Eve rather than obey God—so human sinfulness began with a deliberate act of disobedience.
Sin Nature vs. Personal Sins
Les distinguishes the inherited sin nature (singular 'sin' in Romans 5:12) from the personal sins we then commit, showing that sinner status comes before any sinful behavior.
Adam as Federal Head
Using his circle diagrams, Les teaches that Adam was the federal head of the human race, which is why we inherit a sin nature simply by being his offspring.
Immediate Change at the Fall
Les says the moment Adam ate, he became a sin-natured individual and every human has inherited that condition; breaking the law is the result, not the cause, of being a sinner.
Sinners Even If Morally Good
Les uses outwardly good, respectable people to show that a flawless lifestyle does not remove the inherited old Adam nature.
Why Sin Came Through Adam
Les clarifies that Eve's eating first did not bring the race under sin; Adam's federal headship did, and even Eve inherited the sin nature through Adam.
The Real Problem: Human Nature
Les challenges the common idea that lawbreaking makes us sinners, insisting that the real problem is the inward nature that constantly wants to break God's law.
Condemned Already as Adam's Children
Les cites Jesus' words that the unbeliever is condemned already to show that being a child of Adam places a person under condemnation from birth.
Genesis 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
This verse records the first act of disobedience, the moment Les says Adam knowingly chose Eve over obedience and ate the forbidden fruit.
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:
Paul points to one man, Adam, as the entry point of sin and death for the whole human race.
Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
This verse explicitly states that Adam's disobedience made many people sinners.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus says the one who does not believe is condemned already, which Les applies to every child of Adam.
Les teaches that people are born sinners because they are Adam's offspring. The moment Adam ate, he became sin-natured, and that nature has been inherited by every human being. Sinful actions are the result of the inherited nature, not the cause of it.
Even though Eve ate first, Adam was the federal head of the human race. Eve came out of Adam and inherited the sin nature through him. Paul in Romans 5:12 says that through one man sin entered the world, and Les applies this to Adam.
No, according to Les. A person can have a beautiful home, a good family, and no visible flaws and still be a sinner, because sinner status is inherited from Adam, not earned by behavior.
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