Yes — humans naturally sin because every person is born as a child of Adam and inherits a sin nature that leans against God, not merely because of individual wrong acts.
Les Feldick teaches that we are not sinners because we commit sins; rather, we commit sins because we are already sinners by descent from Adam. Scripture states that through one man sin entered the world and death passed upon all men, and that by nature all are children of wrath.
Romans 5:12 — This verse directly traces the origin of sin to one man, Adam, showing why all humans share a sinful condition.
Scripture locates the root of human sinfulness in Adam’s disobedience, not just in bad choices. Romans 5:12 explains: "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." This shows a corporate connection between Adam and the human race — his sin brought a sinful condition to all people. Ephesians 2:1-3 describes that condition in even more personal terms. Before salvation, people are "dead in trespasses and sins," walking "according to the course of this world," following "the prince of the power of the air," and "by nature the children of wrath." This is the natural state of everyone outside of Christ, not a condition that results only from a person’s individual misbehavior.
Les Feldick repeatedly teaches that Adam was the federal head of the human race. All human beings are "sons of Adam," and from Adam we have inherited a sin nature. This is why people sin: not because they have committed a particular wrong act first, but because they are born with an Adamic nature that is contrary to God. As Les puts it, we are not sinners because we break the law; we break the law because we are sinners, and we are sinners because we are sons of Adam. Les also stresses that Adam was created perfect, without a hint of sin, but his one act of disobedience immediately made him a sin-natured individual. That nature has been inherited by every human being ever since. The old Adam within us wants to do the opposite of what God says. It is the internal source of all sinful actions, which is why even outwardly respectable people are capable of terrible sins when the old nature is given opportunity. Finally, Les connects this to the gospel. Just as condemnation came through one man, Adam, salvation comes through the second Adam, Christ. But unlike universalism, this recovery is not automatic. It is based on a person’s choice to receive the free gift of salvation. Those who remain lost are lost because they were born in sin as children of Adam and have refused the remedy of the cross.
Les teaches that we are sinners first and foremost because we are children of Adam. Because of that inherited sin nature, we then commit sins — the acts that make us guilty before God. He says the problem is not simply that people break laws; it is that there is something inside that constantly wants to break those laws. Even people who appear morally upright on the outside still possess this old Adamic nature and are capable of the same sins as anyone else.
Les describes the old sin nature as an inner influence inherited from Adam. It thinks of nothing but what is contrary to the revealed will of God. This is why the human race is naturally contrary to God and considered enemies of God. The old nature is what makes people rebel against God’s standards, and it is the reason every human being is capable of evil, even after learning good behavior.
Les says that just as Adam brought death and separation from God upon the whole human race, Christ came as the second Adam and restored what Adam lost. This remedy is not automatic; he specifically rejects universalism. Instead, salvation is free for the asking and based on each person’s choice. Those who are lost are lost not simply because they sinned but because they were born in sin as children of Adam and have refused the remedy of the cross.
The Second Adam and the Remedy
Les connects Adam’s act with Christ’s work: Christ restores what Adam lost, but the offer of salvation must be chosen and is not automatic.
Sinners by Birth, Not by Actions
Les explains that a person is a sinner because he or she is a child of Adam, and the old Adam nature pushes against everything God commands.
The Old Sin Nature Entered Through Adam
Les teaches that one man brought the old sin nature into the human race, and that nature is contrary to God, making the human race enemies of God.
Adam as the Federal Head of the Human Race
Les says Adam was the federal head of the human race; because we are sons of Adam, we have inherited a sin nature and are prone to sin.
Born with a Rebellious Adamic Nature
Les teaches that every person has an Adamic nature that knows only one thing — rebellion against God — and that people are lost because they are born in sin as children of Adam.
Breaking the Law Because We Are Sinners
Les says Adam immediately became sin-natured after one act of disobedience, and every human has inherited that nature; we do not become sinners by breaking the law — we break it because we are already sinners.
Created Perfect but Quick to Fall
Les clarifies that the problem is not simply law-breaking but an inner nature that wants to break the law; Adam was created perfect with no sin, yet he fell.
The Old Sin Nature in Everyday Life
Les uses the old sin nature to explain why otherwise decent people can do terrible things and why under similar circumstances we would be prone to do the same.
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 connects Adam’s sin with the universal human condition of sin and death.
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 directly states that many were made sinners by Adam’s disobedience, explaining why sin is natural to humanity.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
This verse describes the spiritual condition of people before salvation — dead in sins.
Ephesians 2:2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
This verse shows that unsaved people naturally follow the world and the spirit of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:3: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
This verse states clearly that people are by nature children of wrath, supporting the idea of inherited sinfulness.
Les teaches that every person is a child of Adam and has inherited a sin nature from him. Because of this inherited nature, people are sinners by birth rather than by their actions. Sinful behavior is the natural result of that condition.
The old Adam refers to the sin nature inherited from Adam. Les says this nature is always contrary to God — it wants to do the opposite of what God commands. It is the internal reason why people consistently break God's laws.
Les points to Christ as the second Adam. Christ’s death and resurrection provide the remedy for what Adam brought upon the human race, but this remedy is not automatic. Each person must choose to receive salvation.
Watch the Teaching: The Moment Death Entered the World: Genesis 3 & Romans 5 Explained