The Ultimate Virus

The Virus from the Beginning

Romans 5:19 ESV

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

See also Ge 3:1–24; Ro 5:12; 1 Co 15:22

Romans 5:12 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Universe is Subject to the Virus

Galatians 3:22 ESV

22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

See also Ro 5:21; Ro 11:32

Romans 5:21 ESV

21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 11:32 ESV

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

The Virus is Inherent in Human Nature

Sinfulness from birth

Psalm 51:5 ESV

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

See also Job 25:4; Ps 58:3

Job 25:4 ESV

4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?

Psalm 58:3 ESV

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

The sinful heart

Genesis 6:5 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

See also Ge 8:21; Ec 9:3; Je 17:9; Mt 15:19

Genesis 8:21 ESV

21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

Ecclesiastes 9:3 ESV

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Matthew 15:19 ESV

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

The sinful nature

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

See also Ro 8:6–8; Ga 5:19–21

Romans 8:6–8 ESV

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The universality of sin

No-one is righteous

Romans 3:9–19 ESV

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

See also Ps 5:9; Ps 10:7; Ps 14:1–3; Ps 36:1; Ps 140:3; Is 59:7–8

All have sinned

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

See also Ge 6:11–12; 1 Ki 8:46; Ec 7:20; Is 53:6; Ro 1:18–32; Jas 3:2

Genesis 6:11–12 ESV

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

1 Kings 8:46 ESV

46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Everyone is sinful in God’s sight

1 John 1:8 ESV

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

See also Ps 130:3; Ps 143:2; Pr 20:9; Is 64:6–7; Mt 19:17; 1 Jn 1:10

Matthew 19:17 ESV

17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

1 John 1:10 ESV

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Jesus has not Contracted the Virus

Heb 4:15; 1 Pe 2:22

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Peter 2:22 ESV

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

See also Is 53:9; Lk 23:47; 2 Co 5:21; Heb 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5

Isaiah 53:9 ESV

9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Luke 23:47 ESV

47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 7:26 ESV

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

1 John 3:5 ESV

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

How to Cure the Virus

Hear God’s Word - Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe God’s Word - Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Repent of your Sins - Luke 13:3

Luke 13:3 ESV

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Confess Jesus as the Son of God - 1 John 4:3

1 John 4:3 ESV

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Be Baptized for the Remission of Sin - Acts 16:22

Acts 16:22 ESV

22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

Remain Steadfast for Life - 1 Corinthians 15:58

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.