So just as sin entered the world and was past down from generation to generation, so was death. For death, is the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23). We are sinners not because we sin; rather, we sin because we are sinners. This passed-on depravity is known as inherited sin. Just as we inherit physical characteristics from our parents, we inherit our sinful natures from Adam (Psalm 51:5).
Another type of sin is imputed sin. Used in legal settings the Greek word translated “imputed” means “to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another’s account.” Before the Law of Moses, sin was not imputed to man (Romans 5:13). The Law of Moses made man's sin accountable (Romans 5:14). All humans from Adam to Moses were subject to death, not because their sin against the law, but the inherited sin of Adam. After the Laws of Moses, humanity was guilty of both. God used the principle of accountability when He imputed all of mankind's sin onto Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for humanities sin, even though He was without sin. In exchange, God imputed the righteousness of Christ to believers and credited our accounts with His righteousness, just as He had credited our sins to Christ’s account (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A third type of sin is personal sin, which is committed by everyone, everyday. Because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam, we commit individual, personal sins, everything from seemingly innocent untruths to murder. Those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ must pay the penalty for these personal sins, as well as inherited and imputed sin. However believers have been saved from the penalty of inherited and accountable sin. And we have been given the Holy Spirit to train us to avoid committing personal sin. The Holy Spirit sanctifies and convicts us of our sins when we do commit them (Romans 8:9-11). Once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
We are all three times condemned due to inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin. The only just penalty for this sin is death (Romans 6:23), not just physical death but eternal death (Revelation 20:11-15). Thankfully, inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin have all been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now by faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
