Have you seen the car tag, “I’m spending my children’s inheritance.” Comforting thought. Right? There is one inheritance most children wish had been spent by their parents. The inheritance of a sinful nature.

Charles Ryrie calls this sinful state “inherited sin” because it came from our parents. Reformed or Covenant brothers believe this sinful state like “imputed sin” came directly from Adam. Wayne Grudem is an example: “Our inherited corruption, our tendency to sin, which we receive from Adam” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, page 497). Wayne Grudem calls this sinful state “inherited corruption” because Adam pasted his sin nature to his children.