Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the doctrine of original sin is true both because it is taught explicitly and implicitly in the Bible, and because it accords with empirical observation of human beings (including -- if we are honest -- ourselves).

Adam’s sin (as described in Genesis 3) has resulted in all humans having a sin nature from conception (Psalm 51:5) -- a nature so pronounced when fully developed that Jeremiah 17:9 describes the human heart as “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” This is shown by temporal death (God's penalty for that sin) being deservedly passed down to all subsequent humans (Romans 5:12,19).

Even children from their earliest words and actions show that they do not require "instruction" in how to disobey or resist authority. That is why they must be lovingly disciplined and corrected.

Humans may have varying degrees of "goodness" (by human standards) apart from God, but none of us are capable of achieving the sinless perfection that God possesses and requires. In fact, the Bible declares that even the best "natural" human efforts at righteousness are "filthy rags" in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6).

The principle of Adam's guilt being passed on to all humans is based on the fact that Adam was the progenitor (and thus the representative) of the entire human race. Similar examples of this are found in the Bible, such as the indication in Hebrews 7:4-9 that the principle of tithing (which was instituted in the Law to support the priestly tribe of Levi) actually had its basis when Abraham (Levi's great-grandfather) paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4-9), even though Levi was not born until hundreds of years later.

Every human chooses to accept, and act according to, this sinful nature (Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3). By those actions, we all “approve” that sinful nature, in effect saying that it is good. We all thus express agreement with the sinful actions of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and become guilty of that sin without actually having committed it.

Because sin is an inborn part of our nature, we cannot overcome or escape it, except through the power of the Holy Spirit -- a power given only to those who turn to Christ and rely completely on His atoning sacrifice for sin upon the cross.

October 02 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The doctrine of “original sin” says that because of Adam and Eve’s original sin against God’s commandment, all human beings have inherited a sinful human nature, a propensity to rebel against God’s perfect will for our lives. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and the saw both good and evil. Immediately they became aware of their nakedness, felt ashamed, tried to hide from God, and when confronted blamed someone else. The result: 1) their human spirit died, 2) their fellowship with God died, 3) they would die physically, and 4) they would suffer eternal death in hell.

Job 25:4 was listed as an example of the doctrine of original sin. This verse does declare that all humans are mortal (ie we all die), no one is righteous before God, and no human being can be pure. That is, everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Although the bible does not use the exact words “original sin” to explain this doctrine, similar words are used to describe the human spiritual condition. When we word search – nature, human, sinful, self, flesh, death, died, etc. - we will discover verses that describe the sinful spiritual condition of all human beings, before we experience salvation through faith in Jesus. Following are some examples from scripture that teach and explain this doctrine.

Psalm 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned
Romans 5:18
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
Romans 7: 14-23
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
Ephesians 2:1-3
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Colossians 3:2-10
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

October 03 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report