Original Sin

Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world where they could walk in the cool of the day with the Lord. Everything they needed was provided for them. They were both naked, and there was no shame. The Lord planted two trees in the midst of the garden where they could find life and death. God told them they could eat of the Tree of Life but prohibited them from taking of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Satan deceived the woman into believing the word of God was wrong and unfair. Eve looked at the forbidden fruit with longing eyes, desiring to be wise and be like God, and took of the fruit. She gave some to Adam. Immediately, their eyes were open, and they both knew they were naked. Sin brought about the consciousness of guilt as they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord.

God would cast the man and woman out of the garden, and sin would reign in the hearts of men. Animal sacrifice would not suffice to stop the wrath of God, and only through the blood of Jesus Christ was peace found between man and God. Grace is given through the will of the Father to those who would obey Him. Each person is responsible for their actions and stands accountable individually before the Lord God. Everyone will be judged according to the works in their lives, whether good or evil. Jesus died to offer men the avenue of escape if they choose to submit to the will of the Father. No man is forced to submit. It is a private decision held within the trust of a single heart. Most will deny Christ, and only a few will be saved.

The question of salvation has always been the problem of men. Satan continues to deceive people into believing the lie. One such doctrine is the idea of original sin or Adamic sin. This doctrine puts into question the moral character of all men to accept that all are born in sin, corrupt, and guilty of sin at birth. John Calvin wrote, “Original sin seems to be a hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature, diffused into all parts of the soul, which first makes us liable to God’s wrath. (Institutes, II, 1536) The Westminster Confess of Faith says, “We are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil” (Formulary of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, 1643).

Original sin is inherited, not acquired. This doctrine is the bedrock of Calvinism with the acronym TULIP. Total depravity: the belief that sin affects every aspect of human existence and makes humans unable to choose God by themselves. Unconditional election: the idea that God decides who will be saved based on his own will and not on human merit or condition. Limited atonement: the belief that Christ died only for the elect and not for the whole world. Irresistible grace: the belief that God’s grace is effectual and cannot be resisted or rejected by the elect. Perseverance of the saints: the belief that the elect will remain faithful and secure in their salvation until the end. If one stands, they all stand. Destroying one will destroy the others.

When Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit, they unleashed on the world the plague of sin. Cain was guilty of killing Abel because Cain made a choice. Adam did not kill Abel; Cain killed Abel. God put a mark on Cain, not on Adam. Noah was saved by grace because he was obedient along with the seven. All those destroyed outside the ark were guilty of their sin. Paul affirms in Romans 5:12 that death spread to all because all sinned. Everyone is subject to death because the tree of life is destroyed. Sin is a choice of the individual.

The Law of Moses taught fathers could not be put to death for the sins of their children (Deuteronomy 24:16). Ezekiel explained the father was guilty of his sin, and the Son was guilty of his sin. The proverb heard among the captives in Babylon was, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezekiel 18). This suggests the blame for the children comes from the fathers. God denied their proverb, claiming the children were guilty of their own sin. The soul who sins shall die.

Original sin has led to many false doctrines (mentioned above, TULIP). The reason many embrace infant baptism is because of the teaching of original sin. How can babies sin without knowledge? John said sin is a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Paul wrote, “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet” (Romans 7:7). Each will give an account of their sins, not their fathers (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). David Riesman explains, “A concept of original sin is typical of a view of life which makes the past an authority over the present.”

If we all bear the sin of Adam, who will Adam blame?