 Does The Bible Teach That We Inherit Original Sin?
Dear First Century Christian:
What does the Bible say regarding original sin? - Bertha.
Dear Bertha:
Thanks for your question about original sin. While this doctrine is widely held in both Catholic and Protestant circles, you will be surprised when you go the Bible and try to find it taught there.
It was Augustine (354-430 A.D.) who first promoted the idea that; "the fallen nature of Adam was transmitted biologically through sexual procreation." This became an established pillar of Catholic theology. Both Martin Luther and John Calvin kept this Catholic doctrine when they broke away from the Church of Rome and began their Protestant Reformations. Thus it comes down to us today.
The Bible teaches us that Adam and Eve did sin against God and the consequence thereof was they were driven from their paradisiacal home and the presence of God. Also we are told that they forfeited their immortality and eventually experienced death (Genesis 3:1-23).
That which we inherit from Adam is explained by Paul in Romans 5:12: "... as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, so death passed unto all men..." "For if by the trespass of the one the many died..." (Romans 5:15). While we are told that we inherit death, it does not say that we inherit the guilt of Adam's sin. Also, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we inherit a universe that is under a curse (Genesis 3:17). "For the creation was subjected to vanity..." It is "under the bondage of corruption," "it travaileth in pain" (Romans 8:20-22). It too will one day perish (II Pet. 3:10).
As to sin, the Bible says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father... the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." James writes "To him therefore that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). John says plainly, "sin is transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). Thus the Biblical view is that sin is conduct or attitudes that are contrary to God's law or a failure to do what God expects of us.
Each of us was born pure and innocent. That why Jesus said we must become like little children if we hope to enter his kingdom (Mathew 18:3). As we grew up we learned to do evil from those around us. Satan tempted us to do evil, even as he did Adam and Eve. We exercised our will power just as they did. When we did that which God has forbidden or when we failed to do that which he had told us to do we sinned. For that we are accountable and responsible (II Corinthians 5:10).
To be faithful servants of Christ means that we neither add to nor take from the instructions he has given us (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). We do not "go beyond the things which are written" (I Corinthians 4:6 ASV). When the Christians in Galatia were trying to blend elements of the Mosaic Code with that of Christ, Paul wrote, "Ye observe days, and months and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain" (Galatians 4:10-11).
To please our Master we must always be content to do just what He has instructed us, nothing more or less. That is our goal as a body of believers.
John Waddey |
