If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Gen 4:7
You should rule over it! God’s decree to the FREE WILL of man, ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you!’ Unless you CHOOSE to follow its deadly path. However according to the Vast Majority of Present Day preachers, you CAN’T rule over it because it RULES over you! Your very Nature is corrupted, inherited from Adam! You have no Choice in the matter. You were BORN a sinner by nature.
This horrible Doctrine is preeminent throughout the church world. To challenge it is equal to heresy in the highest order! Nearly everyone assumes it to be written in stone by the hand of God Himself. What better excuse for sin could anyone invent, than being BORN sinful? Not only has this Doctrine nullified the Preaching of Repentance and Obedience by Faith, but also serves as the PERFECT evasion for DOING ANYTHING God has Commanded in His Word!
How can a Pastor who believes this non-sense speak boldly against sinful behavior or demand Purity of heart in his converts? The people were born addicted to drugs, alcohol, immorality and vile passions. How could he possibly convey a ‘Conviction’ of sin, leading to godly sorrow and Repentance, when their sin is not a CRIME against a Holy God, but something they have no control over? WHO would accuse themselves of sin and forsake it with Zealousness, under such delusion?
It’s no great mystery therefore why our churches are overflowing with carnality, lust and worldliness. Why no one seems to get too far past ‘Receiving Christ’ and joining the club. The Doctrine has excused every form of sinful behavior and embraced every excuse for the sin. Converts are persuaded to ‘Come as they are’ and receive forgiveness by Grace. God is not concerned about their sinfulness, He will clean them up later, as you allow His Spirit to Work. Thus people come into the faith still in BONDAGE to their sin! Their hearts are not Purged and Cleansed by faith, there was no season of godly sorrow and crisis of Conviction. HOW could there be any CLEARING of the sin!?
STOPPING the sin is Absolutely one hundred percent IMPOSSIBLE under this teaching! The sin will NEVER Stop! (every pastor affirms this!) How can it? You were BORN a sinner and REMAIN sinful! The best you can hope is that God may be able to ‘Sanctify’ the carnality out of you by degree, but until then, He will have to COVER you by His Grace. Consequently the vast majority of the Evangelical church today lines up on the imputed righteous, eternal security side of doctrinal teaching rather then a gradual obedience leading to some form of holiness.
This teaching serves as the silent opium of the masses in keeping them convinced that God has designed the Gospel Message especially to accommodate their ‘sinful’ Condition. No one has to attend church and worry about being exposed for bad behavior. Even the pastors admit to their ‘humanness’ and failings making for a comfortable environment. Who could approach the Gospel with any Urgency against sin and the desperate need for people to repent if they wholeheartedly ‘believe’ that men are born with a diseased nature they have no control over?
The inevitable outcome of such a Message is seen in present day evangelism where people respond in droves to ‘Receive’ a Jesus who makes no Demands or requires any Conditions. They merely believe that He Obeyed the Father, lived a sinless life, died and rose again, all to Freely Justify them in their wretched Condition because they are powerless to follow or Obey. Seldom (if at all) is anyone convicted of a particular sin or the least bit concerned that such behavior will disqualify them from the Kingdom. The Message is always soft peddled and cushioned in a manner fitting their ‘sinful’ nature, it is NEVER designed to Pierce their hearts and bring them to their knees! Some may indeed experience worldly sorrow for the consequences of their actions. But any actual and lasting reform can only come with the Genuine sorrow of God and a True Repentance that forsakes the sin and then BURNS with a ZEAL to Clear oneself of the wrong doing and Please a Holy God.
But how could any of this happen if you are a ‘Born Sinner’ SOLD under the power of sin?
Have you ever done any serious investigation into this awful Doctrine? Do you know from who and where it originated? Most of you in the church today just accept it without question, as you do everything else. But if you REALLY knew what was behind it and where it came from, would it make any difference how you present the Gospel? Presently it is casting a grim pale on how you are ‘supposedly’ bringing people into the faith. If exposed as false, could you abandon it as your chief excuse?
To Begin here’s Short List of Some who line up on the side of Original Sin Doctrine:
1) Jehovah’s Witness
2) Mormons or LDS Church
3) Unification Church
4) Sigmund Freud
5) Calvinists
The Doctrine itself Originated with Augustine of Hippo (354-430AD) a Catholic Bishop, from North Africa. He concluded that infants would go to hell because of ‘original sin’ if not Baptized by the church. Augustine was deeply influenced by the Gnostic teaching of his day that advocated among other things, that all matter is inherently evil. Because of this view, they also taught that Christ's bodily manifestations were only apparent, and that he did not actually come in the flesh. They denied the real incarnation of Christ, as well as his bodily resurrection, because of their view of the essentially evil nature of all matter.
Also because he taught a twisted view of the union between a husband and wife that involved lust in their conception, he invented the origins of the Catholic Doctrine of ‘Immaculate Conception’ (whereby Mary was conceived in the same Miraculous manner as Christ by the Holy Spirit!) Therefore she could bare the Christ Child, without the stain of original sin.
From his teaching originated absolute and unconditional predestination and election, irresistible grace, complete bondage of the will (a necessitated will man is free only to do evil), and natural inability to obey God. He taught that all mankind sinned in Adam when he sinned and is condemned with him. Men are born sinners now and are completely unable to obey God or do anything good. The Bases of ALL Calvinist Doctrine in the Present day church.
As you can see from the Historical Evidence, MANY of the Doctrines held by the reformers originated with Augustine and the Gnostics. (which places their roots in heathenism!) Moreover it’s VERY Interesting to note that the Jewish Rabbis DID NOT teach that man was born a sinner or inherited anything from Adam’s fall. Rather they taught that people were born innocent, FREE to choose right or wrong at the age of accountability. (in light of this fact, it’s strange that most of the so-called ‘Proof’ text for the sin nature come out of Old Testament Scripture – hence, the Jewish Bible!)
Historically Prior to the Council of Nicea 325AD, NONE of these outrageous Doctrines can be found except among the Gnostics and those influenced by them. You can easily find in many of early Christian writings statements that Babies are Born Innocent and man is free to choose right or wrong! It’s astonishing that the so-called Reformers almost entirely adopted these heresies as Doctrine. By the time of Martin Luther and John Calvin (1500’s) most of these false Doctrines were written into Church Creed and setting the tone for evangelism over the next four hundred years!
The Westminster Confession of Faith, 1646, is probably the most well known of these Creeds still in use today. Adopted largely by the Church of England it set the tone for Wesleyan style preaching (or the holiness movement) into the twentieth century. Article Six of the Confession affirms the existence of the sinful state into which we are born. Observe that it renders Obedience to God an impossibility ‘BEFORE’ Regeneration and Divides Sin into TWO Separate Categories: ‘Original and Actual’ .
In so doing because of the Original sin man cannot properly forsake any of his sins preceding his regeneration. Therefore he MUST be Saved ‘in his sins’ and WAIT for God to CHANGE him! This teaching has ultimately lead to the demise of Repentance since the sin can never really stop, even in rebirth. The convert is told that his nature remains corrupted and his heart divided. His best efforts remain tainted by the stain of sin still within him. Therefore sin is the ultimate outcome of everything he does!
Westminster Confession of Faith, Article VI:
Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin, God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.
III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed; and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.
IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, through Christ, pardoned, and mortified; yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.
If Sin is the Foregone Conclusion throughout the Christian experience (as is being taught everywhere!) WHERE Does DOING the Right thing come in? The answer is: ‘IT DOESN'T!’ Man is either ‘Imputed’ Righteous by the Transfer of Christ’s Righteousness to his account or ‘Sanctified’ Righteous through a progression of putting the old man to death. In either case, the Sin NEVER Stops (as affirmed by every pastor you speak to) and God has to regard you as ‘Positionally’ holy and pure.
Envision the effect this Doctrine has had on our society as a whole. Even the holiness preachers of 200 years ago, who held this Doctrine, were deeply effected by it. Although you can find that many of them preached hard against sinful conduct and put the fear of God into people’s hearts and minds, they STILL would not say that the sin has to STOP in the process of Repentance! They would go as far as to insist that the Heart, Mind, Inclinations and Conduct must change, but they ALL Affirmed that the ‘STAIN’ of sin remained in the Convert, because of his corrupted nature.
Thus the drug out explanations why men remained ‘Double-minded’ and ‘Divided’ in heart even after Conversion and the painstaking attempts to ‘forbid’ overt sins while at the same time making room for the ‘sinful nature.’ Of course, Full Sanctification was the solution in their view, if the person after having the eyes of their understanding open sufficiently by the Spirit, sees his ‘sinful’ state exposed in the light, he will then consecrate his heart completely to Christ and have it washed clean by Faith, purged of the last remnants of sin inside.
However, this sounds ‘suspiciously’ like the REPENTANCE described in 2Cor7:10-11. Where the Process resulted in: ‘Clearing, Zeal, Vindication and Fear’ with PURITY in the finality. Perhaps this so-called, ‘Second’ act of Grace or (Sanctification) was really the New Birth taking place in real Repentance. (Much like happened in the Book of Acts) Where it is constantly affirmed that the Process, ‘Repentance then Holy Spirit given’ resulted in Purity of heart by faith! (See Acts15:9)
What hinders this Process from taking place in Repentance, then and now? The Sinful Nature Doctrine! As long as you remain ‘sinful’ (even though you’re an admitted sinner, supposedly forgiven in Christ) there is NO CHANCE of ever Repenting as Paul described in the Bible. Consequently without Repentance (or repentance in the proper sense) there is also NO POSSIBILITY of being forgiven of your sin! Isa 55:7 “Let the wicked FORSAKE his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
This Doctrine removes all responsibility from the sinner and places everything on God Himself! Naturally most preachers would fear actually saying that God is the Author of sin, but it is CERTAINLY Strongly implied in this Doctrine! How could anyone deny that? Where did the sin come from? The Bible Affirms that God Created man in ‘HIS OWN Image’ “Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have ought out many schemes.” Ecc7:29. “
The sin was his own doing. Even Cain has the opportunity to DO what was Right. “You should RULE over it!” God told him. Accordingly isn’t this simply what James has said about sin in his Epistle?
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James1:13-15
Wouldn’t it make more sense that as men we have ‘similar’ desires developed by the process of maturity? Rather than a ‘Nature’ inherited genetically from Adam! How is a ‘Nature’ passed from one generation to another? In the blood? In the spirit? (thus the bases of cultish Doctrine!)
”Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezk18:19-20
Consider that MOST of the so-called Christian world today is in line with the ‘imputed’ Righteous side of Doctrine. WHY? Because it FITS so easily into the sin nature teaching! You can be Declared Righteous while still sinful by merely ‘Trusting’ that Jesus Obeyed for you. It’s the PERFECT Cover! God no longer holds you accountable for your sinful nature (which you can’t control anyway) because He has made allowance for it on the Cross. The sin is PAID for in ADVANCE. NOW Nothing you DO can affect the Outcome of your Salvation. (that is an arrangement made 2000 years ago between God and Jesus for all time, in which you are trusting.)
It’s no longer, ‘The Soul that sins shall die!” BUT: ‘You shall surly NOT Die!’ The Exact Same LIE Satan used in the Garden on Eve that distracted her from the simplicity of God’s Truth. (2Cor11:3-4) The ‘DIFFERENT’ Gospel referred to in this passage is Certainly the one that turns the Grace of God into License for immorality! (Jude3-4) What better method to corrupt the entire Message than to remove the very underpinnings of Biblical Repentance!
If man is incapable of Repenting and forsaking his sin as a Crime against God, he MUST conclude that God is going to SAVE him as he is! Because the sin is inbred Sympathy is extended, not CONVICTION. The Preacher himself feels sorry for the sinner, as anyone would someone afflicted with a deadly disease. He handles the situation with ‘kid gloves’ (so to speak) and gently encourages the poor wretch to ‘confess’ his sinful state and ‘Receive’ Jesus into his heart!
Therefore NO ONE ever actually Repents of their sin. They continue in Bondage under the impression that the Holy Spirit is going to help them CHANGE their desires and eventually do what is right. However the entire Premise is in error because of the ‘assumption’ that man is born a sinner powerless to repent or obey God from his heart. The Gospel is turned on its head! God becomes a Tyrant by demanding that man Repent of something he inherited from Adam and WORSE than that, He Decrees that this SAME Sin will send the soul to eternal Perdition if not repented of! (which is exactly affirmed in the Westminster Confession of faith!)
The entire system is based on a Fallacy, Standing on the false premise of ‘reformed doctrine’. The Historical evidence refuting it is overwhelming. The Early Fathers rejected it, the Jewish Rabbis never taught it and NOTHING in the Bible Supports it. Yet the so-called Christian Evangelical world has embraced it with open arms and marched straight down the Wide Road to Destruction preaching it.
Does ANYONE have the Moral Courage to Re-think this Doctrine and Examine the Evidence? Most of you are Standing on shifting sands in blissful ignorance. But consider what’s at stake here.
It’s not our purpose in this article to present an exhaustive study of this issue, but to give you a through overview to consider the fallacy of this Doctrine. Others have dwelled more deeply into this subject and written some fine material that you can easily find by searching the Web. Our purpose is to give you a foundation of evidence, historical and Bilabial so you can further study the issue and come to a Proper Conclusion of the Truth apart from your ‘beloved’ Doctrines.
Initially let’s look at a few quotes from the Pre-Nicene Fathers. These are generally the Disciples of the Apostles. (Taught exclusively by word of Mouth from men like: Paul, Peter, John, James, etc)
Quote: But the other round stones, which had not yet been adapted to the building of the tower, and had not yet received the seal, were for this reason put back into their place, because they are exceedingly round. Now this age must be cut down in these things, and in the vanities of their riches, and then they will meet in the kingdom of God; for they must of necessity enter into the kingdom of God, because the Lord has blessed this innocent race. Of this race. therefore, no one will perish; for although any of them be tempted by the most wicked devil, and commit sin, he will quickly return to his Lord. I deem you happy, I, who am the messenger of repentance, whoever of you are innocent as children,
Quote: that the end of life may to you prove the beginning of salvation. You have become old in superstition; as young, enter on the practice of piety. God regards you as innocent children.
Quote: being spiritually regenerated as new-born babes, even as the Lord has declared: "Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
QUOTE: “Do you, therefore, show me yourself, whether you are not an adulterer, or a fornicator, or a thief, or a robber, or a purloiner; whether you do not corrupt boys; whether you are not insolent, or a slanderer, or passionate, or envious, or proud, or supercilious; whether you are not a brawler, or covetous, or disobedient to parents; and whether you do not sell your children; for to those who do these things God is not manifest, unless they have first cleansed themselves from all impurity. All these things, then, involve you in darkness, as when a filmy defilement on the eyes prevents one from beholding the light of the sun: thus also do iniquities, man, involve you in darkness, so that you cannot see God. For the Lord says, "Ye are of your father the devil; and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." But among the lies, the false prophets also told some true things."For he speaks some truths. For the devil fills him with his own spirit, if perchance he may be able to cast down any one from what is right."
Quote: “Also, is what in each case the end of all cries aloud. So that even in the case of one who has done the greatest good deeds in his life, but at the end has run headlong into wickedness, all his former pains are profitless to him, since at the catastrophe of the drama he has given up his part; while it is possible for the man who formerly led a bad and dissolute life, on afterwards repenting, to overcome in the time after repentance the evil conduct of a long time. But it needs great carefulness, just as bodies that have suffered by protracted disease need regimen and special attention. Thief, dost thou wish to get forgiveness? steal no more. Adulterer, burn no more. Fornicator, live for the future chastely. Thou who hast robbed, give back, and give back more than [thou tookest]. False witness, practice truth. Perjurer, swear no more, and extirpate the rest of the passions, wrath, lust, grief, fear; that thou mayest be found at the end to have previously in this world been reconciled to the adversary.”
Quote: “He bade the baptism of repentance lead the way, with the view of first preparing, by means of the sign and seal of repentance, them whom He was calling, through grace, to (inherit) the promise surely made to Abraham. John holds not his peace, saying, "Enter upon repentance, for now shall salvation approach the nations"--the Lord, that is, bringing salvation according to God's promise. To Him John, as His harbinger, directed the repentance (which he preached), whose province was the purging of men's minds ,that whatever defilement inveterate error had imparted, whatever contamination in the heart of man ignorance had engendered, that repentance should sweep and scrape away, and cast out of doors, and thus prepare the home of the heart, by making it clean, for the Holy Spirit, who was about to supervene, that He might with pleasure introduce Himself there-into, together with His celestial blessings. Of these blessings the title is briefly one the salvation of man--the abolition of former sins being the preliminary step.”
For further evidence simply pull up links on the early Fathers and search the Documents. Notice too their understanding of Repentance. Since man is NOT Born a sinner, incapable of Obeying God, Repentance is ‘Sweeping, Scraping, Casting out of doors’ ALL SIN, BEFORE the Holy Spirit can enter into a Clean vessel! NOTHING like what most of you are preaching today.
Couple this evidence with the Words of Jesus Himself in Three Gospels and you have undeniable truth that Children are NOT Born Sinners!
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt19:13-14 (Also See: Mark10:14, Luke18:16)
Scripture Testifies that Children are Born Morally Innocent, having done nothing good or evil. Wouldn’t something as serious as a ‘Depraved Nature’ be made CLEAR in the Bible? Yet the Opposite is shown!
for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), Rom9:11
Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. Isa7:15-16
Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. Deut1:39
(Also see: 2Kings21:16, 24:4, Joel 3:19, James4:17)
Also Scripture Makes Clear that Children do not inherit the guilt or sin of the parent: Deut 24:16, 2 Kings 14:6, 2 Chron25:4, Ezekiel 18:2-4, Ezekiel 18:19-20
The Evidence is overwhelming and you could easily stack up a great deal more with a little research of your own. Augustine was WRONG! The Reformers who followed him are WRONG. They have all been duped by Satan’s brilliant trap to render the Gospel ineffective to save anyone OUT of sin! Surly it took some time. The early reformers were not nearly as blatant in favor of sin as the Preachers and Pastors of today. But they laid the ground work for apostasy by NOT Refuting this LIE!
Imagine the effect it would have had on future generations had some of these men challenged this non-sense. If they had joined their voices and talents together to Refute this monster as many of them did Calvinism, Catholicism and Universalism. What a difference it would have made!
This LIE has directly effected how converts are brought into the Faith. The VERY Bases of Salvation! Most of you out there today THINK people are getting ‘saved’ in your churches by confessing their sinful state to God and ‘Receiving’ Jesus into their hearts. It’s of no Concern to any of you if they Come out of their sins, or STOP their vile behavior in Repentance. You are satisfied they are ‘Saved’ and God will clean them up later (somewhere down the road) as they allow Him. BUT if you could Recognize sin for what it IS and that men are WHOLLY Responsible for their Actions unto God, you would be Preaching Repentance with an Urgency unparalleled in history because our society is charging down the Road to hell faster than anyone could imagine in their WORST Nightmare!
Next let’s take a look at what the Jewish Rabbis have to say about Original Sin and Repentance. Why is their view significant to our discussion? (they being blinded to Christ and rejected) Mainly because Christianity Originated with the JEWS! The BASES of Christian teaching is in the Foundations of Judaism. (minus the traditions and ceremony which were shadows and types) The ROYAL Law, upheld by Faith, began under Moses and was passed down through the Holy Prophets to Jesus Himself! Therefore if the Old Testament shows PROOF Positive of this supposed ‘sin nature’ we are born with from Adam, it should be CLEARLY Evident in the teaching of Moses and the Prophets. Yet the Rabbis Refute it, then and now.
Here is a sample of Responses from Present Day Rabbis on the Subject:
The simple answer to your question is no, Judaism does not believe people are born as sinners. We believe that people are born with the ability to do good and bad and it is up to each person to overcome their bad tendencies and to do good with their life. There is no concept of original sin in Judaism. Learning about our religion, practicing our customs, learning and following the laws of the Torah (the Old Testament), and observing our holidays all help to guide us to good lives. I hope this answers your question. Rabbi
No, we are born free of sin, and have to work on ourselves to make sure not to sin, we are born just fine. I hope this helps. Rabbi
Judaism completely rejects the notion of original sin. According to Judaism, a child is born pure, completely free from sin. We pray daily "Oh G-d, the soul which you gave me is pure. You created it, you fashioned it, you breathed it into me."
Shalom, Rabbi Chaim
Our “Bible” is the same as what Christians call the Old Testament (though Christianity changed the order of the books.) But the short answer is, no. We do not believe in original sin. We believe people are born with the ability to choose between good and evil. We all mess up sometimes; that’s why there is repentance. But we don’t mess up because we are born sinful and in need of redemption. Rabbi Dan
No. We are born clean. We sin on our own. We are given free will. We choose good or bad.
Rabbi Art
No, man has the freedom to choose. Rabbi Yakov
Repentance is the stopping of a particular sin, and more. It is the conscious re-making of the soul, with God’s help, so that one no longer repeats the sin, even if one could do so without fear of getting caught. Rabbi Dan
Prayer makes atonement for sin—but only AFTER we make teshuvah, true repentance, which means changing our souls and our selves so that we do not continue to make the same errors.
Rabbi Dan
Concerning PS51:5 “I was shapen in Iniquity” The verse is translated to mean that in order to conceive a child with totally pure motivations without any lust attached one must be on a very high spiritual level, a level that most of us are not able to attain. Benjy Brackman, Rabbi - Executive Director
that refers to humans already sinned or near sin.... not born that way, Rabbi Mendel
It just means that we have tendencies that we need to overcome…….just like in Genesis 8:21 our evil inclination is from childbirth…see Rashi there.
In Hebrew that verse means "For I recognize my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
I don't know what your translation. but it is wrong. Rabbi Joseph Radinsky
I don't know what your translation. but it is wrong. Rabbi Joseph Radinsky
Now we can launch into the Scriptures, dealing first with Old Testament Text that Evangelicals say support the notion of original sin. Notice our last Rabbi translating Ps51:5 for us from the Hebrew. The word, ‘Shapen’ is NOT in the Hebrew Text! It appears in the English Translators to show David acknowledging the sin of his mother, not his personal sin. Having followed her in down the path of immorality, he laments that his sin is ever before him, spreading itself also to his sons and family.
First understand what the Bible Calls Sin. 1John3:4, ‘Sin is Transgression of the law.’ In Scripture Responsibility is linked to ability and Accountability limited to Knowledge. Therefore sin cannot possibly be something immaterial, lacking substance and form. How can Virtue be passed from one generation to another? It Can’t. Just as Iniquity cannot be inherited or passed down from Adam!
If a sinner can only produce another sinner by nature, as they try to prove in Job14:1-4, 15:14, (‘Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean!’) Then it would stand to reason that as Saints, Cleansed and Purified by faith of all Carnality, we would be able to Produce another Saint.
Psalm58:3 is another Support Text they like to use. ‘The Wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies!’
If sin is Transgression the Law according to ones ‘knowledge’ of that law, HOW can an infant, who CANNOT yet SPEAK, tell lies? This Text is not to be understood in a literal sense, since it would defy reality. And it would Contradict many other passages that show children are born innocent and even FILLED with the Holy Spirit in the Womb! (Lk1:15)
Think about it. If Augustine was correct on original sin, then Babies are Born Depraved Sinners as Children of the Devil! (for the Bible testifies that sinners are children of Satan, Jh8:44, 1John3:8,10) Do you REALLY Believe that Children, of who Ps127:3 says, ‘Are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward.’ Are children of the Devil!? Re-examine your Doctrines!
Job 15:14 Says: "What is man that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?" BUT this is not God Speaking, it’s the words of Eliphaz one of Job’s supposed comforters in his distress. Of Whom God said does not hold to Truth. (Job42:7) So again, it’s a stretch to use this passage to support the notion of original sin. (Like all the others)
Perhaps you can better understand now why the Rabbis never espoused this awful Doctrine. BECAUSE Nothing in their Bible Clearly and Concisely Supports it! In fact, man is shown time and again having Free will to Choose right or wrong and the ability to do so. Infants are said continually to be INNOCENT of sin! And God does not Change anyone with the sins of a previous generation.
We move forward into the New Testament. IF this Doctrine did indeed originate with Christianity, it should be Clearly shown somewhere in the testimony of Christ and writings of His Apostles. NOT by Conjecture or implication, but DIRECTLY Evident to anyone wanting to know.
Eph2:1-3:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
‘By Nature’ in this Text does not refer to something we were Born with. Again, that would make God a Tyrant. Creating us as Children of His Wrath! Outrageous. No. The Word simply means: ‘a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature.’ It is CLEARLY a Learned Response Paul is speaking of, Voluntary Wickedness! Fulfilling the lusts of our flesh and becoming separated from God as a result. Peter refers to this same Truth in 1Pet1:18, where he says you were redeemed from your aimless conduct RECEIVED by Tradition from your fathers! (not inherited in birth.)
It is also used in Rom2:14: "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law.” If this ‘Nature’ was Corrupted, as supposed, HOW could the Gentiles use the SAME Nature to KEEP the things contained in the law? Wouldn’t it stand to reason they would violate it instead because of this Nature?
Remember also that if this supposed Sin Nature is passed to us through our Genetics from Adam, then Christ Himself, being born of Mary (a depraved sinner) would then be infected! Thus as stated previously, the Catholics had to invent the Doctrine of ‘Immaculate Conception’ whereby Mary was born of the Holy Spirit like Christ to avoid the infection of original sin. (Pure heresy!) Otherwise the Gnostics have to be correct, that Christ was not actually ‘in the flesh’ but a Spirit manifested to us in some form or substance other than flesh. (which violates much of Scripture, ‘The Word became flesh!’)
The Whole concept of this sin nature dilemma is shattered by the fact that John the Baptist parents brought him into the world (in the usual manner) already FILLED with the Holy Spirit in the Womb! How could they be ‘depraved sinners’ and be chosen for such a task by God? Mary and Joseph were also found UPRIGHT in heart, pure before God and chosen to bring about the Birth of the Messiah.
(See: Lk1:6, 15, 28, 41) Therefore unless you have some sort of ‘explanation’ WHY Jesus was Free of a ‘sinful nature’ from Birth, you need to abandon this horrible Doctrine and start refuting it.
Now we deal with Rom5, the Stronghold of every theologian from Augustine to Luther and beyond. These passages seem to take precedence over all the others and by them, most of you have thrown Reason OUT the window! Because also everyone agrees that Paul is teaching that Adam’s sin infected his posterity, they also argue in favor of Romans 7 as the Normal Christian experience. That man is incapable of Right action, in bondage to his sin, wretched to the end and sold to his carnality. (Although you will find that some of the older holiness type preachers refute this, they still agree that Rom5 supports original sin.)
Rom. 5:12, 18, 19 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned...Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Does the Bible teach that men are "made righteous" involuntarily through Christ? Of Course not! That would be Universal Salvation of all mankind, a false heresy. Then WHY is the Reverse thought to be True? That men are ‘made sinners’ involuntarily through Adam? Rather sin entered the world through Adam, when he and Eve Transgressed and Death as a result passed to all men, ‘BECAUSE ALL SINNED!’ (Rom5:12) Many in fact did not Sin after the ‘likeness’ of Adam, (who Transgressed God’s Law) But sinned against Conscience, not knowing the law. (Rom2:14-15)
Therefore Nothing was Imputed to them from Adam other than a likeness of evil desires enticed by the lust of the flesh. The Message of Rom5 is one of the Redeeming Power of Christ to Rescue man FROM the Corrupting influence of his sin and restore him to the Image in which he was created, in Righteousness and True holiness! Man is NOT automatically made a sinner because of Adam’s transgression, no more than any of us are made drunks, or immoral wretches by the actions of our parents.
What is it that compels people into selfless acts of personal sacrifice? To run into burning buildings, expose themselves to deadly fire on the battlefield for their friends? To give up their life for a just cause? It’s not that these things can GAIN anyone eternal redemption, it can’t. (as 1Cor13 explains) BUT it is certainly extraordinary that supposed, ‘depraved sinners’ are capable of doing such things! Even the Bible testifies of this concept in mankind in Rom2:14. The Gentiles without Law, DO the things contained in the Law through Conscience accusing or excusing them! HOW, if they are Born Wholly Depraved, incapable of Right action until Born Again?
How could God Rightly Judge the World in Righteousness if He made all men sinners in Adam? He would have to Universally Condemn the heathen unless they embraced the Gospel message. Yet Rom2 explains that He is NO Respecter of persons and Judges each one according to his ‘Patient Continuance’ in DOING GOOD! Whether they have the Law or not. SO it’s according to the LIGHT received that holds man accountable to God. (which is the tone of ALL Scripture!)
The Sin Nature Doctrine is a Fallacy and needs Desperately to be discarded by the Church. It has caused more people to lose their souls in hell than anyone could measure. It is indeed, Satan’s Masterpiece!
In Summary we will look at the devastating effects this Doctrine has had on the Preaching of Repentance and Faith. Of course those who hold to it with iron clad resolve will not agree that their efforts are being spent in vain. That would mean the people converted under their ministries are in great jeopardy of being deceived! But as long as everyone is satisfied believing they are Born Sinners and can’t help but sin in thought, word and deed everyday for the remainder of their lives, then everyone’s a Christian. In it’s finality it teaches that No body is perfect and that it is God’s responsibility to Change them when He’s ready. (Thus converts are saved in their sins never OUT of them!)
Therefore First and Foremost, the Sin Nature Doctrine EXCUSES the Sinner!
1) It makes his Sin a Calamity instead of a Crime!
2) It makes God Responsible for the sin!
3) It creates double-minded, complacent professing Christians and breeds deception
4) It cause Ministers to excuse sin and not preach against immoral behavior
5) It Contradicts the Bible!
6) It Creates a HUGE Problem with Jesus being born of a woman into flesh
7) It Promotes other False Doctrines
8) It is absurd and unfounded, supported only by Conjecture and improvable!
The Purpose of this article has not been to prove that Real Christians are without sin in this world or that sinning is impossible after the New Birth takes place. But only that sin is NOT the foregone conclusion nor is it ‘inbred.’ Man is NOT Born a Sinner by Nature! That means he is Perfectly capable of Repentance toward God, PROVEN by DEEDS! (Acts20:21, 26:18-20) AND a Faith that OBEYS from the Heart and DOES what is RIGHT! He can INDEED STOP Sinning!
What you have done in the churches by embracing this Doctrine has compelled you to soft peddle the Gospel and treat the sinner with sympathy instead of conviction for his sin. This is why no one is actually repenting of anything. And the reason why no pastor we can find will say that the sin has to stop. Therefore it is universally preached that a person has to be Born Again BEFORE he has any chance of stopping his sin and as a result the churches are full of professing converts who are immoral, drunkards, lairs, adulterers, cheats, covetous, etc. ALL WAITING for the Holy Spirit to Clean them up somewhere down the road.
But the Whole Process is Backwards! Can you be forgiven of adultery while still committing adultery? Would a thief be forgiven who did not seek to clear himself of the wrong doing by making just restitution to his victims? Would a chronic lair ever be trusted to tell the truth if his heart wasn’t first made PURE through Repentance and faith? It’s unimaginable, according to Scripture, to suppose that God will forgive someone ‘IN’ their sins! NOTHING in the entire Bible could be more UNMISTAKABLE than the Wicked MUST forsake his wickedness, amend his ways and seek the Mercy of God! (Isa55:7, Ezk218:19-32)
As a final thought ask yourself the question: ‘Where did sin come from?’ If it’s inbred, inherited from Adam (as most of you believe) then the Devil has no role in tempting the believer into sin. The Roaring Lion seeking who he may devour is actually a toothless kitten! What purpose would there be for Satan and his minions to entice someone into wrong doing, if ‘Inherently’ they are depraved and can’t help but sin anyway? It would be ludicrous to blame him for your sin when you were born ‘speaking lies’ from the womb! The sin couldn’t possibly be his fault, but the old carnal nature of your flesh that refuses to be Sanctified out.
So Daily this preposterous Doctrine wrecks its havoc on the church and no one cares enough to examine the evidence pro or con. The pulpits are compromised and immoral behavior is rampant among Pastors and parishioners. Will anyone seek to RULE OVER IT as God has Decreed? Sin will always ‘lay’ at the door. Will it find you or will you conquer it?
