What is original sin?

Response

The concept of original sin pertains to Adam’s disobedience in consuming from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and its impact on the entire human race. Original sin can be described as “the moral corruption we possess as a result of Adam’s sin, leading to a sinful inclination that reveals itself in consistently sinful actions.” The doctrine of original sin primarily focuses on its influence on our inner nature and our relationship with God. There are three main perspectives that address this influence:

Pelagianism: This perspective argues that Adam’s sin did not affect the souls of his descendants except by providing a sinful model. Adam’s example has influenced those who came after him to also sin. However, according to this viewpoint, individuals have the capacity to cease sinning if they simply choose to do so. Pelagianism contradicts several passages indicating that man is completely enslaved by his sins (without God’s intervention) and that his good deeds are “dead” or ineffective in earning God’s approval (Ephesians 2:1-2;Matthew 15:18-19;Romans 7:23;Hebrews 6:1;Hebrews 9:14).

Arminianism: Arminians believe that Adam’s original sin has led to the rest of humanity inheriting a corrupt, sinful nature, which causes us to sin in the same way that a cat’s nature leads it to meow—it occurs naturally. According to this perspective, individuals cannot cease sinning on their own; God’s supernatural, empowering grace, known as prevenient grace, in combination with the gospel, enables that person to choose to have faith in Christ. The concept of prevenient grace is not explicitly stated in Scripture.

Calvinism: The Calvinistic belief regarding original sin asserts that Adam’s sin has not only resulted in us having a sinful nature but has also caused us to bear guilt before God for which weWe deserve punishment. Being conceived with original sin upon us «Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.», (Psalm 51:5) results in our inheriting a sinful nature so wicked that Jeremiah 17:9 describes the human heart as “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” Not only was Adam found guilty because he sinned, but his sin was imputed to us, making us guilty and deserving of his punishment (death) as well «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:», (Romans 5:12,19) «For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.», (Romans 5:12,19). There are two views as to why Adam’s sin should be imputed to us. The first view states that the human race was within Adam in seed form; thus, when Adam sinned, we sinned in him. This is similar to the biblical teaching that Levi (a descendant of Abraham) paid tithes to Melchizedek in Abraham (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4-9), even though Levi was not born until hundreds of years later. The other main view is that Adam served as our representative, and so, when he sinned, we were found guilty as well.

Both the Arminian and Calvinistic views teach original sin and see individuals as unable to overcome sin apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. Most Calvinists also teach imputed sin; some Arminians deny the imputation of sin, and others believe that Christ’s death has negated the effects of imputation.

The fact of original sin means that we cannot please God on our own. No matter how many “good deeds” we do, we still commit sin, and we

Still, the issue persists of a corrupt nature within us. We require Christ; we need to be born again «Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. », (John 3:3). God addresses the consequences of original sin in our hearts through the process of sanctification. As John Piper articulates, “The dilemma of our moral defilement and ongoing sin is resolved by His purification of us through the work of the Spirit” (“Adam, Christ, and Justification: Part IV,” preached 8/20/2000).