The GOSPEL TRUTH OVER ONE HUNDRED
TEXTS FROM THE BIBLE
THAT SHOW THE DOCTRINE OF
ORIGINAL SIN
IS UNBIBLICAL AND FALSE
[Author's New Title: "Over One Hundred Texts From The Bible That Show that Babies are Born Innocent and Without Sin"--The text is virtually the same as before.] by
Alfred T. Overstreet
Copyright © 2005 by Alfred T. Overstreet
All rights reserved
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission
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All Bible quotations are from the authorized King James Version
Very mistaken men teach a monstrous doctrine: that little babies open their eyes in this world as sinners, under the wrath of God, and condemned to the everlasting punishment of hell. They teach that new born babies who die without baptism will go into the "torments of hell forever." They take Bible texts from their context in order to teach this. One of the Bible texts that they use to support this horrible dogma is Ephesians 2:3: "…and were by nature the children of wrath."
We will examine this text in its context later (along with other texts that they take out of context); but now I want to present more than one hundred texts from the Bible that show that little babies are created upright and in the image and likeness of God, and that it is impossible for them to be sinners until they have reached the "age of accountability" and know the difference between good and evil.
Jesus Taught That Little Children Are Without Sin
Jesus taught that little children are without sin and belong to the kingdom of heaven:
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14
"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them." Mark 10:13-16
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Luke 18:16-17
Mark 10:16 says: "And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." These were innocent little children and not sinners under the wrath of God. And Jesus did not say that they were sinners and enemies of God, but he said, "of such is the kingdom of God."
The Bible Says That Men Are Created Upright And Without Sin
The Bible says that God has created man good and upright, in his own image and likeness, and without sin:
"God hath made man upright." Ecclesiastes 7:29"God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…And God saw everything that he had made, and…it was very good." Gen. 1:26, 31
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Genesis 9:6
"Man…is the image and glory of God." I Corinthians 11:7
"Men, which are made after the similitude of God." James 3:9
It Is Impossible For God To Create A Sinful Being
Throughout the Bible God affirms that he is our Creator. It is impossible for God to create a sinful being!
"Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?" Job 31:15"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" Malachi 2:10
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them…And God saw every thing that he had made, and , behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:26, 27, 31
"Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3
"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me." Psalm 119:73
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Ecclesiastes 12:1
"Man…is the image and glory of God." I Corinthians 11:7
"Men…are made after the similitude of God." James 3:9
"The Lord…formeth the spirit of man within him." Zechariah 12:1
"The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." Job 33:4
"God that made the world and all things therein…seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men…For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…" Acts 17:24-26, 28-29
"I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Revelation 22:16
"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Ecclesiastes 7:29
This last text not only afirms that God has created man, but also affirms that man is created upright. If man is created upright, he cannot be born a sinner; if man is born a sinner, he cannot be created upright. Either one or the other may be true, but they cannot both be true for the two are contradictories. But when God says he has created us "in his image," and has given us "life and breath and all things," are we to understand that he created us as sinners? When he says, "We are his offspring," are we to understand that his offspring are born sinners? And when Jesus said, "I am the root and the offspring of David," are we to understand that David sprang forth from the root Christ Jesus with a sinful nature? Or, are we to understand that Jesus, as the offspring of David, was born with a sinful nature? We know that Jesus did not create David a sinner, and we know that Jesus was not born a sinner as the offspring of David--which would have to be true if the doctrine that men are born sinners were true. The doctrine that men are born sinners is false!
Men Sin Against The Good Nature With Which God Created Them
The Bible declares that men, having been created upright and in the image of God, have corrupted themselves and sinned against the good nature that God created them with:
"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Ecclesiastes 7:29"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him…And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:27, 31
And, then:
"Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?…she gave me…and I did eat." Genesis 3:11-12
"And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth…for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." Genesis 6:7, 12
"They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psalm 14:1-3
"Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psalm 53:3
"Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men (because of your sins), and fall like one of the princes." Psalm 82:6-7
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth…And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." Genesis 6:5-7, 11-12
"(They) have corrupted themselves; They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it." Exodus 32:7-8
"For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you." Deut. 31:29
"They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?…Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee." Deuteronomy 32:5-6, 18
Children Have No Knowledge Of Good And Evil At Birth The Bible teaches that children cannot be sinners and guilty and condemned at birth, for they do not yet know the difference between good and evil, and have not yet come to the "age of accountability":
"Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it." Deuteronomy 1:39"Butter and honey shall he 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 thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings." Isaiah 7:15-16
"For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Genesis 8:21
These verses prove that babies are born innocent. Everybody knows that babies know nothing when they are born. They do not know right from wrong. They do not know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. They do not have evil imaginations of the heart. The Bible says that the "imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth," not from his birth. It is only when children know to refuse the evil and choose the good that they can have evil intentions, evil purposes, or evil choices of the heart. Until they know right from wrong, their actions have no moral character, they can do neither good nor evil, and they are innocent before God. The Bible teaches that children must reach the "age of accountability" before they can commit sin.
No Man Can Be Guilty For A Sin He Did Not Commit The Bible says that man is guilty for his own sins and for his own sins alone. He is not guilty, and cannot be guilty, for the sin of Adam or any other man:
"The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Deuteronomy 24:16
"Far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked. That be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25
"What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth it shall die…The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:2-4, 20
"He shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did all that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die for his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:17-20
"But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." II Chronicles 25:4
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?…Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." Ezekiel 18:25, 29-30
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
"I will judge every one according to his ways." Ezekiel 18:30
The Nature We Are Born With Teaches Us To Reject Evil And Choose Good The Bible teaches that the nature God has created us with is a good nature that teaches us the difference between good and evil and urges us to choose the good and refuse the evil:
"That he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." Isaiah 7:15"Before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good…" Isaiah 7:16
"When the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." Romans 2:14-15
This last text describes the good and upright nature that God has created us with. It describes the rational moral nature that God has given us. It tells us that, having been created in the image and likeness of God, we are not like the dumb beasts of the field. We are like God; we are rational moral beings with "the law of God written in our hearts." Every human being, when he has come to the "age of accountability" and has a knowledge of good and evil, and knows to choose the good and refuse the evil, has the law of God written in his heart. He has a conscience that bears witness to him of the moral character of his actions, he has thoughts that accuse him when he does evil, and thoughts that excuse him when he does good:
"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law (the written law), do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men (the hidden evil thoughts and intents of the hearts of men who have trampled the voice of conscience and reason) by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Romans 2:14-16This text describes the rational moral nature that God has endowed all mankind with: a rational moral nature that teaches us the difference between good and evil, that urges us to choose the good and refuse the evil, and that men must go against in order to sin. Men do not sin by nature. They obey God by nature:
"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law (the written law), do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts." Romans 2:14-15Men Must Go Against Their Nature To Sin
Now we will look at texts from the Bible that teach us that all disobedience to God's law goes against the nature God has created us with. We must repeat Romans 2:14-15 because every time we sin, whatever that sin may be, we are sinning against the law of God written in our hearts. And this is a sin against our nature. All sin is against our nature. All righteouness conforms to our nature:
"(They) do by nature the things contained in the law." Romans 2:14(They) show the work of the law written in their hearts." Romans 2:15
"For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." Romans 1:26
"And likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly." Romans 1:27
"But what they know naturally (know by nature)…in those things they corrupt themselves. Jude 10
Homosexuals Are Not Born Homosexuals
Homosexuals often cover and excuse their evil acts of perversion by saying they were born homosexuals. And if the teaching is true that men are born with a sinful nature, homosexuals are right to say they were born homosexuals. For they were born homosexuals if they were born sinners. Also they are right to excuse their evil acts of perversion. For if they were born sinners, they were born homosexuals; and if they were born homosexuals they can no more be blamed for their evil acts of perversion than the brute beasts can be blamed for being born brute beasts. Likewise the alcoholic cannot be blamed for his drinking if it is true he was born with the "disease of alcoholism." In fact the murderer, the rapist, and all other sinners have a perfect and legitimate excuse for all their sins if they were born with a sinful nature. But God never excuses the murderer or the drunkard or the rapist or the homosexual or any other sinner for his sins. For God created all men with a good nature, and for men to sin they must go against their nature: they must sin against nature. All sin is a corruption of man's nature, it is a perversion of man's nature. It is rebellion against our nature--it is rebellion against the "law of God written in our hearts" and against the God who has written his law in our hearts. No man is born a sinner. No man is born with the "disease of alcoholism." No man is born a homosexual:
"Even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." Romans 1:26"Also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts one toward another." Romans 1:27
"Neither shalt thou lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion." Leviticus 19:22-23
"God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Ecclesiastes 7:29
All Sin Is Voluntary. There Is No Involuntary Sin.
The Bible teaches that every sin is a free and voluntary act. There is no involuntary sin. Man must will evil and choose evil before he can be a sinner. He cannot be born a sinner, for he has no choice in his birth. The idea that man can be a sinner without a voluntary act of his own will is completely contrary to the Bible. Man must voluntarily choose evil before he can be a sinner:
"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…"Isaiah 7:15-16"Choose you this day whom ye will serve…" Joshua 24:15
"Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations…they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Isaiah 66:3-4
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (that which he thought and chose to do in his heart) was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5
"For the imagination of man's heart (that which he thinks and chooses to do in his heart) is evil from his youth." Genesis 8:21
It Is Blasphemy Against The Character Of God
The very idea that God would create man a sinner is a monstrous blasphemy against the holy and righteous character of God. God is perfect in justice, holiness, and love. And it would be the greatest injustice possible to create men sinners and then condemn them to hell for the nature that he himself had created them with. God is perfect and could never work such injustice:
"I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee and established thee?…Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee." Deut. 32:3-6, 18This text affirms that God has had nothing to do with the sins of his people: he did not create them sinners; he is holy, just, and righteous and cannot work evil, falsehood, or injustice: "His work is perfect, all his ways are judgment, he is a God of truth and without iniquity, he is just and right." He has not created his children with sin. His children have corrupted themselves!
SIX PROOF-TEXTS EXAMINED Now, I am going to turn aside for a while from the more than 100 Bible texts that show the doctrine of original sin to be unbiblical and false, and respond to six texts that are taken out of context to support the doctrine that men are born sinners. These texts, when they are taken in their context, do not teach that men are born sinners. On the contrary, they agree with and teach what the whole Bible teaches, that men are created good and upright and in the image and likeness of God.
First Proof-text Examined 1. Psalm 51:5: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
This text is not literal, it is figurative. For example, let us compare Psalm 5l:5 with Job 1:21: "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither."
If Psalm 51:5 can be interpreted literally to teach the doctrine that David and all other men are born sinners, then Job 1:21 can also be interpreted literally to teach the doctrine that Job and all other men will go back into their mother's womb: "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither."
Neither Psalm 5l:5 nor Job 1:21 should be understood literally. Both texts are figurative expressions. The same rules of interpretation that would permit Psalm 51:5 to teach that little babies are born sinners, if they were also applied to Job 1:21 (or if they were applied to many other passages from the Bible), would permit every kind of perverted and absurd interpretation of the Word of God.
David was not teaching in this passage that he was born a sinner (which would have been an excuse for his sins in a Psalm which was clearly a Psalm of confession). On the contrary, he was confessing the great magnitude and guilt of the sin he had committed; and he broke out in the language of strong feeling and emotion--the language of figure and symbol--to express the monstrousness of his sin: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."
The Psalmist David uses figurative language throughout his Psalms; and he uses several figurative expressions in Psalm 51. Verses five, seven, and eight of Psalm 51 are all figurative expressions. So that if verse five can be used to teach the doctrine that babies are born sinners, then also verse seven can be used to teach the doctrine that hyssop cleanses us from sin:
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." Psalm 51:7Also, verse eight can be used to teach the doctrine that God breaks the bones of the Christian when he sins, and that his broken bones rejoice when he is forgiven:
"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice." Psalm 51:8And another Psalm, Psalm 58:3, can be used to teach the astonishing doctrine that all babies talk and tell lies from the very moment of their birth:
"The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." Psalm 58:3But, who would teach from this last text the doctrine that babies really do speak as soon as they are born? None of these passages should be taken literally. They are all figurative expressions. If they were taken in their literal sense, they would all teach what we know to be contrary to reality and impossible: Men do not enter again into their mother's womb. Hyssop does not purify our sins. Babies do not start speaking as soon as they come out of the womb. And babies are not born sinners!
Second Proof-text Examined 2. Psalm 58:3: "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
This text is supposed to teach that babies are born sinners; but like Psalm 51:5 it is figurative and not literal. If it were literal, it would teach that babies speak and tell lies as soon as they are born, and that they alienate themselves from God and go astray from him immediately upon coming out of the womb.
But all of this is clearly contrary to reality. We know that babies do not do any of these things at birth. Therefore it is clear that this language is not to be understood literally. If this verse taught that Babies literally came forth from their mother's womb "estranged from God," it would contradict other passages from the Bible that teach that babies are not "estranged from God" at birth. John the baptist was not "estranged from God from his mother's womb." On the contrary, the angel who announced his birth said, "He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Luke 1:15. This fact is hard to reconcile with a literal interpretation of Psalms 51:5 and 58:3. Job also testified that he was a guide to the widow "from his mother's womb." Job 31:18. Job obviously did not mean that from the moment he was a helpless newborn infant that he had been ministering to the needs of the widow. Also, the Psalmist David himself testified that God had been his help "from the womb." Psalm 71:6. It is easy to see that the phrase "from the womb" is often used in a figurative sense and should not always be understood in its literal sense.
Third Proof-text Examined 3. Ephesians 2:3: "And were by nature the children of wrath."
This text is torn completely from its context to teach the horrifying doctrine that little babies are sinners, and condemned and under the wrath of God from birth!
But the word "nature" in this text has nothing to do with "birth" and neither does it have anything to do with "babies." It is speaking of adults and it is speaking of the wicked character of adults. This is clearly evident from its context. The context of Ephesians 2:3 shows that Paul was not speaking of the "birth" of children at all when he used the word "nature." On the contrary, he used the word "nature" to describe the wicked character and the wicked works of men before they were converted.
For example, he calls the attention of the believers in Ephesians 2:1-2 to the fact that before their conversion they had lived in trespasses and sins, and walked in every kind of wickedness, in company with other sinners: "Ye were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Then, he continues in verse three speaking of their participation with other sinners in carnality and wickedness: "Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature (were by our past wicked works) the children of wrath even as others."
It was only after he had described their past life of wicked works that he summed up the guilt and ill desert of their past life with the words: "And WERE by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
We know by the immediate context of this text (as well as the context of the whole Bible) that Ephesians 2:3 is not speaking of being born a sinner or being born under the wrath of God. The immediate context and the context of the whole Bible teaches us that we Christians "were by nature" (were by our past wicked works) the children of wrath, just like the rest of the world that is still living in sin." Eph. 2:3
The word "nature" in the Bible, when it refers to what we are by birth, never refers to a sinful nature. This is made manifest by Romans 2:14:
"The Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law." Romans 2:14Now the word "nature" in the above text does refer to the nature that we receive at birth. But it is evident that the word "nature" here is not a sinful nature. For, how could a sinful nature cause us to do the things contained in the law? A sinful nature would not cause us to do the things contained in the law--a sinful nature would only cause us to do evil!
The word "nature" is used again in II Peter 1:4, and it is used just like it was used in Ephesians 2:3, speaking of character and life. We saw in Ephesians 2:3 that it spoke of the evil character or the wicked works of men; but we will see in II Peter 1:4 that it speaks of the good character and life of God--it speaks of the life and moral perfections of his divine being:
"That by these (promises) ye might be partakers of the divine nature." II Peter 1:4Men use Ephesians 2:3 to teach that the "nature" has to refer to being born a sinner. But we see in II Peter 1:4 that the word "nature" is not speaking of a birth at all. It is speaking of the life and moral character of God.
The Bible teaches us that the nature that God has given us is not a sinful nature. It is a good nature that teaches us the difference between good and evil, and a nature that urges us to obey the "law of God written in our hearts." Also the Bible teaches us that all sin and wickedness is against the nature we are born with. But if we were born with a sinful nature not one sin would be against our nature but every sin would agree with and be in harmony with our nature. So the fact that all sin is against our nature proves that we are not born with a sinful nature.
We see, then, that Ephesians 2:3 does not teach that babies are born sinners, and condemned, and under the wrath of God. What it does teach is that all we Christians, who are presently saved from our sins by the marvelous grace of God, were before our salvation, wicked, abandoned sinners, and dead in our trespasses and sins, and under the wrath of God for our sins, just like the rest of the world that still lives in sin and rebellion against God: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…we all had our conversation in time past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Ephesians 1:1-3
Fourth Proof-text Examined 4. Job 14:4: "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one."
This text is supposed to teach that sinful parents cannot help but bear sinful children. But this interpretation completely ignores the context of this text. The context shows that Job had his eyes wholly on the frail and dying state of man, and not at all upon his moral state. The whole sense of what Job was saying was that "no one can bring other than frail and dying offspring from frail and dying parents." (See the context in Job 14:1-6)
If this text teaches that a sinner invariably produces another sinner, it teaches blasphemy. For if the doctrine of original sin is true, Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus was also born a sinner. And if Job 14:4 really does teach that a sinner must produce another sinner, there could be no way of escaping the blasphemous conclusion that our Lord also was born a sinner.
Fifth Proof-text Examined 5. Job 15:14: "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?"
First, these are the words of Eliphaz, and cannot be quoted as inspired truth. God himself testified that Job's comforters did not hold the truth. (See Job 42:7) But suppose we did accept this verse as inspired truth, what does it teach? It teaches nothing at all about a morally depraved physical constitution. It merely implies the sinful condition of all mankind without saying anything about how man got that way.
But again, this text, like the last, if used to teach the constitutional sinfulness of men, would teach the blasphemy that our Lord Jesus was born a sinner, because he was a man and was born of a woman.
Sixth Proof-text Examined 6. 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."
This passage is supposed to teach that all men are born sinners, and born under the condemnation and wrath of God because of Adam's transgression.
But this passage does not teach that men are born sinners. It does not teach that they are born under the condemnation and wrath of God. It does not teach that they inherit a sinful nature from Adam. It does not teach that sin is transmitted physically or any other way from Adam to his descendants. It does not teach that the sin of Adam was imputed to his descendants. And it does not teach that men have sinned "in Adam." On the contrary, Romans 5:14 teaches that Adam's descendants did not sin "in him."
"Them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression." Romans 5:14The fact that Paul says there was a body of people "that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's sin" shows that Paul did not consider Adam's sin to be their sin.
It is true that Paul connects the sin of Adam with the sin and condemnation of all mankind. But it is also true that he connects the obedience of Christ with the salvation and righteousness of all mankind:
"Therefore as by the offence 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." Romans 5:18"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19
To interpret the phrase "made sinners" to mean that men are born sinners and become sinners involuntarily and necessarily by receiving a sinful nature from Adam, is a forced and inconsistent interpretation of this passage, for this passage not only says that all men are "made sinners" because of Adam's transgression, it also says that all men are "made righteous" by the obedience of Christ, and that the free gift of life "came upon all men" by Christ Jesus. So for the advocates of the doctrine of original sin to arbitrarily give to the phrases "made sinners" and "came upon all men" the meaning of physical force when these phrases refer to Adam's sin, without giving the same meaning of physical force when they refer to Christ's righteousness, is an example of a forced and inconsistent interpretation of this passage dictated by a prepossessed belief in the doctrine of original sin.
Paul does not affirm an involuntary, necessary, or irresistible connection between either the sin of Adam and mankind or the righteousness of Christ and mankind. Otherwise, Romans 5:18 would teach the universal salvation of mankind:
"The free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:18We know that universal salvation is not taught in the Bible. Men are not saved involuntarily, automatically, and necessarily because of the obedience of Christ. Nor are they "made sinners" involuntarily, automatically, and necessarily because of the transgression of Adam. But the context of Romans 5:12-21 (and the context of the whole Bible) shows that men are "made sinners" in the same way they are "made righteous," that is, voluntarily or willingly.
Paul did not teach that men are "made sinners" involuntarily, by an act of physical force; because he would have been teaching at the same time that all men are "made righteous" involuntarily, by an act of physical force. In other words he would have been teaching that every human being upon the face of the earth is saved involuntarily and necessarily whether he believes the gospel of salvation or not!
"By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:18It is true that Adam brought sin and death into this world by his transgression; but his sin and his death did not pass upon his descendants. The Bible (Romans 5:12) says that "death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Men are sinners because they have sinned. Sin is an individual, voluntary choice. No human being can sin for another human being. Adam did not sin and could not sin for anyone but himself.
The purpose of the Apostle Paul in this passage is to show that, although the transgression of Adam has been a powerful force to bring sin, death, and condemnation upon all men, the righteousness and obedience of Christ in his work of atonement for sinners has been much more powerful to bring grace, reconciliation, righteousness, and eternal life upon all men. (See the overall context in Romans 5:6-21). The following Scriptures show that no man can be guilty or condemned for the sin of Adam--Adam could sin only for himself:
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Deuteronomy 24:16
"But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." II Chronicles 25:4
"He shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity." Ezekiel 18:17-18
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
"I will judge…everyone according to his ways, saith the Lord God." Ezekiel 18:30
"That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Gen. 18:25
MORE THAN 100 TEXTS FROM THE BIBLE CONTINUED Now I will continue with the more than 100 texts from the Bible that show the doctrine of original sin to be unbiblical and false:
It Makes Sin To Be A Misfortune And Not A Crime The doctrine that babies are born sinners is not true, for it makes sin to be the misfortune and the calamity of the sinner rather than his crime. But the Bible never excuses sin. The Bible never speaks of sin as a misfortune or a calamity, but always speaks of sin as criminal and inexcusable and deserving of the everlasting punishment of hell! It speaks of God's anger and wrath toward sinners for their sins, and tells us that "God is angry with the wicked every day."
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." Romans 1:18"Thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." Romans 2:5-9
"For because of these things (the sins he had listed) cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:6
"The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night. Rev. 14:11
"God is angry with the wicked every day." Psalm 7:11
It Gives The Sinner An Excuse For His Sins The doctrine that babies are born sinners is false because it excuses the sinner. The sinner knows he is not guilty, and can never truly feel guilty for his sins if he really believes he was born a sinner and sins by nature:
If the sinner truly believes that he was born a sinner and truly believes he cannot live without sin, he will (at least secretly) excuse his sins. Over against the fact that this false doctrine gives the sinner an excuse for his sins, we have the biblical fact that God never excuses sin but warns of an awful judgment that awaits sinners:
"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:41-42"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:49-50
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14, 15
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:7-8
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Matthew 25:41, 46
It Makes The Sinner Deserve Pity And Compassion The doctrine that babies are born sinners is false because it makes the sinner deserve pity and compassion rather than condemnation for his sins:
If the doctrine of original sin were true, all sinners would deserve pity and compassion instead of condemnation. And to call them criminals who deserve the condemnation of hell's fire would be to speak pure foolishness! What? A sinful nature the crime of him upon whom it is imposed without his knowledge or consent? Shame on sane men, created in God's image, and endowed by God with the blazing light of a rational moral nature for ever believing and teaching such an absurd and monstrous doctrine!
If this grotesque doctrine were true, the sinner would be the most pitiful and unfortunate creature in all the universe! To blame him for his sins or call him a criminal for his sins would be a grave injustice. He would not deserve punishment for his sins, but instead would deserve the most tender sympathy, pity, and compassion for the misfortune he had suffered of being created and born with a sinful nature--a nature that makes him sin!
But the teaching, that the sinner deserves sympathy and compassion for his sins, clashes with all the clear teachings of the Bible--it clashes with both the letter and the spirit of the whole Bible: The Bible never speaks of the sinner as unfortunate for his sins. The Bible never speaks of the sinner as deserving pity, sympathy, and compassion for his sins. On the contrary, the Bible represents the sinner as deserving everlasting punishment and torment in hell!
"And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." Luke 16:23"Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Luke 16:24
"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43-48
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tor- mented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night." Rev. 14:10-11
"These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Revelation 19:20
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Revelation 20:10
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:7-8
"These shall go away into everlasting punishment…." Matthew 25:46
The everlasting torment described above cannot describe or be the condemnation of men who deserve compassion and pity for being born with a sinful nature! No! This is the condemnation of men who have sinned against the good nature they were created with!
It Makes God Responsible For Sin The teaching that men are born sinners is not, and cannot be, true because it makes God responsible for the sinner's sin:
For if men are born with a sinful nature, who is to blame? Not the sinner. The sinner did not choose to be born with a sinful nature. The sinner can no more be to blame for the nature he was born with than he can be to blame for the color of his hair or eyes. But, who is the Author of our nature? Who is our Creator? Who formed us in our mother's womb? Who gave us life, and breath, and all things? To affirm that men are born sinners is to make God responsible for our sins, for God is our Creator:
"Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves." Psalm 100:3"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? Malachi 2:10
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Ecclesiastes 12:1
"God that made the world and all things therein…seeing he giveth to all, life and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth…For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…." Acts 17:24-26, 28-29
It Makes God Unreasonable, Cruel, And Unjust The doctrine that men are born sinners is false. For if our nature were a sinner, if God had created us a sinner and our nature were a sinner because God had created us a sinner, it would make God the most unreasonabe, cruel, and unjust being in the universe. Not only would it make God unreasonable, cruel, and unjust for making our nature a sinner; it would make him doubly cruel and unreasonable for first making us sinners and then condemning us to hell for the nature he created us with:
I wonder if Christian men really know that God is holy, just, and good! I wonder if they know that GOD IS LOVE and that he could never create men sinners and then condemn them to everlasting punishment for the nature that he himself had given them! Christian men ought not to ascribe such cruelty, wickedness, and injustice to God. God is good and perfect and could never work such injustice.
"Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25"Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves." Deuteronomy 32:3-5
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:13-15
"God is light and in him is no darkness at all." I John 1:5
"In him is no sin…he is righteous." I John 3:5, 7
"God is love." I John 4:8
No! God could never create man with a sinful nature! God is light and in him is no darkness at all! God cannot be tempted with evil and neither tempteth he any man! He is perfect in all his ways. He is just and righteous and without iniquity. Only good and perfect gifts come down from him. How wrong it is for men to charge him with creating sinners!
It Causes Ministers And Church Members To Wink At Sin
The false doctrine that men are born sinners causes ministers to wink at sin and excuse it. If ministers really believe that we are born sinners and cannot live without sin they will very often have an indulgent spirit toward sin among their church members. Where this false doctrine is taught and believed there will be no real HORROR OF SINNING AGAINST GOD. Ministers and church members will excuse sin with statements such as: "Nobody's perfect." "Even the great Apostle Paul spoke of being in bondage to sin in Romans chapter seven." "We will all be changed, when we get to heaven." "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven." "Be patient, God is still working on me." "God understands our weaknesses and human frailties." "I made a mistake. We all make mistakes." Also, ministers who really believe that men are born sinners will very often refrain from preaching and even reading passages from the Bible that could be a public embarrassment to certain sinners in their congregations. But this is a mistake, for the Bible teaches that religious sinners will be lost and go to hell, and that "without holiness, no one shall see God"; it teaches that ministers have a responsibility to watch for the souls of those in their charge; and God commands his ministers to publicly rebuke sin, and call on sinners to repent and turn from their sins:
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account." Hebrews 13:17"I Charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT…." II Timothy 4:1-2
"Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." Ezekiel 33:7-8
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10
"Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:1-6
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomi- nable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:7-8
It Begets Worldliness And A Low Standard Of Conduct In The Church
The false doctrine that we are born sinners with a sinful nature that is the direct cause of all our sins, begets an indulgent spirit toward sin, a tendency toward worldliness, and a low standard of conduct in the church:
If the Christian really believes that his very nature is sinful and that it is impossible for him to live without sin, then it is not likely that he will aspire to a holy sinless life; neither will he be greatly troubled and greatly convicted by sin and worldliness in his life. Every tendency of this false doctrine is to beget an indulgent spirit toward sin and the low standard of conduct that actually exists among Christians in many churches--and this will cause many to go into perdition:
"…ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though once ye knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 4-7"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Matt. 5:8
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double- minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 3:4-10
"Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgresssions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Ezekiel 18:30-32
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." I John 3:6
It Contradicts What The Bible Says Sin Is: Transgression Of The Law The doctrine that babies are born sinners cannot be true because it contradicts everything the Bible says about what sin is: The Bible never says that sin is committed when babies are born. The Bible always says that sin is committed when men transgress the law: The Bible says, "Sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4. The Bible says, "All unrighteousness is sin." I John 5:17. And the Bible says, "Him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17. So we see from the Bible that sin has nothing to do with being born. The Bible tells us that the sin of every person is individual and that no person's sin can be imputed to another person who did not commit that sin:
"The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20"Sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4
"All unrighteousness is sin." I John 5:17
"Him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not to him it is sin." Jas. 4:17
It Contradicts What The Bible Says A Sinner Is: One Who Commits Sin The Bible tells us that the sinner is a sinner because he commits sin. Adam and Eve committed sin in the garden and they became sinners. A man can only be a sinner by committing sin. No one can be a sinner without sinning. There is no other definition in the Bible of what a sinner is: a sinner is a sinner because he commits sin. Neither is there any other definition of what a sinner is in the councils of men: an evil man is evil because he does evil. In both man's government and God's government men are wicked and evil only if they do evil. They cannot be born a sinner, because the only way to be a sinner is to commit sin:
"Sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4"All unrighteousness is sin." I John 5:17
"He that committeth sin is of the devil." I John 3:8
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4
It Contradicts What The Bible Says Sin Is: Doing Evil Knowing It To Be Evil The Bible tells us that there cannot be sin where there is no KNOWLEDGE of right and wrong. And the Bible tells us that there cannot be sin without CHOOSING to do evil. The sinner ALWAYS KNOWS he is doing wrong, and the sinner ALWAYS CHOOSES to do wrong even though HE KNOWS it to be wrong. All these truths taught in the Bible demonstrate conclusively that the teaching that we are born sinners is false and unbiblical:
"Sin is not imputed where there is no law (the law gives the knowledge and is the knowledge of right and wrong). Romans 5:13"Which show the work of the law (the law is the knowledge of right and wrong) written in their hearts." Romans 2:15
"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they that commit such things are worthy of death (they know they are worthy of death because of the law written in their hearts), not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:32
"And your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither." Deuteronomy 1:39
"To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not to him it is sin." James 4:17
It is impossible for babies to be born sinners! Sin is doing evil knowing it to be evil! But babies really know nothing and really do nothing when they are born. Will I be considered harsh and unloving when I say that it is foolishness to speak of babies being born sinners? I hope not. For to speak of babies being born sinners is to fly in the face of our irresistible, God-given convictions of justice and injustice and of right and wrong: and it is to fly in the face of all the clear teachings of the Word of God!
It Makes Jesus A Sinner, Or It Must Be Denied That He Was A Real Man The doctrine that men are born sinners is false; for it makes Jesus a sinner or one has to deny that he was a real man. But the Bible teaches that Christ was a real man like all other men, born with the same human nature as all other men and a true descendant of Adam, Abraham, and David:
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1"Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." Luke 3:38
"Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." Romans 1:3
"God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Gal. 4:4
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels…But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels." Heb. 2:6-7, 9
"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Heb. 2:11
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Hebrews 2:14
"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." Hebrews 2:16
"Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren." Hebrews 2:17
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
The Bible teaches that Jesus was a real man like all other men: that he had both a human body and a human soul, and that he had all the attributes of a man. He was born of a woman. He was fed by his mother and cared for by her like all other children. He was circumcised according to the law of Moses like other Jews. He was at one time a child in knowledge, for the Bible says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man." Luke 2:52. He grew hungry, he grew thirsty, he ate, he drank, he worked, he grew tired, he rested, he lived, and he died like other men. His temptations were real, his prayers were real, his sufferings and death were real; he was recognized by other men as a real man and a real Jew. Over 80 times in the Gospels Jesus refers to himself as "the Son of Man."
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Hebrews 2:14"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." Hebrew 2:16
"Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren." Hebrews 2:17
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
The truth that Jesus Christ had the very same human nature as all other men is fully taught in the Bible. But the advocates for the doctrine of original sin have to deny the real humanity of Christ. They must deny that Jesus was a man with the same human nature as other men because of their belief that men are born sinners and that the nature of man or the flesh of man is sinful in itself. So to save Christ from a sinful nature they deny the true humanity of Christ! But it is a serious error to deny the humanity of Christ. The Bible warns that to deny the humanity of Christ is the spirit of antichrist!
"Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." I John 4:2-3"Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." II John 7-11
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14
"Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14
Jesus was a man, born with the same human nature as all other men. The incarnation of Christ (his real humanity) is a central doctrine of the Christian faith. You can no more be a Christian denying Christ's real humanity than you can, denying his real divinity. Jesus was a perfect man, born with the same human nature as all other men. The doctrine that men are born sinners is a pagan doctrine and false. It is a pagan doctrine foisted in among the Christian doctrines in the fifth century A.D. by Augustine, who had been for nine years a disciple of the Manichaeans. The Manichaeans were a Gnostic-Christian sect, with the Christian elements reduced to a minimum. They taught the pagan philosophy 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. Augustine's nine years with them accustomed him to regard human nature as essentially evil and human freedom as a delusion.
It Adds To And Takes From The Word Of God God hates the doctrine of original sin for it adds to God's Word and takes from God's Word, and transgresses God's express command:
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Deuteronomy 4:2"If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19
"I hate the doctrine (a doctrine added to and foreign to the Bible) of the Nicolaitans." Revelation 2:15
"Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (who do not confess the Word of God concern- ing Christ's coming in the flesh--and so take from, destroy, and di- minish the Word of God). This is a deceiver and an antichrist." II John 7
None Of The Original Sin Doctrine Is Taught In The Bible Not one of the following teachings can be found in the Bible. They are all inventions of men and additions to the Bible and foreign to everything in the Bible. And so they are in direct disobedience to God's command: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you." Deut. 4:2
Not Taught In The Bible "The whole human race existed as one moral person in Adam; so that in Adam's sin we sinned, we corrupted ourselves, and we brought guilt and merited condemnation upon ourselves. Adam's will was the will of the species, so that in Adam's free act, the will of the race revolted against God and the nature of the race corrupted itself." Doctrine of Augustine, fifth century A.D.
Not Taught In The Bible "Adam was the federal head of the race and God made a covenant with Adam, our federal head, agreeing to give eternal life to him and to all his descendants if he obeyed; but making the penalty for his disobedience the condemnation of all his descendants. Since our legal representative or federal head did sin, God imputes his sin, his guilt, and his condemnation to all his descendants." Doctrine of Cocceius, 17th century A.D.
Not Taught In The Bible "Because Adam sinned all men are born with a corrupt sinful nature and are guilty and condemned for that nature. They are not guilty for the sin of Adam, but are guilty only for the corrupt sinful nature that they are born with. It is the corrupt nature only, which they inherit from Adam, that is sufficient cause and legal ground for God to condemn them." Doctrine of Placeus, 17th century A.D.
Direct Quotations, That Are Not Taught In The Bible "Our nature sinned in Adam." And, "It was just, that after our nature had sinned…we should be born animal and carnal." Augustine
"Our nature there transformed for the worse, not only became a sinner, but also begets sinners." Augustine
"Unconscious infants, dying without baptism, are damned by virtue of their inherited guilt." Augustine
"From this condemnation no one is exempt, not even newborn children." Augustine
"The 'nature and essence' of man is, from his birth, an evil tree and a child of wrath." Martin Luther
"Even children, dying unbaptized, are lost." Martin Luther
"Original sin is the hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature…which first makes us subject to the wrath of God, and then pro- duces in us works which the Scripture calls works of the flesh." Calvin
"The sin of Adam is the immediate cause and ground of inborn depravity, guilt, and condemnation to the whole human race." A. H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 611
"This evil tendency or inborn determination to evil, since it is the real cause of actual sins, must itself be sin, and as such must be guilty and condemnable." A. H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 611
Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression. Shorter CatechismQ. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto men fell?
A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever. Shorter Catechism"There is in us a necessity of sinning." Augustine
"Every man is guilty in Adam, and is consequently born with a depraved and corrupt nature. And this inner corruption is the unholy fountain of all actual sins." L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, p. 251
"Original sin is the corruption of man's nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled and made opposite to all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to evil, and that continually." Larger Catechism
"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." Westminster Confession
"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. Westminster Confession
"It may be difficult to reconcile the doctrine of innate evil dispositions with the justice and goodness of God…A malignant being is an evil being whether he was so made (created by God) or so born…We admit that it is repugnant to our moral judgments that God should create an evil being; or that any being should be born in a state of sin, unless this being so born is the consequence of a just judgment." Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. II, p. 308
"No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed." Larger Catechism
"They deplore their inability to love their Redeemer, to keep themselves from sin, to live a life in any degree adequate to their own convictions of their obligations…they recognize it as the fruit and evidence of the corruption of their nature derived as a sad inheritance from their first parents." Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. II, p. 273
All Of The Above Teachings Are Additions To The Bible None of the above teachings are in the Bible. They are all men's doctrines, they are all additions to the Bible, and they are all completely foreign to the Bible:
Where in the Bible does it say that "no Christian is able by any grace of God given in this life able to keep the commandments of God"? Where in the Bible does it say that we Christians are "unable to love our Redeemer and unable to keep ourselves from sin"? Where in the Bible can it be found written that the Christian is, because of a sinful nature, "utterly indisposed, disabled and made opposite to all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to evil, and that continually"? Or, where in the Bible does it say, "We are utterly indisposed, disabled and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil"? These statements are not in the Bible and are repugnant to the Bible!
A Monstrous Invention Of Men The whole original sin dogma is a monstrous invention of men, foreign to the Bible, and an imposition on the Holy Word of God:
THE BIBLE says absolutely nothing of "The Immaculate Conception." ("The Immaculate Conception" is the doctrine that Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, "was conceived free from any corruption of original sin" in order that she might be pure enough to be the mother of Christ.) The doctrine of "The Immaculate Conception" is an invention and an addition to the doctrines of the Bible made necessary by a belief in the doctrine of original sin.
THE BIBLE says absolutely nothing of the "Baptism of Children for the Remission of Original Sin." This is another invention, and an addition by men to the doctrines of the Bible, made necessary by a belief in the doctrine of original sin.
THE BIBLE says absolutely nothing about "Limbo." "Limbo" is another invention made necessary by a belief in the doctrine of original sin. ("Limbo" was invented for infants who have died without baptism. It is believed that "Limbo" is a place where babies go, when they have died without baptism; and, in place of going to either heaven or hell, they go to "Limbo," where "neither the joys of heaven, nor the torments of hell prevail."
DOES THE BIBLE ever speak about "inherited guilt"? Does the Bible ever speak about "God creating" sinners? Does it talk about men having the power to "beget" either saints or sinners? Does the Bible ever use the term "inborn sin nature" or "Adamic sin nature"? Does the Bible mention "original" sin or "actual" sin, making a distinction between the two? No! None of these doctrines and none of these terms can be found in the Bible. They are all inventions of men and additions by men to the doctrines of the Bible.
It Destroys The True Teachings Of The Bible The doctrine of original sin not only adds false teachings to the Bible, it destroys and diminishes and takes away the true teachings of the Bible, and is in direct disobedience to God's command:
"…neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Deut. 4:2
It Destroys The Biblical Truth That Man Can Only Be Guilty For His Own Sin The false teaching that we are born sinners and guilty and condemned for the sin of Adam destroys and takes away the true teaching of the Bible that man is not guilty and cannot be guilty for the sin of Adam or any other man, but only for his own sin:
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Deuteronomy 24:16
"But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." II Chronicles 25:4
It Destroys The Truth Of God's Moral Perfections It destroys the truth taught in the Bible that God is perfect in justice, rightousness, and goodness and makes him cruel and unjust with the teaching that he condemned the whole world for the sin of Adam, a sin which every man knows he did not commit and was committed thousands of years before his existence. The Christian, who knows his Bible, knows that this false teaching negates and destroys literally hundreds of texts in the Bible that speak of God's justice and goodness and love and holiness. God could not be just and holy and good and loving, as the Bible says he is, if the doctrine of original sin were true!
It Destroys The Biblical Teaching That God Creates Men In His Own Image It negates all those passages in the Bible that teach that men are created by God with a good nature, and upright, and in his image and likeness--by the false teaching that men are no longer created in the image of God, but are born into this world with a sinful nature, and with a nature that is "Wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body (Westminster Confession)."
It Destroys The Truth That Jesus Was A Real Man It destroys and takes away all those passages from the Bible that teach that Christ was a real man like all other men, with the false and anti-biblical teaching that Jesus Christ did not have the same human nature as other men.
It Destroys The Heart And Soul Of The Gospel: Salvation From Sin It takes away the heart and soul of the Gospel--the biblical truth that God completely saves the sinner from the power of his sins--with the false and unbiblical teaching that the Christian cannot live for even one day without sinning in "thought, word, and deed." It contradicts and weakens the spirit of holiness that shines on every page of the Holy Bible when it teaches that the grace of God and the power of God are not sufficient to save from sin and work holiness in the Church of Christ in this life, but must wait until the Church gets to heaven, because of the "corruption of nature, that during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated." And so, it takes away and destroys all the promises that God has given to the Church--promises that the believer in Christ will overcome sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil. It exalts the power of sin above the power of God and makes sin infinitely more powerful that God's power to sanctify the believer through his grace in Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells in the believer!
The Original Sin Doctrine Teaches That The Christian Cannot Obey God Dear Christian, the doctrine of original sin is a devilish doctrine! It is anti-Christ, anti-God, and anti-Bible! The Bible teaches that the Christian can obey God and overcome sin through God's power and grace in Christ Jesus. The doctrine of original sin teaches that the Christian cannot obey God in this life regardless of the grace of God and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit!
"This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated." Westminster Confession"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." Westminster Confession
"…whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to evil, and that continually." Larger Catechism
"No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed." Larger Catechism
"They deplore their inability to love their Redeemer, to keep themselves from sin, to live a holy life in any degree adequate to their own convic- tions of their obligations…They recognize it as the fruit and evidence of the corruption of their nature derived as a sad inheritance from their first parents." Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. II, p.273
The above doctrine throws the flood-gates wide open for rebellion against God! Surely God (who knows all things) would not be so unreasonable as to judge us for our sins when he knows that we are unable to obey him! What? Would God command us to do what he knows we cannot do, and this on pain of the everlasting punishment of hell?
But, what a devilish doctrine is this that we are unable to obey God! The Bible does not teach that we are unable to obey God. There is not one verse in the entire Bible that teaches that the Christian is unable to obey God! The following verses are only a few of the many in the Bible that teach that the Christian has been liberated from the power of sin by the grace and power of Christ, and can live without sin and be victorious in his service to God:
The Biblical Teaching Is That The Christian Does Overcome Sin "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." Romans 6:6-7"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Rom. 6:22
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2
"And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." I Thessalonians 5:23-24
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 24-25
"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:34, 36
"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins: and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." I John 3:5-6
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." I John 3:8-10
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" I John 5:4-5
"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not." I John 5:18
The Doctrine Of Inability To Obey God Makes God A Liar The doctrine that it is impossible for the Christian to live without sin because of a sinful nature inherited from Adam, is a lie against the promises of God: a lie that debases and defames his grace and power and makes him a liar. God says: "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom. 6:14. And God says: "Who are kept by the power of God through faith." I Peter 1:5. God solemnly promises to "not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able" (I Corinthians 10:13), he promises to "deliver us from all sin" (Matthew 1:21, I John 3:5-9, John 8:34, 36), and he promises to preserve us in righteousness and holiness (I Thessalonians 5:23-24, Jude 24); but according to the doctrine of original sin all of his promises are lies. The doctrine of original sin denies the power of the glorious gospel of Christ. It mocks and scorns and belittles all the promises of God in Christ Jesus to sanctify and preserve his people in purity and holiness. It blackens the character of God. It belittles his amazing grace and his infinite power. It excuses the sinner in his sins. It is not an innocent belief and it is not an innocuous belief! It is a doctrine that is infinitely destructive and diabolical! It silences the voice of conscience. It corrupts the Christian's conduct. And it stumbles Christians into hell. It teaches the Christian that he should never expect to be saved from his sins in this life, but that he should expect to live more or less in rebellion against his Savior until he dies and goes to heaven! What a lie from the devil!
God Is Ignorant Of Any Inability To Obey Him If it is true that men are born sinners, and are therefore unable to obey God, it is strange that God has always been completely ignorant of such a fact (for God has always commanded and expected his people to live in perfect obedience and holiness), it is strange that the holy apostles and prophets were ignorant of such a doctrine (for they lived in holiness), and it is strange that so many believers have been ignorant of such a doctrine, for many have faithfully lived in obedience, holiness and perfection before God:
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil." Job 1:1"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil." Job 1:8
"In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22
"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And still he holdeth fast his intregrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy him without cause." Job 2:3
"And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years…and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Genesis 5:22, 24
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil contin- ually…(but) Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God…Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he." Genesis 6:5, 9, 22
"And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife…There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her…and she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." Genesis 39:7-10, 12
"Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him…and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me." Daniel 6:3-4, 20-22
"Though these three men, Noah, daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness." Ezekiel 14:14
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Luke 1:6
"And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him." Luke 2:25
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess…which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." Luke 2:36-37
"In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, dispisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away…but thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured…I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day." II Timothy 3:1-5, 10-11 and 4:7-8
"If any be blameless…For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate." Titus 1:6-7
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony that HE PLEASED GOD." Hebrews 11:5
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy." I Peter 1:15-16
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-20
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7:22-23
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." I John 1:6
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." I John 2:4
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." I John 2:6
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now." I John 2:9
"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins: and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him." I John 3:5-6
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." I John 3:7
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." I John 3:8-10
It Denies Man's God-given Conscience And Reason The doctrine of original sin is false because it flies in the face of the necessary and irresistible affirmations of every man's God-given conscience and reason:
The reason and the conscience of every man testifies to him that the doctrine of original sin is unjust: no man can torture his conscience into believing that it would be just for him to be condemned for a murder committed by some one else. But this is the teaching of original sin: that Adam sinned and the whole human race was condemned for his sin.
We cannot torture our conscience into believing that it would be just that the pagan nations would be born sinners, would commit sin necessarily because of a sinful nature, and would then die in their sins without a knowledge of the Savior and be condemned to the everlasting torments of hell for sins they could not avoid. No!
Neither can we torture our reason into affirming that moral character, whether sin or virtue can be transmitted in the physical constitution of man. Moral character has no physical characteristics, is not a physical thing, and it is impossible to transmit it physically (or any other way) from one person to another! To speak of "begetting sinners" is to speak pure foolishness!
Self-evident Truths Certain truths are self-evident. They are direct perceptions of the reason and are therefore known to be true by all men: A thing cannot both exist and not exist at the same time. Two contradictory declarations cannot both be true. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The whole cannot be greater than the sum of its parts. Every effect must have a cause. A creation implies a creator. Moral character is non-transferable. There are no proxies in morals. Sin cannot be imputed where it does not exist without injustice. Perfect justice cannot punish the innocent for the guilt of another. All sin is personal and non-transferable.
Now all of the above truths are known intuitively. They do not need to be proved. They are direct perceptions of reason, and cannot rationally be denied by any man.
But the doctrine of original sin does deny self-evident truths. It denies the self- evident truth that there can be no proxies in morals and teaches that Adam committed sin for us by proxy. It denies that moral character is non-tranferable and teaches that Adam's sinful character was transferred to all his descendants. It denies that sin cannot be imputed where it does not exist without injustice and teaches that the infinitely holy and just God imputed the sin of Adam to all his descendants. It denies that perfect justice cannot punish the innocent for the guilt of another and teaches that God, who is perfect in truth and justice, condemned the whole human race for the sin of Adam.
To say that the doctrine of original sin is unreasonable is a profound understatement. There really never has existed a doctrine so unreasonable, so absurd, and so ridicu- lous as this doctrine. It is not only absurd, it is utter superstition to believe that we sinned "in Adam" thousands of years before we were born and began our existence. No man can torture his consciousness into affirming that he existed and sinned thousands of years before he was born. To believe that the physical flesh of man can be inherently sinful and that men can be born sinners is gross superstition. The whole dogma of original sin is a monstrous superstition and a fantastic fiction that is fit only for the pages of some wild science fiction novel. It is not in the Bible!
The doctrine of original sin is clearly unreasonable, and can be a doctrine of the Bible only if the doctrines of the Bible can be unreasonable. But, we know that the Bible cannot be unreasonable! The Bible is the Word of God; it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. And as such, it is, and must be, reasonable, consistent, and harmonious in all its parts. It is both a foolish idea and a dangerous idea to think that any of the doctrines of the Bible can be either unreasonable or inconsistent! If men present any theory and try to force it on the church as a doctrine of the Bible, and that doctrine is absurd, unreasonable, and contradictory with other doctrines of the Bible, then it is both foolish and wicked to accept it, while rejecting the arguments of either reason or the Bible which show its error.
The Bible never teaches anything which our rational, moral nature declares to be false, unjust, or impossible. The truths of Christianity cannot be in manifest contradiction to reason, reality, and justice--and yet the original sin dogma does contradict the clear teachings of the Bible, man's reason, man's knowledge of reality, and man's God-given convictions of justice:
It Contradicts What The Bible Says Is The Source Of All Sin The Bible teaches that no sin can come from outside of man: that all sin originates in the mind, heart, and will of each individual: that everything, good or bad, comes out of the mind, heart, soul, and spirit of each individual man:
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matthew 15:18-19"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man…for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Mark 7:15, 21-23
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5
"For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Genesis 8:21
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23
"Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:28
"Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." Daniel 1:8
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" Acts 5:3-4
"Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Acts 8:21-22
"Thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds." Romans 2:5-6
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12
"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have trans- gressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit." Ezekiel 18:31
Sin Is Doing Evil Or Wickedness The Bible teaches that sin is doing wickedness or evil. A baby is not born a murderer, a thief, or a liar. He cannot be born a murderer, a thief, or a liar for he has never murdered or stolen or lied. The baby would have to commit these sins to be a sinner. There are hundreds of texts in the Bible that speak of sin, and sin is always the evil or wickedness that the sinner does:
"Unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, coveteousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they that commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:29-32"Thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doeth the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them that do such things, and doeth the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?…who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." Romans 2:1-3, 6-9
"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17
"The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil…" Romans 9:11
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." II Peter 2:4-9
"He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righeousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." I John 3:7-10
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:3-6
The Apostles Knew Nothing About Being Born A Sinner The Apostles of Christ knew nothing of a doctrine of being born a sinner; but instead knew and taught the biblical truth that sinners become sinners just like Adam and Eve became sinners, that is, by being tempted by the devil, and then giving in to temptation and disobeying God:
"Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death." James 1:14-15"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I Corinthians 10:13
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." II Peter 2:9
"I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." I Thessalonians 3:5
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." II Corinthians 11:3
"Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:27
"And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." II Timothy 2:26
"And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan." Mark 1:13
"(He) was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15
"And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him…" John 13:2
"And Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" Acts 5:3
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." Revelation 12:9
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against…spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:11-12
Christ Knew Nothing Of Being Born A Sinner Neither did Christ know anything about the doctrine of being born a sinner. Instead of teaching that men are born sinners, Christ attributed all sin to the free moral agency of the sinner. And Christ, just like his Apostles, spoke of the agency of the devil in tempting men to sin and disobey God:
"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matthew 13:38-39"Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." Luke 8:12
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." John 8:44
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." I John 3:8
"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." I John 3:10
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Luke 22:31-32
"Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of of the devil." Matthew 4:1
The Devil Doesn't Know About The Doctrine Of Being Born A Sinner Neither does the devil know about the doctrine of being born a sinner! If he did, he would know he doesn't need to deceive us and tempt us to make us sin. For if we were born with a sinful nature, we would sin by nature, and would not need to be tempted to make us sin! But the devil has never heard of the doctrine of being born a sinner, and goes on tempting men to sin when they would sin just as well without a devil to tempt them! What a fool the devil is!
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." Revelation 12:9"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations." Rev. 20:7-8
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." Revelation 20:10
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field…And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1
Neither Jesus Nor His Apostles Ever Spoke Of Being Born A Sinner Neither Jesus nor his Apostles ever spoke of being born a sinner. They spoke of the agency of the devil to tempt and deceive and ruin men in sin. They knew that all sin came from freely and willfully giving in to temptation, and that the devil was the enemy of God who seeks to deceive and destroy man who is the special creation of God:
"The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10"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." John 8:44
"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy him without cause." Job 2:3
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places…taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:11-12, 16
"The tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:38-42
The Bible Teaches That Temptation Is The Occasion Of All Sin The Bible teaches that temptation is the occasion of all sin. Man is not a sinner by nature or by birth; man is a sinner because he yields to temptation:
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12"Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:14-15
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…" I Corinthians 10:13
"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matthew 13:38-39
"Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." Luke 8:12
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." John 8:44
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." I John 3:8
"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Mark 14:38
"And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan." Mark 1:13
"He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15
Every Sin In The Universe Has Been Committed Without A Sinful Nature The devil was tempted and fell from his original perfection without a sinful nature to make him sin. (See Ezekiel 28:13-17.) The third part of the holy angels were tempted and fell from their original perfection without a sinful nature to make them sin. (See II Peter 2:4 and Jude 6.) And holy Adam and Eve were tempted and fell from their original perfection without a sinful nature to make them sin. (See Genesis 3:1-24.) And the Bible everywhere teaches that temptation is the occasion and cause of all sin today as it was with Adam and Eve in the beginning:
"Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:12-15
If the doctrine of original sin is true, then Jesus, his Apostles, and, indeed, all the inspired writers of the Bible lived in total ignorance of it. For they never spoke of original sin as being the occasion or cause of any sin! But they spoke of the agency of the devil and of temptation as the cause and occasion of all sin! Jesus exhorted his disciples to "watch and pray, that they not enter into temptation." He taught his disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." His Apostles, in their epistles, exhorted the believers to guard against the "snares of the devil," lest they be tempted and fall into sin. They exhorted the believers to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour," and to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
In place of attributing the sins of mankind to a physical connection with Adam, they attributed the sins of mankind to a moral connection with the tempter, the devil. They spoke of sinners as being children of the devil, and of the devil as being their father. They spoke of men's sins as being the works of the devil, and they spoke of Christ coming to destroy the works of the devil. And finally, they spoke of the sinner as being a captive of the devil, and in need of escaping from the snare of the devil.
They never spoke of being born a sinner or of committing sin because of a sinful nature inherited from Adam! There is not one single verse in all the Bible that speaks of a sinful nature inherited from Adam! But throughout all the Bible we are taught that men are tempted and commit sin when they surrender to temptation!
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:12-15
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…" I Corinthians 10:13
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
There Is A Difference Between The Just And The Unjust Over and over again the Bible speaks of the difference between the just and the unjust. But if all men are born with a sinful nature and sin by nature it would be impossible for there to be a just person or a difference between just persons and wicked persons, for all would have sinful natures and be wicked. But there are innumerable texts in the Bible that speak of the difference between the just and the unjust:
"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15"Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness." I Kings 8:32
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:49-50
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." II Pet. 2:9
"For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just." Proverbs 3:32-33
"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken by their own naughtiness. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead." Proverbs 11:5-8
"The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." Proverbs 15:29
Every time that the Bible speaks of the guilt of the sinner for his sins, and each time it tells us that he deserves the everlasting punishment of hell for his sins, and that the wrath of God is upon him because of his sins, and that God is angry with the sinner for his sins, and that he hates the sinner for his sins, and that he will take vengeance on the sinner for his sins, it is proof that men are not created and born with a sinful nature that makes them sin, but that they are created in the image and likeness of God with a good and upright nature, and that they sin against their nature and corrupt themselves:"Esau have I hated." Romans 9:12"Thou hatest all workers of iniquity." Psalm 5:5
"God is angry with the wicked every day." Psalm 7:11
"For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." Psalm 5:4-6
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thessalonians 1:7-8
"If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries…for we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And, again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:26-27, 30-31
"The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." Romans 1:18
"Thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds…unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." Rom. 2:5-9
"Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it…And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity." Isaiah 13:9, 11
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tor- mented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night." Rev. 14:10-11
All The Words For Sin Speak Of Sinning Against Our Nature Every time the Bible speaks of sin or evil or wickedness or ungodliness or injustice or iniquity or perversion or abomination or confusion it speaks of sinning against our nature. And because ALL SIN IS AGAINST OUR NATURE we are guilty and deserve the anger and wrath of God and the everlasting punishment of hell:
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another. Romans 1:18, 26-27"Whosoever he be…that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people…And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy…Every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought CONFUSION; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an ABOMINATION: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is WICKEDNESS: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people…And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them." Leviticus 20:2-3, 6-18, 23
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:3-6
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God." I Cor. 6:9-10
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever." Revelation 14:10-11
"And the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." Revelation 16:19
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Revelation 19:15
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." Revelation 21:7-8
"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Revelation 22:12-15
All Sin Is A Free Moral Choice That Transgresses God's Law It is impossible to be born a sinner or to beget a sinner. For sin is not a material or physical substance; it is moral and not physical, and it is only the soul or the spirit of man which has the POWER OF CHOICE and sins. There is nothing material about sin; it is a wicked moral choice, it is an evil act, it is disobedience or transgression of the law of God. The Bible says that ALL SIN is disobedience or transgression of God's law. No one can be a sinner without transgressing the law of God. There is no sin, and there can be no sin, if the law of God is not transgressed. The first sin in the garden was a transgression of God's law, and ALL SIN since has been a transgression of the law of God:
"And (God) said…Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" Genesis 3:11"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4
"But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:9-11
"For where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15
"sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4
"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Romans 2:12-16
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The Scriptures and arguments presented in this booklet have clearly shown that the doctrine of original sin is not taught in the Bible, but contradicts the teachings of the Bible again and again on the pages of Scripture.
It is not easy for a minister of God's Word to admit he has been teaching a doctrine that is not even in the Bible; but if we have done so, we must admit it and repent if we would please God. To continue to teach a false doctrine when we have reason to suspect its truth is wickedness! The theologian, Randolf S. Foster, makes some penetrating comments on the moral turpitude of clinging to error once we know the truth:
The known and willful support or perpetuation of an error is a crime against humanity and a sin against Him who is Truth. To cling to error or defend error when one has reason to suspect it may be error reveals a heart that does not fully love the truth for the truth's sake.To strenuously support and shield from scrutiny what we believe when we are aware that its truth is questionable reveals a heart that is not completely candid. We are supposed to be children of light, and to be afraid to shine light upon what we believe shows a love still for darkness.
Although all men have an innate and genuine thirst after truth and corresponding disgust for error, there may exist, strange as it may seem, extreme opposition to the acceptance of certain truths--an absolute hatred of them, because they differ from what we now believe, because they require changes in us which we do not want to make, because they require the confession that we have been mistaken and have held error--so the mind will not give them fair treatment--It hardens against them and imposes unjust tests and will not give them the courtesy of fair and respectful attention. Prejudices, vicious habits of thought, pride of opinion and of denominational belief, ignorance, suspicion, bigotry, blind following of religious and denominational leaders so becloud and benumb the mind that it cannot and will not see its own errors, or the truth of others--when with a little unprejudiced examination the truth could be seen. Randolf S. Foster, Studies in Theology, Vol. I, pp. 9, 10, 18, 31.
Dear Christian, the doctrine of original sin is false and unbiblical. We ought not to preach it or support it in any way. God has called us to preach the truth--the truth of the Bible, and the truths of the Bible as they are contained in the Bible--and nothing outside of the Bible that is the doctrine of men.
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