Sin Nature - How Does Original Sin Affect Other Important Bible Doctrines? - Part 8 by Mike MIller

As we have previously pointed out, the doctrine of original sin contradicts, confuses, and makes a mess out of all other true Bible doctrines. It is totally out of character with the rest of what the Bible teaches about sin, salvation, depravity, guilt, mercy, and judgment. It is impossible to reconcile the doctrine of original sin with the major doctrines of Bible believing Christianity.

As another example let’s look at the doctrine of regeneration. The term means to renew. It refers to the new birth, which is a spiritual birth. Just about any dictionary or commentary will agree with that definition of regeneration. It is that change that happens at salvation in which the will and the enmity of man toward God and his law are subdued, and in it’s place a supreme love for God and his law is shed abroad in his heart. He has been born again or regenerated. He is a NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Gal. 6:15
Those who believe the doctrine of original sin run into problems trying to understand and teach the Bible doctrine of regeneration. Since they believe that moral depravity is part of your physical constitution it follows that a physical change must take place in regeneration. I have heard some of them refer to regeneration as being literally “re-gened,” or in other words being made new – physically. They are completely outside of the Scriptures with this idea because there is no such thing even hinted at in the Bible. Sin is always referred to as a matter of the soul, or the heart of man. The new birth is a spiritual birth – not another physical birth. It is circumcision of the heart – not of the flesh.

If our very nature is sinful, and that from birth, then is naturally impossible for us to repent and believe the Gospel. According to those who believe in original sin, God must regenerate us BEFORE we can repent. Therefore, the sinner is totally passive and God does everything. Here’s how it works: God chooses someone He wants, regenerates them, and then they repent and believe the Gospel. They are totally passive and just a very lucky person because God happened to choose them.

Because they believe that sin has as its cause your physical body, they reason that God must do something to the physical body when we are regenerated. For this reason we see people coming up with doctrines like “eradication of the sinful nature,” or “sinless perfection.” We are often falsely accused of believing these doctrines. Every time I hear that accusation I have to laugh, because our critics who believe in original sin are the ones who are obliged to believe these doctrines. They are the ones who believe that regeneration is a physical thing God does to you. These are just a couple of the misunderstandings that naturally follow and spring forth from the idea of original sin.

When a person gets saved and suddenly realizes that they are still tempted to sin they run to these spiritual leaders who believe in original sin for help. They are told that they have a sinful nature and will have it until they die because this sinful body is the problem. But the new convert is confused because they were told by these same people before they were saved that the sinful nature is what condemned them to hell. It wasn’t the sins of the flesh, but that wicked nature they were born with that needed salvation. Now they are saved, but still have this sinful nature! Not only that, but they need not expect to be free from sin. Everyone sins every day in “word, thought, and deed.” What kind of salvation is that? What IS salvation if after we are saved we still have the thing for which we were condemned?

So they have a real dilemma on their hands. From here spring forth all kinds of false teachings and doctrines intended to explain this difficulty while holding fast to the doctrine of original sin. They couldn’t dare question the foundation! In their minds original sin is the basic truth of the Bible, and to it is totally unacceptable to question it at all. Everything else MUST be made to conform to the doctrine of original sin! It HAS to! They can’t give up their basic, fundamental doctrine!

So they explain it this way: after we are saved we are really two separate people – the old man, and the new man. The old man is wicked and sinful, while the new man CANNOT sin. Life is a constant battle and there is never any peace because that old man just won’t die. What happened at salvation was that a new man was born, but now must share the same body with the wicked “old man.” This “old man” seems to be much more wicked than the person was before they got saved. He can’t ever do right, but that same person before they were saved did do right once in a while. They were selfish and sinful, but not nearly as bad as this mysterious “old man” that now runs the show. The new man is weak and sickly and unable to take control away from the “old man.” Bless his heart, the new man WANTS to, but he just CAN’T. He is trapped in a body that is out of his control and he must simply bide his time until the creature dies. Then, and only then, will he be truly set free. DEATH is really his only true saviour. DEATH is the only thing that can deliver him from his bondage of sin. God created this new man but He just wasn’t able to make him stronger than the “old man.”

Isn’t that a wonderful picture of salvation? How many sinners would jump at the chance for a new life like that?

Isn’t original sin a wicked doctrine? It makes salvation so empty and meaningless. It is such an insult to what Jesus really did do for us. It makes being saved so unappealing that it is a wonder that anyone ever gets saved. Instead of peace and victory it offers only struggle and defeat. Instead of true deliverance from bondage it leaves you in a worse state than you were before!

The true Bible teaching on this matter is that the old man is DEAD. He has been BURIED. And the new man has risen with Christ and …
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20
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. Rom. 6:6
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Col. 3:9
Thanks be to God, the old man is dead!

So the proponents of original sin run into a problem with the Bible every time they try to explain the inconsistencies and contradictions with the other major doctrines of the Bible. Maybe that is why the new Pope said in 1985:
"The inability to understand 'original sin' and to make it understandable is really one of the most difficult problems of present-day theology and pastoral ministry."
This is from the man who was the guardian of doctrine for the Catholic Church for years under Pope John Paul II, and is now the Pope himself. He admits that it is impossible to understand or explain. But still, it is the basis for all other doctrine concerning sin and salvation – for Catholics and most Protestant denominations. And multitudes of souls continue to be deceived and die in their sins because they are taught by the religious leaders that there really is no victory in this life.

No wonder Jesus said, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8

Next part: Spiritual Death?

Sin Nature - Job 14:4

Job 14:1-4

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Studying God’s word brings great peace. It is God’s way of revealing Himself to us. He withholds Himself from those who look at His word as another book and shows Himself to those who sincerely search the Scriptures with an open heart. God will reveal Himself to the person who takes his time reading and meditating upon His word especially in this topic of whether or not man has a sin nature. I am saddened when I speak out about what God’s word says on the issue, and I see people hardened to the truth of the Scriptures. What saddens me even more is to know of those who proclaim a sin nature when it benefits them and then claim that everyone has a choice to sin or not to sin. Recently I simply questioned the teaching that sin is passed to all by birth in an institutionalized “church.” Very quickly the response turned sour and I was accused of teaching some “dangerous doctrines.” It was at this very point that I realized the truth. When we speak the truth, we will often be misrepresented, labeled as a heretic, and accused of teaching outrageous things. In the past few months, I have gone through all of the above. I have spoken to several people who are given biblical support to continue believing in an inherited sin nature. Sadly, most of these people have some known sin that they are unwilling to lay aside and are simply looking for some excuse to continue in the same. For those who continue to insist that man inherited a sin nature from Adam, Job 14:4 “shuts the door” on the subject.

All one has to do to understand this passage is to read the book of Job from chapter 11-14 in its context. Unfortunately this is not done, because man runs to the Bible to only get support for his beliefs rather than going to God’s word to teach him what he should believe. Our world has taken on a sort of “fast-food” mentality where they want everything quick and at their fingertips. You can see this all over. The internet is a great example of the mentality. When the internet first came on the scene in the 90s, it was dial-up. Then came cable modems, and DSL, and now everyone has the internet at the palm of their hand by means of a cell phone. Although this is a luxury that I do take advantage of, it is sad to see this mentality of having things quick take hold of “Christianity.” People want an answer, and they want it now. When one has this mentality with sin nature, the end result will more than likely result in the belief that man has a sin nature. Instead of taking the time to read verses in their context and compare scripture with scripture to ensure that there is further support instead of contradictions, many will run to the Bible to attach a verse to their belief as if it was some confirmation of what they already believe or have been taught for generations.

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

In Job 11, Zophar the Naamathite is busy trying to find the answers as to why Job had experienced such great loss and pain in his life. Like a typical Pharisee of today, he suggests that there must be some iniquity that Job has within his heart (“Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” 11:6) Zophar had no concept that it could be the devil at work as an adversary seeking to devour Job (just like the devil is at work seeking to devour all those whom he equips with an excuse for their sin – sin nature). Before knocking Zophar too much, keep in mind that the purpose of Job’s suffering is recorded for us in the first 2 chapters. Zophar was not privy to the conversation God had with Satan. God had testified of Job that he was a perfect and upright man who eschewed evil. Satan had, therefore, gained permission to afflict Job with the intention of showing God that Job served only because of his temporal blessings. Job responded in a way that showed how much his heart was set on God – “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In chapter 11, Zophar prescribes a method for Job to get right with God and to get out of the mess that Job was in. He says,

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Then the result, he says, will be:

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

Chapters 12-14 records the response that Job had to Zophar, and it is not a response of one who is submitting to the preaching he had just heard. Listen to Job’s language:

Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

In chapter 13, Job calls his friends (Zophar included) “forgers of lies,” “physicians of no value.” He asks, “Will ye speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him?” He tells them to “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” One of the greatest verses on trusting God is found in the middle where Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” The whole chapter, Job is answering his accusers. The difference between Job and his accusers was that Job saw what really mattered – keeping his heart right with God. His accusers, on the other hand, thought that rest, security, and prosperity were marks of a blessed life.
His response is continued in chapter 14 where he asks several more questions to his friends and makes some powerful statements. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Trouble is not the equivalent to sin. Job was not filled internally with trouble, rather he was born into a world that was filled with trouble – just like all mankind has been since the fall of Adam and Eve. In 2 Corinthians 7:5 Paul tells the Corinthians that he was “troubled on every side.” Trouble is present in the world as told by Christ in John 16:33, but it is not implanted in the heart, flesh, spirit, life of every newborn child. He is born into and unto a world full of trouble. We can take great comfort knowing that the Lord will deliver us out of all trouble – Psalm 54:7!
Verse 4 is where all the complications start. Job asks, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Instead of surmising that he is providing a doctrinal statement for all churches that would ever be established, remember the context. Job asks his friends, which included Zophar, if they can bring cleanness out of Job who were themselves unclean. Before you say, “Aha! I got you in a corner! You confessed that Job’s friends were unclean!” Job did not say they were unclean by birth but by the fact that they were liars, physicians of no value; while he attested to the fact that he was just and upright (Job 12:4 – which was validated by the Lord’s testimony of him in Job 1). Job here was asking a rhetorical question with the purpose of getting his “friends” to realize that he was just and upright before God and they were unclean before God.
For fun, let’s pretend this verse was all by itself in Job 14. Let’s make believe for just one moment that we can take this verse out of context and use it to teach that all babies around the globe and since the Garden of Eden were born unclean – with a sin nature. Since all have sinned and are thereby unclean by their sin, all that are born inherit the uncleanness (sin) from their parents. My question would be, then, what about the Christian and those born of a Christian? Christians are clean as attested to by many verses in God’s word. The following are just a few examples:
John 13:10 – Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 15:3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A Christian has been cleansed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. One can not claim the Christian is unclean. If Job 14:4 were to be teaching that an unclean person can only give birth to an unclean person (a sinner can only give birth to a sinner), then a person can rightfully deduce that a Christian (who is clean) can give birth to a Christian (another clean person). This is not my belief, and probably not the belief of a majority of those who are pushing sin nature. However, if you hold to the fact that sin is passed by conception, birth, intercourse, blood, etc. then you must also hold to the belief that a Christian is not clean. As horrible as it sounds, most do believe that Christians are not clean! They like to quote the phrase, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace!” Although it sounds pious and doctrinally sound, you can not find one reference in the Bible which describes a Christian as being a sinner. No doubt he can and will sin against God as he is still in a world of sin and oft tempted by the devil, but a Christian is a new creature. The passage in I Corinthians 6 calls a Christian a saint. Then for illustration sake, Paul describes the unrighteous: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners. He plainly says that none of these sinners shall have part in the kingdom of God (righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost – what we call salvation). “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin!
After the above paragraph, I am often met with the response, “Well I guess you are perfect, then. And your children are perfect too!” This technique, known as the Delphi technique, is used by opponents to make it seem like I am completely out of sorts with reality, leaving any who are listening to conclude that the belief in a sin nature is the only logical explanation. I do not believe I am perfect, nor that I have attained anything other than forgiveness and a new life through Christ. This new life has new desires and has seen the old man crucified and old desires pass away. This new man is not at war with the old man, because the old man is dead! I can’t forget that Christ has exhorted me to be perfect and to strive for the mastery. Along the way, my lusts may conceive and bring forth sin, but to be controlled by sin is not what Christianity is about! Christ has saved me from my sins. That is he saved me from the sins I have committed and has saved me from the power of sin. I used to teach that Christ has saved me from the sins I will commit. No doubt, Christ will forgive us from any sin that we confess and forsake (including those committed in the future), but such an attitude should not be present in a Christian’s heart (the attitude that we will sin). Instead we should live freely knowing that He has saved us from the power of sin NOW!
Is it such a terrible thing to preach that a person can overcome sin in this life?! Do I really have to be labeled a heretic by believing in such a thing?! I expect to be called a heretic by the world, but the world tends to understand more about salvation than those found warming the pews listening to some hireling offer an excuse for his and his listeners’ sin. An unsaved person understands the cost of salvation. He understands that to be Christ’s means to no longer live fulfilling the lusts of his flesh. I would like to believe that I John 4:4 and 5:4 speak of a Christian being able to overcome the sin and trouble that is in the world through the power of Jesus Christ! I would like to believe that I can have victory now! It has been my experience that whenever you use these verses to show that a Christian can live in victory and overcome sin, that those who disagree cut these verses out of the Bible and paste them to a time in the future! Although the times of the Old Testament, Tribulation, Millennium, etc. did and will have some unique differences, one thing has not changed throughout time: the ability of believers to overcome sin (Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.)!
It can also be said of you that you DO NOT believe that the blood of Christ has cleansed you from all sin. You DO NOT believe that the words of Christ to His apostles, “Now ye are clean” applies to you! I would much rather believe what the Bible says on the issue. Sin is a choice that each individual makes. It happens when the devil tempts your God-given will to break God’s Law. Hopefully you will see that instead of believing that Job was claiming that all people that are born are unclean! 

Are We Born Sinners? - Part 7: How Does Original Sin Affect Other Important Bible Doctrines? by Mike Miller

I have always been shocked at the extreme reactions when people hear the doctrine of original sin questioned for the first time in their lives. Many even get rather violent in their defense of this tenant of the Catholic Church. You would think that to deny original sin was to deny one of the fundamentals of the faith.

I have also noticed that any doctrine that promotes the helplessness of sinners and makes excuses and explanations for their sin is very gently accepted with open hearts and minds. It doesn’t matter if it blatantly contradicts well-known Scriptures; there is no violent reaction and generally no resistance to such teachings. Doesn’t that seem a little strange?

What are the effects of denying original sin? What other doctrines depend on original sin? What Bible doctrines are put in jeopardy by rejecting original sin? Does throwing out the doctrine of original sin upset the whole biblical idea of forgiveness and atonement for sin? According to one reformed theologian everything depends upon original sin. He said, "Were this Article of faith (Original Sin) taken away, there would be no Original Sin; the promise of Christ would become void, and all the vital force of our religion would be destroyed." Wow! This doctrine really is the foundation for everything to him!
How can they look around them at this world filled with iniquity and say that there is no need of redemption and no need of a Saviour? Why must the doctrine of original sin, as prescribed by the Catholic Church, be true or there is no need for redemption? “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” is a very obvious fact, with or without the doctrine of original sin. Sin is a reality in the world we live in. It is pure absurdity to say that unless we accept the doctrine of original sin there is nothing that needs fixing. This world is full of sin and in need of a Saviour, but what it needs is a Saviour that will save them from sinning – not just give them a free ticket to heaven while they continue to live in sin, which is exactly what the doctrine of original sin makes provision for.

For some strange reason these people cannot see sin as a willful transgression against God. They see sin ONLY as something long ago and far away, of which they had no part or knowledge, but of which they are guilty in God’s eyes nonetheless. Their conception of sin is that it is some mystical unseen entity or substance that possesses their bodies and acts completely separate from their own will. This mystical, invisible evil is somehow passed from one generation to the next and is the real reason they commit their evil deeds. They had no choice at all in whether they wanted this evil thing in them – God himself made them with this inherent evil and now He blames them for it and intends to judge them and punish them forever for it. No wonder the educated skeptics mock Christianity! How could anyone with any sense of justice accept such a perverted idea of God? It is utter foolishness!

There are no true Bible doctrines that require that the doctrine of original sin be true. Without the doctrine of original sin ALL the major doctrines of the Bible, including sin, the Atonement, redemption, and sanctification, take on such a deeper and more clear meaning. The only doctrines that depend upon original sin are those that encourage or excuse sin. For example, without the doctrine of original sin the idea that sin is a calamity of nature rather than an act of the will against God must be disposed of. This puts the responsibility for sin on man rather than God, and this is exactly what the Scriptures teach:
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Rom. 14:12
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. Ezek. 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. Deut. 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chron 25:4
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Jer. 31:29-30
The Bible couldn’t be clearer about this matter.

If you throw away original sin, the idea that Romans 7 represents the normal Christian experience must be discarded. Romans 7 then must be explained in light of Romans 6 and 8, as well as the rest of the Bible, instead of the man-made doctrine of original sin. This will present a completely different picture of the Christian walk. The only reason anyone would look at Romans 7 and believe living in sin and defeat to be the highest expectation of a Christian in this world is because he is clinging to the doctrine of original sin. Somehow, original sin so blinds the minds of people that they can completely put Romans 6 and 8 out of their mind while they wallow in self-pity and glory in Romans 7 as their experience. Many people are going to wake up in the pits of hell because they have believed a lie and been damned because of this matter. You better know that the Christian experience is not defeat and habitual sin! If you believe that it is, you have been deceived! What will you do with these verses?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom. 8:37
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Pet. 1:4
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Heb. 7:19
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
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. 1 John 3:8 (speaks of continual, habitual sin)
If we get rid of the doctrine of original sin we will have to stop calling ourselves a sinner after we are saved. That would be a good thing, because that is an idea that is wrong, misleading, and leads to many other false teachings and misunderstandings about what salvation is and what it does for a person. We have all heard it a thousand times: “I am just a sinner, saved by grace.” People think it sounds more spiritual and humble to say that about themselves. Apparently, they don’t stop to consider how God feels about such a testimony. After all that He has done for them to save them and give them life and they wallow in self pity and phony humility! They should be giving God glory by rejoicing in the victory, thanking God for deliverance from the bondage of sin.

If you are saved, you are a saint of God – not a sinner! Nowhere in the Bible does God refer to saved people as sinners after they are saved! A sinner is a sinner and a saint is a saint. Again, we’re not saying that a saint cannot sin, but he cannot practice habitual, continual sin. He cannot be classified as a sinner. The only way you can justify such a thing is if you think we are physically, constitutionally sinful. You must think that the body is sinful in and of itself. You must think of sin as something besides an act of your will against God. You must think of it as something you cannot help. You must think of it as something beyond your control. This is the result of believing in the doctrine of original sin. Instead of being grieved for their sin they glory in it. “We are such sinners, yet God loves us anyway.” Hogwash! That is a total misrepresentation of sin, of salvation, and of God’s attitude and disposition! Sin is a crime – it is not an accident, it is not a tragedy, it is not unavoidable! God loves the sinner and desires for him to repent. God works in his heart to draw him to Christ so that he can see what God has done to redeem him. But if he continues in his sin and refuses to turn he will face the judgment and wrath of God. He is much more likely to repent when he understands his sin is HIS FAULT and not something that was imposed upon him without his consent.

We could go on and on about the false teachings and doctrines that encourage sin and how they all depend upon the false doctrine of original sin. But let’s take a look at another aspect of this matter. Is the doctrine of original sin in harmony with the other major doctrines of the Bible? Absolutely not! Here are a few examples to consider:

Salvation is by grace through faith.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph. 2:8
Salvation is available because “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God has no desire to see anyone perish, but neither does He owe salvation to any man. God didn’t provide the means for us to be saved out of obligation, but out of love, mercy, and goodness. It is such an obvious fact to anyone who is acquainted with the Bible that it would be a waste of time to keep laboring to prove this point.

If the doctrine of original sin is true then salvation cannot be of grace, but of justice. If God formed us in the womb and so constituted us that sin is natural and righteousness is unnatural, then He cannot condemn us for sin and still be just. The only way He can maintain his justice is to offer salvation, and if man takes it, well, but if he rejects it, then God is clear in the matter. Salvation then is based on justice rather than grace, and one of the major doctrines of salvation is turned on its head.

Another major doctrine that is fundamental to the faith is the sinlessness of Christ. The doctrine of original sin necessarily makes Jesus a sinner or it denies his humanity. If it is a true doctrine then at least one of these major fundamentals of the faith must be denied. To deny the humanity of Jesus Christ is a serious error that the Bible mentions in particular. The person who denies that Jesus is come in the flesh is marked as “antichrist” in the Word of God.
For 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. 2 John 1:7
Allow me to explain: Original sin says that flesh is evil, and that this evil is passed from generation to generation. Defenders of this doctrine use these verses out of Job to prove that a sinner always produces another sinner naturally:
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job 14:4
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Job 15:14
The humanity of Jesus Christ is very plainly taught in the Bible. Without the humanity of Christ all the promises of God concerning salvation are empty and meaningless.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Jesus was made flesh – the same flesh that we are made of. His was not some special kind of flesh that was invincible to sin, but the same as ours in all points.
Forasmuch then 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; Heb. 2:14
Jesus didn’t just lower himself a little and become an angel – He came all the way down to where we are. He didn’t have the nature of an angel, but of a normal man.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Heb. 2:16
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb. 2:17
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15
The Bible teaches plainly that Jesus was in all respects a man. He had a human body and was born of a woman, who offered her sin offering as prescribed by Moses after He was born. He hungered, He thirsted, He wept, He laughed, He grew weary, He rested, and He slept. He was angry, He felt compassion on others, He loved, and He lived and died just like other men live and die. Just as we are partakers of flesh and blood, “he also himself likewise took part OF THE SAME.” He was IN ALL THINGS …made like unto his brethren.” Now, either Jesus was born with a sinful nature, just like we are – or we ARE NOT born with a sinful nature. He was made like us IN ALL THINGS. The defenders of original sin refuse to give up the idea that we are born with a sinful nature, yet they say Christ was not. In order to do this they must deny the humanity of Christ. According to them, his body was NOT like ours. Besides contradicting all the above Scriptures they are clearly guilty of what 2 John 7 warns - that people who promote this teaching are antichrist.

Baptist and others outside the Catholic Church who believe in the doctrine of original sin have no answer to this dilemma. The Catholic Church realized the corner they had painted themselves into long ago and came up with the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Somehow, Mary was born without a sinful nature and that is how Jesus could be born without one. Never mind that no such thing is found anywhere in the Bible, but original sin MUST be protected and defended.

There are those who try to say that since Jesus had no earthly father his blood was God’s blood. There are many problems with that, the first one being that God is a spirit and a spirit has no blood. God is not flesh and blood – He is spirit. (John 4:24) He BECAME flesh through the virgin birth of Jesus. God doesn’t have 46 chromosomes – that is flesh, and God is a spirit. GOD WAS MADE FLESH and dwelt among us. He WAS MADE like unto his brethren in all things. Nothing about the fleshly body of Jesus was different than anyone else ever born on the earth. We have heard a lot about the sinless blood of Jesus, but the fact is, He was entirely sinless; his hands, his feet, his eyes, his tongue, He was the sinless Saviour, but it wasn’t because his flesh was somehow different than ours. He was tempted “in all points” as we are, but He overcame temptation with the same things available to us – the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The big difference was that He was GOD in a body of flesh – just like the body you and I have. The virgin birth was simply the means for God to become flesh – not a miracle to produce some different kind of fleshly body for God to live in.

He was the “second Adam.” He came to undo what Adam had done – in all points. Where Adam failed Jesus succeeded. Adam brought sin into the world and death because of sin. Jesus brought life by overcoming sin and the world, while living in a body of flesh.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blood always represents life in the Bible – not death. Jesus shed his blood (and gave his life) so that we might have eternal life. That blood represented the sinless, victorious life that Jesus lived while on earth in a body of flesh just like ours, and the resurrection proves it.

Hallelujah!

Away with a doctrine that would take away the humanity of Christ! Only the devil could be the author of such a dishonor to our Saviour!
 

Next Part - How Does Original Sin Affect Other Bible Doctrines - Part 2

Sin Nature - Psalm 58:3

Sin Nature – Psalm 58:3

 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Another verse which is commonly referred to in support of a sinful nature is Psalm 58:3. This verse presents a difficulty for some as attention is drawn to the references to birth. The verse is clearly speaking about one select group of people – namely “the wicked.” There is no reference whatsoever to all of mankind.

It is said of the wicked that they are “estranged” from the womb. This word is found five times in the Bible. Advocates of sin nature point to the fact that man is separated from the womb as a sinner. This word does mean “separation,” however, it has an even fuller meaning than just separation. All five times this word is found in the Bible, it teaches separation by means of an action. The first time “estranged” is used is in Job 19:13. Job who was under much grief, looked around and noticed that all had “estranged” themselves from him as if Job had some horrible sin for which God was punishing him. Their estrangement was a literal action that was performed by their separation from Job. The next verse is Jeremiah 19:4, which is perhaps the best verse to define “estranged.” The Israelites were guilty of idolatry. They had profaned the very place designed by God to be the center of worship to Him – the Temple. They forsook God and their idolatrous practices “estranged” the temple from being a place designed for God, into a place designed for offering incense unto their idols. Their actions led to separation. Ezekiel 14:5 shows that the people “estranged” themselves from God through their worshipping of idols. The last verse where the word “estranged” is found in Psalm 78:30. In this verse, the Israelites did not separate themselves from the lust of their flesh, namely fulfilling every desire they had despite the instructions given by God (example: hording mannah). Therefore, as can be seen in Scripture, the wicked are not passively “estranged” from the womb or from birth, but estrange themselves by the very actions they perform.

The second half of this verse is in agreement with what is said above. Focus is often drawn to the end of the verse, and the phrase “go astray” is overlooked. In order to “go astray” from anything, one must have been in the right way to begin (2 Peter 2:15). This is congruent with other verses which teach that man was made “just and upright” (Ecclesiastes 7:29), “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalm 139:14), “beautiful” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), “for his pleasure” (Revelation 4:11), etc. There is nothing wonderful about a sinful nature. There is nothing beautiful in an inherited fallen nature. It would bring no pleasure to God to simply condemn all mankind to hell simply because they were born. Man will not give an account to God for his being born, because man had nothing to do with his birth. He will instead give an account of every action he performs on earth after he is born (Romans 14:12). Imagine the scene, there is man standing before God. God says to the man “Depart from me for you never asked me to forgive you of the sinful nature with which you were created.” The man looks at God and says, “But God, it is you that made me this way.” What blasphemy! This is not justice! Man is condemned to hell because he breaks God’s commandments (“sin is the transgression of the law” I John 3:4).

Psalm 58:3 is using figurative language to discuss how wicked the wicked are. In fact, there is figurative language throughout the Psalm. The first example of this language is in the phrase “they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” A newborn child does not have the ability to speak the moment they are born. They do not know or understand the words of the people around them. This is something they have to be taught. Unfortunately, many philosophize that when a child is in a crib crying and screaming at the top of his lungs as if they were about to die, that they are lying to their parents. They surmise that the child has deceived his parents into thinking something was completely wrong, when all they wanted was to be held. Sadly, the same people who teach this excuse all kinds of gross sin in their lives and their churches as it being the outworking of the old man/sinful nature. The child is using the only means of communication available to him at that moment to communicate a need to his parents – crying. To teach that their crying is the sin of lying, is to charge them foolishly. On this topic, we quote from Mike Miller who has written ten articles on this very subject:

“The zealous proponents of this doctrine of devils try to prove it by pointing to an infant crying for its mother and calling that sin. Wow! That should bring up a red flag to anyone who is thinking! That child is innocent and as pure as the driven snow. He has no evil thoughts! He has no depraved thinking! He is not lying there and thinking about how he can deceive his mother! He is simply reaching out for help in the only way available to him – crying. There is nothing sinful about wanting to be in the arms of his mother. There is nothing sinful about being hungry or needing a diaper changed! What kind of a mind calls this sin? Think about it!

“Allow me to point something out to you. The same kind of mind that calls this infant’s crying a sin will call other things in adults simply “Christian liberty.” Isn’t that amazing? We have no right to call things sin when Christ gave us “liberty” but they charge an innocent infant with sin and he has no defense. We’re to the point now where fornication is considered “Christian liberty” by many. Hellish music is “Christian liberty.” Dirty habits that abuse your body, ruin your testimony, and dishonor God are “Christian liberty,” and a baby crying for his mother proves that we are born sinful and uttering lies. How can anyone possibly believe such as that?”

A popular Christmas song indicates that Christ did not cry when He was born (Away in a Manger). Although a nice song to sing, we can not be so sure that Christ did not cry – the Bible does not clearly teach this. In fact, we learn that Christ grew and increased in stature. We even learn that later in life that Christ wept. Some may falsely charge me of being blasphemous with what was stated above, but on the contrary, it shows just how much Christ humbled himself when he “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” As pointed out previously, to deny that Christ had the same human characteristics that we have is to have the spirit of antichrist (I John 4:3). Crying isn’t a sin. It is the result of pain or great joy in one’s life. For every child, it is his way of communicating a specific need to his parent. Our duty as parents is to minister to that need.

There are other examples of figurative language in Psalm 58. If verse 3 is taken literally, then so also must be the rest of the Psalm! v.4 – “Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear.” The wicked do not literally have poison like a snake. v.6 – “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.” If the wicked are born speaking lies, then they must also be born with teeth – not just regular teeth, but the great teeth of young lions! v.7 – “Let them melt away as waters which run continually.” v. 8 – “As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away.” The danger in using one verse without regard to its context is that you lead yourself into teaching things that are completely beyond reason (example: the wicked are a poisonous snail with teeth like a lion who speak lies from their birth). This idea is completely ridiculous! However, if one of the passages used to support an inherited sin nature lead to this foolishness, how many more significant and damnable ideas are introduced?! (These ideas will be discussed later)

As mentioned before, if this verse were teaching that all mankind are born liars and estranged from the womb, then it is in outright contradiction to Psalm 51:5 which man supposes supports the teaching that man is sinful from conception. When is a man considered sinful – at conception or at birth?

Man is not born astray, rather they “go astray.” Man has to be reconciled to God because he went astray. He has broken God’s commandments and for that he is guilty before God. God has created all mankind with a knowledge of the right way (Romans 2:15 – “the law written in their hearts”), yet man chooses to go astray. This is why man needs to repent and turn back to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t necessary if a crime hasn’t been committed. A crime was committed by all, however, and forgiveness is more than necessary. Some have tried to downplay the importance of taking a stand against the teaching of an inherited sin nature. Because this “doctrine of devils” has so marred the glorious message of salvation is reason enough to take a stand in these latter times.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Let us be mindful of the fact that the devil is a deceiver. He has ministers that are transformed as ministers of righteousness proclaiming many damnable teachings contrary to Scripture. The very works of these ministers reveal that they are deceitful workers. If their preaching and teaching provides excuses for sin and leads people to think that they can never overcome sin, then they are not ministers of Christ, but of the devil.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Are We Born Sinners? (Part 4 - Objections: Scriptures Used to Support Original Sin) by Mike Miller

Third most common objection:
What about all those Scriptures that teach we are born sinful?
It always amazes me that folks seem to assume that we have never seen those verses in the Bible. Most of us who have rejected the doctrine of original sin were once just as strong in believing it as our critics are now. We have taken a second honest and closer look at those verses that appear to teach this doctrine of devils and found that we had been looking at them with a preconditioned bias that made us see what we wanted to see in those verses. It is amazing how stubborn and blind we can be when we get an idea in our mind. We can look so deeply and at the same time miss the most obvious and simple facts. If we hope to understand God's Word correctly we must lay aside all our prejudices and fears of what others might think and be totally honest in our heart before God. If we have no intention of accepting or obeying what God shows us then you may be assured that God is not going to reveal anything to you.
Of course, the kingpin of all the verses that "teach beyond a doubt" that man is born sinful would be found in Psalm 51:5:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. - Psa. 51:5
Just yank this verse out of context and it looks like the issue is settled doesn't it? However, that violates every rule of interpretation by anyone's standards, and so anyone who is going to be honest is going to have to look a little closer. There are several ways to look at this, unless you have your mind already made up and don't intend to change it.
First of all, this is David's prayer of deep and thorough repentance. He sees himself as very low in the light of God's holiness. He has sinned against God and his guilt is great. He is humbling himself before God, as we all have to do. He is saying that he is just unworthy of anything from God. His best has not been anything to compare with God's holiness, and the best he has ever done now looks very worthless in view of his sin. His sin is all that is before him now and it is the great obstacle between him and God.
This is figurative language and that cannot be denied. If we take this statement and make a literal application with it, then we must also take verse 7 and apply it literally.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. -Psa. 51:7
But we know that hyssop will not cleanse us from our sins - it is figurative language. The idea is that David wants to be clean from his sin. He is begging God for deliverance and forgiveness and holding forth nothing of his own merit, but putting himself as low as he possibly can. He is saying, "I've never done anything worthy of your mercy, but I'm asking anyway."
Again in verse 8 we see figurative language used:
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. - Psa. 51:8
God did not literally break his bones, and bones do not rejoice. It is figurative language and in the same context as verse 5. Again it is speaking of David's low estate because of his sin and his desire to have his innermost heart pure and right with God.
Another way of looking at this to realize that he said "I was shapen IN iniquity, and IN sin did my mother conceive me…" Sin entered the world through Adam. David was born IN this world. His mother conceived him IN a sinful world and he was shapen as he grew IN the midst of a world full of iniquity. This is the way that Jewish writers of old interpreted this verse. We are all in the same boat. We were born into a world full of sin and we have been exposed to it from the day we entered the world. How can anyone imagine that it would not be a factor in our "going astray" or "becoming filthy?"
Some have put forth the idea that David was saying he was conceived when his mother committed fornication. I completely disagree with that idea. I see no evidence to even justify thinking such a thing. In my opinion it is far from a satisfying explanation for this verse.
We can also start dissecting the words in this verse and see much more than the "obvious" meaning that has filled so many textbooks and doctrinal books. "Shapen" means to "writhe or twist in pain." He says he was "shapen in iniquity." It is connected to the later part of the verse, which says, "and in sin did my mother conceive me." The word "sin" there means "a crime or its penalty." Take a look at Genesis 3:16: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. - Gen. 3:16 Part of the result of sin entering the world through Adam and Eve is that childbirth is painful. David is saying that he entered the world in the midst of writhing and pain and it was because of the fact that sin had entered the world long ago. We surely see the effects and results of sin everywhere, but that doesn't mean that it is physically transmitted from generation to generation. It is a moral problem - not a physical problem. Sin has definitely affected the entire creation, but INFLUENCE is the way sin is spread - it hasn't done so by physically transmitting itself from one being to another.
Of course, Augustine, the father of this doctrine of devils, believed this verse to say that the union of David's parents in which he was conceived was sinful in itself. Augustine believed that intimacy between a man and woman was sinful because it involved lust. The fact that they were married made no difference, as far as he was concerned. He believed that sin was transmitted to the child because of the lust that was involved in the intimacy between husband and wife. Never mind that it is a natural desire given by God and also blessed by God inside a marriage relationship.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. - Heb. 13:4
Of course, when you look at a verse with your mind already made up you just don't think about all those other verses that contradict your private interpretation.
So you see that there are other interpretations for Psalm 51:5, and they also fit much better with the rest of the Bible and its teaching on sin.
Second proof text for original sin:
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. - Psa. 58:3
Once again we see the words "go astray." If this verse teaches us anything it teaches that we are NOT born sinful - it is something that BEGINS at birth. By the way, infants do not "speak" anything, they only cry. They have to be able to "speak" before they can "speak" lies. Infants only have physical needs, they do not have the ability to reason and make choices. They are not capable of the scheming and planning required to "speak" a lie or deliberately deceive someone.
They "go astray as soon as they be born." The trouble begins when they are born into a sinful world. By the time their reason starts to develop they have already made physical pleasure their number one priority. Self-gratification is what their life is about. Before they know anything about God they have already known the lust of the flesh. Paul said: For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Rom. 7:9) Sin is not imputed where there is no law. Infants do not know or understand the law of God and therefore are not sinners according to the Bible definition. As soon as they come to the age where the law of God is revealed to them they become accountable and therefore are sinners in the eyes of God. When they obtain the "knowledge of good and evil" that is when they begin to be accountable to God for choosing evil over good.
Third proof text for original sin:
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: - Rom. 5:12
This verse is used to "prove" that we are born sinners. However, it is one of the easiest to refute. The verse says plainly that DEATH passed upon all men - NOT SIN! By one man SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD. Death entered BECAUSE of sin and DEATH passed upon all men BECAUSE all have sinned. This verse does NOT teach that sin is passed physically through the genes to all the generations since Adam. It is simply reaffirming the fact that all men have sinned, and "sin when it is finished bringeth forth death" 100% of the time. Read it and interpret it correctly and it fits with all other Scripture. Interpret it through original sin-stained glasses and you have added to the Word of God, a crime which carries a stiff penalty according to Revelation 22:18.
Our critics might say that the fact that all people will inevitably become sinners is no different than saying all men are born sinners. Either way it isn't our fault and therefore we could still blame God for letting us be born in a sinful world where we have no chance. Let me remind you that it wasn't God who ruined the world, but men. And it wasn't just Adam who has made such a mess of this world, all his descendents have done their full share, also. Sin is MAN'S fault - NOT God's fault. God has done far beyond what any man would do to save us from sin. God has provided a cure for it. He has provided an escape from its bondage. You can trade your sin for Jesus and get a renewed mind, a new heart, a new life, a new song, new desires, eyes that can see, ears that can hear, and a home in heaven, all to boot!
Fourth proof text for original sin:
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. - Rom. 5:19
In the first place, if we are going to be consistent then we must say that if Adam MADE ALL men sinners then Jesus MADE ALL men righteous. You cannot change your interpretation between two identical phrases in the same verse. The Universalists use the doctrine of original sin to prove that all men are going to heaven. If you believe in original sin then you have no grounds on which to argue with them - they win the debate. The word used here is not ALL, but MANY. This verse is speaking of the INFLUENCE of Adam - not what he physically passed to his descendents. We are not trying to lessen the significance of Adam's sin because it surely did bring sin into the world. It was the beginning of every heartache and misery that has been experienced by men since that day, not to mention all the death. However, the doctrine of original sin is a terrible distortion and misrepresentation of what really happened.
For example, we could say that Hugh Hefner of Playboy magazine has made many men immoral, adulterers, and perverts. That is certainly true, but we don't think of the sins of Hugh Hefner being imputed to others! That would be a ridiculous twist of reason! We could say that all the devil-possessed rock musicians of our day have ruined multitudes of people with their music and their message of drugs and rebellion. That would be true, but we would not think of them being ruined in the sense that the rock singers' sins were imputed to them by some physical means. Again, we might see a family where the father was a drunkard and all his sons were drunkards, too. We would say that father made drunkards out of his boys with his drinking, and that would be true. But you would never think that the father somehow passed that to his children physically. We understand that it was his INFLUENCE that caused his boys to be drunkards also. We have sense enough to understand these things correctly but when it comes to the Word of God we put a twist on it that doesn't fit with reason, or with the rest of the Scripture.
Along that same line of reasoning, we all have known wicked fathers who had sons who were righteous. The Bible is also full of examples like that. Likewise, we have seen righteous men who have had wicked sons. It is the INFLUENCE - NOT THE GENES! It is whether or not they submit their heart to God and his law or rebel against it. EVERY person must choose for themselves - and they DO!
Fifth proof text for original sin:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. - Eph. 2:3
This is another verse held up as PROOF that we are born sinful. The word used here is WRATH - not a thing said here about being born sinful. The book is written to a Gentile church. The context and emphasis of the chapter is that he is speaking to Gentiles who have been saved. They were born Gentiles - by nature they were Gentiles. The Jews considered the Gentiles to be "dogs" and enemies of God. There wasn't much hope for a Gentile as far as the Jews were concerned. They were "children of wrath." They were wicked and estranged from God and would be recipients of his wrath on Judgment Day.
It is just a terrible strain to try to make this verse "prove" that we are born sinful. The only way someone can believe that is because they come to this verse with an idea already fixed in their mind and every verse must be FORCED to fit their preconceived idea. Try reading it IN CONTEXT while forgetting about the doctrine of original sin.
There are other verses that are also used to support this false doctrine, but these we have discussed are the strongest and most commonly misinterpreted. The Bible does NOT teach the doctrine of original sin. Anyone who is willing to look honestly at the Scripture and lay aside their biased opinion will have to acknowledge that fact.

Next Part: How Can We Sin Without a Sinful Nature?

Are We Born Sinners? (Part 2 - Objections - Are All Men Sinners?) by Mike Miller

First most common objection:
Are you saying all men aren't sinners?
Over the years I have noticed that the first reaction of most people is the same when they hear the doctrine of original sin refuted for the first time. They immediately assume that we are saying that all men are NOT sinners. This is just absolutely not true. The Bible is clear on that fact: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “There is none righteous, no not one.” Many other verses prove that all men are sinners in need of a Saviour. If they do not come to Christ and trust Him as the only hope for forgiveness of sin they will perish forever in hell. That is why we are so fervently contending that we MUST get the message right! We must make the path STRAIGHT – and not crooked! We MUST understand what sin is, what its cure is, and how to obtain it! The stakes are too high to handle the Word of God lightly in this matter, or just accept what a certain school of theology teaches. Eternal souls are at stake!

All men are sinners and must be saved or they will perish. That is not the issue here. What IS the issue is the ORIGIN OF SIN. Most of modern Christendom says it is part of our physical makeup we were born with and we are contending that the Bible teaches otherwise. The Bible teaches that we are born innocent and without any knowledge of good and evil and that we GO ASTRAY. We TURN ASIDE every one to his own way.
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. – Psa. 14:3
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.Eccl. 7:29
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. – Isa. 53:6
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? – Matt. 18:12
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.– Rom. 3:12
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; – 2 Pet. 2:15
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.1 Pet. 2:25

The Bible is clear in its language – man is born innocent and corrupts himself by allowing himself to be controlled by his lusts. He “turns aside.” He “goes astray.” He “becomes filthy.” He “turns every one to his own way.” He “becomes unprofitable.” He “forsakes the right way.” We find man’s waywardness expressed in the same way over and over in the Word of God. If men are born guilty sinners then from what are they turning? If they are already filthy how do they “BECOME filthy?” Sin is something that happens AFTER you are born – it is not something that is in your genes, DNA, or chromosomes. If sin IS a physical problem then man will surely come up with a way to fix it on his own one day. Through genetic engineering and all they are prying into they will surely find the “sin gene” and be able to make a drug that will suppress it or kill it. Don’t you see how ridiculous it is to believe that sin is physical? I’m sure that you would agree that this is never going to happen. The reason it will never happen is because sin is a HEART PROBLEM and NOT A PHYSICAL PROBLEM! Jesus said so:
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. –Matt. 15:16 through Matt. 15:20
Sin is a moral issue and not a physical issue. It is impossible to be born with your morals already corrupted. When you are born you have no knowledge of good and evil. You have no ability to even reason with your mind. You have no capacity to make choices. As you develop physically and mentally you begin to acquire knowledge and part of that knowledge is the knowledge of good and evil. Then you begin to make choices. Because “sin entered the world” through Adam the world is corrupt and the influence to make the wrong choices is overwhelming and powerful.

There has only been One in all of history who has made the right choices and not become a sinner – the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who view the Bible through the doctrine of original sin explain that fact by saying that Jesus was different physically than the rest of us. Again, their false doctrine blinds them to the plain teaching of the Scripture:
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.Heb. 2:16-18
Jesus was made just like us IN ALL THINGS. In fact, the Bible is so forceful in this teaching that even any spirit that denies this fact is labeled “antichrist.”
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. – 1 John 4:3
Jesus overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil by the same means that are available to us – the Word of God and the Spirit of God. He used divine power to still the raging sea and to raise the dead, and heal the leper, but when it came to resisting temptation He only used the Word of God, being led by the Spirit of God. No divine power was used to overcome sin, and if it was then we certainly don’t have a chance at all because we are not divine.

The wonderful thing is that we DO have the Word of God and we DO have the Spirit of God indwelling us if we are saved, and therefore, there is victory in Jesus for us! There IS power to overcome sin and live a holy life that is pleasing to God! Hallelujah! That is such a different message than can be preached by those who base everything on original sin. That is such a different message than the defeated, hopeless Christian life that original sin preachers present. They declare Romans 7 to be the best you can expect as a Christian. If I had no better hope than that to give to a sinner I certainly would quit preaching! But I don’t have to quit because there is Romans 8, and a host of other Scriptures that make very clear that we are “MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US!”
 

Next part: What about our sinful nature?