The Myth Of Original Sin
June 22, 2008 by A Watchman
Ignorance protects and perpetuates the doctrine of original sin.
Most Christians who profess to believe in the doctrine of original sin are ignorant of exactly what its teachings really are. They are ignorant of the fact that the doctrine has not always existed. They are ignorant of the fact that it evolved, that it had its roots in a heathen philosophy, and that it was made a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in the 5th century A.D. They are ignorant of the fact that it is only a theory, and that there is really not one but several differing theories that have evolved and come down to us in the church. They are also ignorant of the fact that the Bible passages used as proof-texts for this doctrine have been taken out of context and tortured into teaching a doctrine that is completely foreign to the Bible. Finally, they are ignorant of the fact that the doctrine of original sin is an evil doctrine that corrupts Christian practice, blackens the character of God, excuses sin in the sinner, contradicts the Bible, makes Jesus a sinner, harms the cause of Christ, and stumbles professing Christians into hell. And it is this ignorance of Christians concerning these facts that helps to protect and perpetuate the doctrine of original sin.
I must confess that at one time I also preached that men are born sinners. At that time I had only been saved a short while and had little knowledge of the Word of God. I testified and preached at street meetings, in jail services, and in missions and taught that men are sinners and lost because they were “conceived and born in sin.” Why? Because that is what I had heard other preachers preach. I was ignorant at that time concerning the very doctrine I was preaching. But at the time I was preaching this I felt a check in my spirit. I did not feel right about telling sinners that they were sinners and on their way to hell because they were born sinners. My God-given convictions of justice told me that a sinner could not be to blame for and could not sincerely repent for the nature he was born with. It was later, in my studies of theology at Bethany Bible College, that I came across a copy of Charles G. Finney’s Lectures on Systematic Theology and, through it, came to realize that the doctrine of original sin was a false and unbiblical doctrine.
The doctrine of original sin is not only false and unbiblical, it is also gross superstition. At one time men thought that the earth was flat and that sailors were in danger of sailing off the edge of the world. Now, regrettably, there is superstition in the church concerning the most fundamental doctrine of the Bible the doctrine of sin for the church teaches that sin can be propagated and that men are born sinners.
Are men born sinners? Our answer to this question will affect our attitude toward sin and will ultimately affect our conduct as well. The Christian’s views on sin cannot help but affect his conduct. If the Christian believes he is born with a sinful nature and sins unavoidably because of that nature, he is not likely to view his sins as the serious crimes they really are. If he believes he has a nature that makes holiness impossible, he is not likely to be concerned about sinning against God. If he believes that God is his Creator and that he has been created with a sinful nature, this must affect his attitude toward God and the justice of God’s dealings with man.
Are men born sinners? Our answer to this question is of supreme importance. For how we answer it will have a direct bearing on our attitude toward sin, toward God, and toward holy Christian living.
There’s no point telling us it’s not true if you don’t prove it. More info please. Maybe you had a “check” in your spirit because you knew you were talking about something that you didn’t really know, I can feel that way when I talk about something I don’t know much about as though I do, even if it’s correct.
Hi Beth,
The doctrine of original sin was first developed in second-century Bishop of Lyon Irenaeus’s struggle against Gnosticism. The Greek Fathers emphasized the cosmic dimension of the Fall, namely that since Adam human beings are born into a fallen world, but held fast to belief that man, though fallen, is free. It was in the West that precise definition of the doctrine arose. Augustine of Hippo taught that original sin was transmitted through the concupiscence (roughly, lust) that accompanied sexual reproduction, weakening the will and making humanity a massa damnata (mass of perdition, condemned crowd). In Augustine’s view (termed “Realism”), all of humanity was really present in Adam when he sinned, and therefore all have sinned. Original sin, according to Augustine, consists of the guilt of Adam which all human beings inherit. As sinners, human beings are utterly depraved in nature, lack the freedom to do good, and cannot respond to the will of God without divine grace.
This doctrine of original sin calls God (YHVH) a liar when He tells Cain that he can take dominion over sin in Genesis Chapter 4 verse 7: “If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee is its desire, but thou mayest rule over it.”
With regard to inherited sin, the Father declares in Ezekiel 18:
19 Yet say ye: Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father with him? 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. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father with him, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son with him; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him; for his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD; and not rather that he should return from his ways, and live?
I find it ironic that many christians try to hold to the doctrine of original sin yet simultaneously claim that a child who dies is declared innocent until they reach a certain age of accountability. To declare both doctrines at once and believe both to be true at the same time is insanity and a blatant denial of truth.
The scriptural basis for the doctrine is found in two New Testament books by Paul, Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22, in which he identifies Adam as the one man through whom sin came into the world. It is given as the reason why mankind can not be justified by the Law and the Commandments.
Neither Yehoshua the Messiah nor our heavenly father ever tell us, nor give us any indication that the Law and Commandments were given to us knowing that we could not keep them. The Father gave us His Commandments to keep and obey, because keeping His ommandments is beneficial for us and draws us nearer to Him.
To declare that as sinners, human beings are utterly depraved in nature, lack the freedom to do good, and cannot respond to the will of God because of an inherited sinful nature is to call our heavenly Father a liar.
Thanks for your response – didn’t expect it so quick! I will look more into what you say… some of it I agree with, but I really need to look into it more and see how it all works out… I hope you’re right actually, and it would make more sense if you were, at least with my current understanding of what Paul says about certain things. However I won’t make any decisions at this point. Thanks for your response, it’s given me something to think about.
Though I don’t think we’re calling God a liar if we say what you wrote above, I think it’s more a matter of misunderstanding – very different to outright accusing God of lying. Hype doesn’t really get me, and I’m always a bit wary of people who go around making outrageous claims, such as accusing other people of calling God a liar when they haven’t actually done that, only misunderstood a doctrine. It would be far more accurate – and therefore truthful – to say something like “…and cannot respond to the will of God because of an inherited sinful nature is to misunderstand the Scriptures…” or something like that. Otherwise it just sounds sensationalist, legalistic and condemning, and imputes some wrong motive as well. Regardless, thanks for your response.
If all men are born in sin, then that means Jesus was also born in sin and we know this isn’t true. It would make a lie of this verse about others too LK 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
It IS possible to be righteous, as proven by scriptural Godly people. The ‘original sin’ dogma is an enslaving defeatest teaching that removes freedom and responsibility from people.
There is an eternal God-given law of freedom (Ja 1:25, 2:12) or ungodly enslavement to sin/worldliness/base-nature (Lk 4:6-7).
Jesus frees us from Roman corruption (Jn 11:45-52) … but some people embrace Rome (Acts 22:25-27) and find its judgments appealing. (Remember that Jesus taught that it’s a blessing to be unjustly accused and persecuted.)
MT 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Act 25:10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
PHIL 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Rom 16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. ….
Act 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. … 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Worth reading Josephus account about Saulus the Herodian eg Antiquitities bk 20, ch 9 (Herodians were born with full Roman citizenship while claiming both Hebrew & Roman names eg Saul/Paul. Act 22:27-28
NT Saul/Paul was a collaborator with High Priest appointed by Herod as was Saulus described by Jospehus and both involved in persecutions and public disturbances and comfy with Agrippa etc eg ACTS 26:27)
I originally entered into this discussion in my effort to refute Calvinism. I found out very quickly that many mainline churches teach original sin. My own pastor rose up against me. Augustine was not the orininator of the term, but he was one of the main promoters. Augustine was a gnostic before he became a Christian. Gostics believe that all flesh is evil. 1 john is addressed to the gnostics because they denied that Jesus came in the flesh. The doctrine is well ingrained into the thinking of most believers. They have no idea why they believe it. They just take the misinterpertstion of a few scriptures and say it’s so. Not thinking out the implications, all babies go to hell. Everyone is born guilty, having never done anything wrong. I believe that we all sin. But not because we have a sin nature and no choice. But like Adam, we have free will, and all choose to sin. We also have a freewill choice to respond to the gospel. Original sin is the foundation of the Calvinistic doctrine and it makes our loving God out to be a monster. Many non Calvinist have accepted the doctrine out of ignorance.
Bravo Robert! Well explained. You are blessed that mainline religion disagrees with truth you share
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Luk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
…
Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Hi Robert,
Just as Eve blamed the serpent, and Adam blamed Eve so too, we like to pass the buck for our own sins.
It is easier to say “The devil made me do it” or “All men sin” or “I will always sin for my very nature that I inherited from Adam is sinful” than it is for us to make a determination to deny and master and our sinful desires.
Paul is the only person in the entire bible that insinuates that we do not (even potentially) have power over our sinful desires.
Every other book in the entire bible (except those written by Paul) tells us that we are all responsible and accountable for our own sins.
To my way of thinking, The doctrine of ‘original sin’ in fact makes a complete mockery of YHVH’s calls to repentance in the old testament. Why would God call to men to repent and stop sinning if it is not in mans nature to do so. That is like dangling a treat in front of a child and as they reach for it you take the treat out of reach of the child again so that they can’t ever grab it.
As you mentioned Robert, the doctrine of original sin by its very nature condemns all babies and young children who die to hell. Yet when you point this fact out to the proponents of this doctrine of original sin they declare that children are not yet at an age of accountability and are automatically saved by God’s grace and mercy because they are not old enough to be accountable for their own actions, and thus by their own words they end up denying the very doctrine of original sin that they profess belief in.
The church also teaches that our names are written in the book of life when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour which is also not true.
Revelation 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Revelation 17:8
” The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
Those whose names are written in the book of Life have been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.
If your name has been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world then obviously the curse of original sin does not apply… and it never has… right from the foundation very of the world.
So… does the curse of original sin apply to all men since ‘the fall’ of Adam…?
Genesis 4:7
” If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
According to the above verse YHVH told Cain that he must ‘master’ sin.
Deuteronomy 24:16
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
In deuteronomy we are told that the punishment for sin is not inherited.
2 Kings 14:6
But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, ” The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”
2 Chronicles 25:4
However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which the LORD commanded, saying, ” Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”
2 Kings and 2 Chronicles also both agree with the Law in the book of Moses (Deuteronomy) that (according to the ‘Law’) the children are not punishable for the sins of the fathers.
The church seem to equate sin and iniquity as being the same thing.
Sin and Iniquity are not the same thing!
Exodus 20:5
” You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
The iniquity of the fathers (desire for perversity, depravity, iniquity, and the guilt or punishment of such) was and is visited on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate YHVH.
According to the scriptures (excluding the Pauline letters) There is no curse extending from Adam that makes it impossible for mankind to refrain from sinning thus condemning all men to hell.