Articles
Are We Born In Sin?
The doctrine of “total hereditary depravity” or as it is sometimes called “original sin” is commonly taught in many denominations. Many people might say things like, “We are all born in sin,” or, “We have all inherited the sin of Adam.” Does the Bible teach we are born in sin or not?
The idea of being born in sin assumes we have all inherited the sin of Adam. The Bible though teaches sin is not something we inherit or is passed from one generation to the next generation (Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6). Ezekiel 18 spends a great deal of time dealing with the subject of individual responsibility. Ezekiel 18:4 says, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die” (NKJV). Ezekiel 18:4 says it is the soul that sins which dies and yet inherited depravity teaches all the descendants of Adam are spiritually dead before they ever personally commit a sin. Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (NKJV). Ezekiel 18:20 says the son does not bear the guilt of the father but total depravity says all the descendants of Adam inherit the guilt of his sin. Sin is not something which comes by birth but is something one decides to engage in (James 1:13-15).
The Bible speaks about people as initially being in a state of innocence and then sinning. Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, “Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes” (NKJV). God does not bring people into the world in a state of sin but in an upright condition. A person loses their upright condition when they sin against God. Ezekiel 28:15 says of the king of Tyre, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (NKJV). Again, the king of Tyre initially was perfect until he ended up sinning. The Bible describes little children in a manner which indicates they are not totally depraved but rather are innocent and pure. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (NKJV). Why would Jesus teach people they must become like little children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven if little children are totally depraved? Are totally depraved people the kind of people who will enter the kingdom of heaven? Certainly not! Again, in Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (NKJV). Little children are again pointed to as being examples of the character we need to develop in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven. 1 Corinthians 14:20 teaches, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (NKJV). If children are totally depraved, why would Paul encourage Christians to imitate babes in malice? Clearly, babes are without malice because they are born pure and free from sin and so we need to become like babes in malice. The apostle Paul speaks of himself first being alive, the commandment coming, sin reviving, and he dies (Romans 7:9). If one is born in sin, it would seem Paul would need to start out describing himself as being dead from his very birth.
When a person accepts the premise that one is born in sin, it would bring up other topics and false teachings. If a person is born in sin, how is an infant to be saved from their sins or are they without the ability to be saved from that “original sin” until they are older? Some groups opt to practice infant baptism as a means to deal with the false notion of “original sin” and have invented another practice which is without Bible authority. If a person is born in sin, then one can pass off their guilt upon Adam for how they are rather than accepting it was their own choices which led them to sin against God. Hence the doctrine of “original sin” reduces personal responsibility for sin. If a person is born in sin, then how is it possible for Jesus not to have inherited the sin of Adam too. Jesus is without sin (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 7:26-28). The Roman Catholic church would teach the immaculate conception of Mary as a means to prevent Jesus from inheriting the sin of Adam. A warning should be taken from these facts. One false teaching can lead one to accept other erroneous conclusions. Let’s make sure everything we believe is in harmony with the word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)!
