Ask The Pastor – Original Sin

Question:

Dear Pastor Mike,

I was listening to a person teach about our human nature the other night. He said that we are all born sinners. I have always understood that sin is a choice. Can you help me understand this issue?

Answer:

There are many people who believe the doctrine that we are all born sinners. This comes from misunderstanding a false doctrine called “Original Sin.” The original sin doctrine teaches that when a human being is born, he inherits sin from his parent. Starting in the beginning, this of course would come from Adam. But the truth of the matter is that we do not inherit the sin of our parents. We inherit the sinful nature. There is a big difference!

The confusion comes by misinterpreting such texts as Ecclesiastes 7:20 which says: “For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Also, Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” While these texts tell us that this is the way that all the world has gone, they do not teach that we are born sinners or that we inherit the sin of our parents. We would have to inherit the sin of our parents in order to be born sinners. Sin does not come through bloodlines; it comes from transgression. (See 1 John 3:4.)

Ezekiel 18 gives us good counsel about this matter. While the whole chapter should be read, we cannot quote it here because of space limitations, but it deals very clearly with this doctrine. The heart of the chapter has these words to say in verse 20: “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.”

This text very clearly tells us that the one who commits the sinful act bears the guilt. Guilt does not come through inheritance. Remember that this must be read in the context of the whole chapter, which clarifies this even more.

While we do come into this world with a sinful nature, we do not need to sin. Sin is a choice. The Bible tells us, in 11 Peter 1:3, 4, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 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.” Many people leave us with the hopeless thought that we will be sinning until Jesus comes. Peter here says No! We do not need to remain in a sinful condition. We can become a partaker of the divine nature and be a victorious Christian. We need not be held captive to false teachings such as the “Original Sin” doctrine. I hope that this helps you in your understanding of this issue.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.