Myth Busting the Doctrine of Original Sin {Part 1}

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[If you're new here, here are some posts to help set the stage:  Introducing the Myth Buster series (complete with Disclaimer), Basics of Exegesis (priming the pump for the Myth Buster series), and a post on how the Myth Buster series will work.]


This was a tough myth to consider publicly busting as it is one of the sacred cows, if you will, of Christian religion.  The birth child of the Catholic Church, the doctrine of Original Sin was adopted, embraced, and accessorized by the Reformation - where, by necessity, it gave birth to a number of other doctrines not found in Scripture. 

Shall we dig in?

The Doctrine

It seems that the first thing to do is to define what is meant by "original sin."  First considered by Irenaeus in the 2nd century, Augustine embraced the doctrine but there was much resistance to accept the doctrine from many Christians.  Eventually (beginning in the 5th century AD), as we know, it was catechized by the Catholic Church in which it is described as follows:

By his sin Adam, as the first man, lost the original holiness and justice he had received from God, not only for himself but for all humans. Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called "original sin". As a result of original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers, subject to ignorance, suffering and the domination of death, and inclined to sin (this inclination is called "concupiscence").

The Reformers, however, developed a different definition of "original sin" - the one most prevalent today - the one that we will address.

Original Sin as described by Martin Luther:

It is also taught among us that since the fall of Adam all men who are born according to the course of nature are conceived and born in sin. That is, all men are full of evil lust and inclinations from their mothers’ wombs and are unable by nature to have true fear of God and true faith in God. Moreover, this inborn sickness and hereditary sin is truly sin and condemns to the eternal wrath of God all those who are not born again through Baptism and the Holy Spirit

As defined by John Calvin:

Original sin, therefore, seems to be a hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature, diffused into all parts of the soul, which first makes us liable to God's wrath, then also brings forth in us those works which Scripture calls "works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19). And that is properly what Paul often calls sin. The works that come forth from it--such as adulteries, fornications, thefts, hatreds, murders, carousings--he accordingly calls "fruits of sin" (Gal 5:19-21), although they are also commonly called "sins" in Scripture, and even by Paul himself.^[43]

According to this common description of Original Sin, all mankind bears the guilt of Adam's sin and is, therefore, slated for Hell from conception.  I think a very useful bit of information is that the Jewish religion teaches no such doctrine as "Original Sin."  As noted, it didn't exist in the Christian church for centuries after Christ's death.

Alright, shall we get started with God's word?

The Refutation

There are 2 passages of Scripture that seem, to me, to do the most damage to this doctrine - and multiple auxiliary passages. 

The entire chapter of Ezekiel 18 seems custom written to debunk this myth.  Be sure to read all of it, but let us look at a few verses that encapsulate the entire passage.

Here is how Ezekiel starts out chapter 18:

2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.

This chapter starts out by saying that some in the nation of Israel have taken to saying that God punishes the children for the choices of their fathers.  God is not pleased, at all, with this belief.

The chapter goes on to tell, in great detail, that God does not punish children for their fathers' sins.  Nor does he punish fathers for the sins of their children.  He also does not credit righteousness to anyone that has not, himself, warranted it.

Verses 19-21 provide an accurate summary of what God spends the entire chapter making clear to the Israelites:

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20 The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [Emphasis mine.]

Here are some facts we can take from this passage:
1.  Children do not bear the punishment for the sins of their parents. 
2.  We are speaking to spiritual punishment here - specifically, spiritual death that results from sin.  (The kind that some would have us believe we are born with because of Adam's sin.)  Obviously, if this chapter were speaking to physical death, then verse 21 would be nonsensical.
3.  The person who sins will die for his own sins - not for his father's (or Adam's) sins and not for his son's sins.  Only for his own sins will he bear the punishment of spiritual death.
4.  If the wicked turn from their sins and obey God, they shall live.  Of course, if this were talking about a physical death, then the wicked would have no opportunity to turn from their sins and obey God - as they would have been put to death physically when they were wicked.

As I pointed out before, it seems almost as if this chapter was written for the purpose of debunking the doctrine of Original Sin.

As the Ginsu knife commercial says, but, wait!  There's more!

The Hebrew writer, in telling us about how, because He came to this earth as a human, Jesus is able to understand us, empathize with us, and adequately mediate for us, says:

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

If we were each born tainted with the guilt of Adam's sin, then verse 17 presents a problem.

He had to be made like His brethren in all things

Of course, Jesus was not made like all of us in things like hair color, stature and gender.  However, for this passage to have any meaning Jesus had to share human nature with us in regard to anything of significance to the average human being engaged in spiritual warfare on this earth.  If we all struggle with a sinful nature, then Jesus inherited that nature upon His conception as well.  If He did not, then this passage would have no meaning at best or, worse yet, be misleading.

But, we know that Christ was sinless.  Because Christ was never guilty of sin and He was made like us in all things, then the reasonable conclusion is that we are not born with a nature bearing the sins of others.  (Now, I do believe we are prone to sin - but so were Adam and Eve - but that is not the same as being sinful.)

Finally, to support what I believe has been made quite clear by Ezekiel 18 and Hebrews 2, let me offer you a few other Scriptures.

Exodus 32:31-33 ~  So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.  But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.

God would not attribute the people's sins to Moses, responding that "whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book."  God told Moses, clearly, that He does not attribute sin to those who have not committed it themselves.


Ecclesiastes 7:29 ~ See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they -- they have sought out many devices.  (Young's Literal Translation)

Men are made "upright" (like Adam) but they (like Adam) have sought out ways to rebel.


Ezekiel 28: 15 ~ You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Obviously, the King of Tyre was not sinful from conception.


Isaiah 59: 1 ~ But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

Why would Isaiah tell the people that it their sins separated them from God if it were really the sins of Adam that did that?


Romans 2:6 ~ God “will repay each person according to what they have done."

Quite clearly Paul is stating the accountability principle when it comes to sin.


Romans 7:9 ~ Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

Paul was once spiritually alive, as we all are, but sin brought about his spiritual death - as it does for us all.


2 Corinthians 5:10 ~ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

We are judged for what we do while in our bodies - not what Adam did before we were conceived.


1 Peter 1:17 ~ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

It can hardly be said that God judges our work impartially if He imputes Adam's sin to us.


So there you have it: my treatise against the Doctrine of Original Sin.  Now, what say you?

Up next, the Scriptures used to support Original Sin - and how they don't.

 

{Parts 2 and 3 - and other Myth Busting topics can be found here.)