Original Sin & Total Hereditary Depravity: Free Moral Agency and Inherited Guilt

http://www.biblestudylessons.com/cgi-bin/gospel_way/original_sin.php ^

[bremenboy]

Are babies born guilty of original sin and total hereditary (inherited) depravity? Or does the Bible teach free moral agency and individual responsibility and accountability? Calvinism teaches the imputation of the sins of Adam and Eve, so that each person is born guilty of total corruption and a corrupt sinful nature. This doctrine is often used to justify infant baptism, but what does the gospel of Jesus Christ teach? Introduction:

"Original sin" refers to the first sin committed by Adam and Eve, and the consequences of that sin to future generations. All Bible students agree that serious consequences came to mankind from that sin. But the term generally refers to a particular doctrinal concept about sin as taught by most Protestant and Catholic churches.

The purpose of this study is to examine the doctrine of "original sin" and the related doctrine of "total hereditary (inherited) inherited depravity" according to the Bible. Does the gospel of Jesus Christ teach inherited guilt or free moral agency and individual accountability and responsibility?

Statement of the Doctrine: Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are from the Westminster Confession of Faith in the Presbyterian Book of Confessions. All emphasis has been added.

[nmh]

A newborn can't even function yet. All they do is sleep and eat so they're not guilty of anything, yet. As they grow, then they start doing naughty things. We are rebellious by nature.

[nmh]

"The Bible nowhere teaches the Calvinistic concept that man inherits sin or is born totally depraved, incapable of doing good or evil. Rather, little babies are born innocent and not accountable for their conduct. As they grow up in a sinful world, they reach the age when they are capable of understanding God's will for their lives. He then holds them accountable for their conduct, and they are counted sinners when they themselves choose to practice that which is a violation of God's will."

That's about right. It also shows how pointless infant baptism is since the baby has NO clue on what is going on. Later on, when the person is functional and understands is WHEN baptism should occur. I don't know of ANY adult that remembers being an infant and being baptized - so again, when they are older is when this should be done.

[bremenboy]

3. "Nature" here refers to a person's character which comes as a result of repeated practice, not necessarily by inheritance. Rom. 2:14 says some people by nature obey God's will, but total depravity says that is impossible

[escapefromboston]

What about a baby that cries non-stop on when I am on the train, or at the movies???

[P-Marlowe]

What about a baby that cries non-stop on when I am on the train, or at the movies???

Since going to the movies is a sin, the child is obviously a sinner.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Are babies born guilty of original sin and total hereditary (inherited) depravity?

According to the Bible, yes.

• LAW 1.) The Spiritually Dead are born wicked. (Genesis 8:21; Psalms 58:3)
• LAW 2.) All humanely-benevolent works of the Spiritually Dead are considered by God to be unclean filthiness. (Isaiah 64:6)
• LAW 3.) As long as he is Spiritually Dead, the Unregenerate Man never freely wills the action of Righteous Good. (Jeremiah 13:23)
• LAW 4.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men are only and always set upon the doing of evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
• LAW 5.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men are spiritually insane. (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
• LAW 6.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men always despise the Light of Grace. (John 3:19)
• LAW 7.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men always reject the ministrations of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51)
• LAW 8.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men NEVER Seek God. (Romans 3:10-11)
• LAW 9.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men NEVER will any action whatsoever of Righteous Good. (Romans 3:12)
• LAW 10.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, it is defined as BIBLICALLY-IMPOSSIBLE that the Unregenerate Man should ever will any Righteous Good. (Romans 7:18)
• LAW 11.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men NEVER perform any God-pleasing Action of Will whatsoever. (Romans 8:5-8)
• Law 12.) As long as they are Spiritually Dead, the hearts of Unregenerate Men are utterly incapable of knowing any Spiritual Truth. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

For his deliberate and willful denial of the express teachings of Holy Scripture, the Author of this Article stands condemned as a Pelagian Heretic, an anathematized Enemy of the Church of Christ whose preaching is naught but a soul-damning heresy -- which he must completely and sincerely Recant, in abject penitence.

May God have mercy on his soul.