What is Meant by "Original Sin"?

[Fritz Kobus]

I cannot find "original sin" in the Bible. If by original we mean the origin of sin, they it would have to be Adam and Eve or perhaps Lucifer who was the first to sin. But it certainly would not apply to us who are affected by sin but did not originate it.

If by original sin they mean we are born with a sin nature then I maintain that the terminology "original sin" is poorly chosen and confusing.

If by original sin some mean that we are all guilty of Adam's sin, they they are dead wrong.

Sometimes I think the study of theology generates more problems than it solves with people trying to figure out things that God has not told us and then coming up with what amounts to a fabrication.

 

[Lees]

'Original Sin' speaks to the origin of sin into the human race. It began with Adam's sin. (Rom. 5:12)

The study of theology may create various opinions and debate. But the purpose of it is to figure out things God has told us in His Word.

The study of theology seeks to take all that the Bible says concerning a subject and put it in a teachable form. Which I think is good.

(Pro. 25:2) "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter."

(Ps. 119:162) "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."


Closely connected with the doctrine of 'original sin' is the doctine of 'imputation' and 'federal headship'. You can't hardly teach one without teaching these also. And I see you disagree with 'imputation' as you said we are not guilty of Adam's sin. And here I disagree with you.

Consider this: If we are not guilty of Adam's sin, then neither are we declared righteous because of Christ's work.

Three great imputations by God. 1.) Adams sin imputed to the human race. 2.) The sin of the human race imputed to Christ. 3.) The righteousness of Christ imputed to those who believe.

Lees

 

[1689Dave]

I cannot find "original sin" in the Bible. If by original we mean the origin of sin, they it would have to be Adam and Eve or perhaps Lucifer who was the first to sin. But it certainly would not apply to us who are affected by sin but did not originate it.

If by original sin they mean we are born with a sin nature then I maintain that the terminology "original sin" is poorly chosen and confusing.

If by original sin some mean that we are all guilty of Adam's sin, they they are dead wrong.

Sometimes I think the study of theology generates more problems than it solves with people trying to figure out things that God has not told us and then coming up with what amounts to a fabrication.

original sin, original righteousness (justice). Strictly speaking, original sin is the state of alienation from God into which all humans are born. Original righteousness (or original justice), in contrast, is the state of innocence in which Adam and Eve are thought to have existed before their fall into sin. Thus, because they had not yet disobeyed God, the first humans were righteous (without sin) in God’s sight. Historically, original sin was connected to the discussion about the manner in which Adam’s sin affects all humans, such as through the transmission of Adam’s fallen nature or through God’s imputation (crediting) of Adam’s sin.

Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999). Pocket dictionary of theological terms (p. 87). InterVarsity Press.

 

[Josiah]

@Fritz Kobus


The two types of sin....


Original Sin


Psalm 51:5 "I was sinful at birth"

Genesis 8:21, "Every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood."

Romans 5:12 "Sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people for have sin."

Ephesians 4:22, "Put off the old man which corrupts."

Ephesians 2:3, "We all were by our very nature objects of God's wrath."

Ephesians 2:1 "You were dead in your sins."

Romans 8:7 "The sinful mind is hostile to God, it does not submit to God Law because it cannot do so."

"Original sin" may be thought of as a spiritual disease. It is universal. Let's say I have the disease of a cold. And thus, I likely (at least at times) have symptoms of that - coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat. Now, does the coughing result in me having a cold? No, it's the cold that (may) result in the cough. "Original sin" (usually spoken of in Scripture by the singular "sin") is the disease, the spiritual defeat that humanity got at the Fall. If I shoot my neighbor, the "problem" is not limited to the microsecond when I pulled the trigger.... there is a HISTORY here, chain of things, that goes all the way back to my heart, my nature and how it sought to hurt and hate. "Original sin" is that heart problem, that spiritual disease. But the disease not only can lead to symptoms (read the next section) but it also results in our spiritual DEATH and being hostile to God and our inability to believe in God.

Original sin is kind of a problem behind the problem, the cause. It's a condition, a spiritiual/moral disease.


Actualized Sin


Matthew 7:17 "A bad tree bears bad fruit" (note, it's not the other way around.... something BAD exists, and ERGO bad fruit exists)

Galatians 5:19 "The acts of our SINFUL NATURE are......" (Ditto)

Matthew 15:19 "Out of the sinful heart come ....."


"Actual Sin" is the symptoms of the disease. If I have that cold, I may well have symptoms of it. The symptoms may vary... they may be severe or slight.... I may be able to control some and perhaps not others.... I may have times when there are no symptoms at all... but I still have the disease, the sickness. The "evil inclination of the heart" (as Scripture puts it) - the disease ("Original Sin") may lead me to shoot my neighbor (the actualized sin) - the symptom.

By the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, Christians have a rich advantage in controlling the symptoms, but Paul insists that the "old Adam" still exists in us.


I hope that helps.

Blessings!


- Josiah



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[Prepared]

I cannot find "original sin" in the Bible. If by original we mean the origin of sin, they it would have to be Adam and Eve or perhaps Lucifer who was the first to sin. But it certainly would not apply to us who are affected by sin but did not originate it.

If by original sin they mean we are born with a sin nature then I maintain that the terminology "original sin" is poorly chosen and confusing.

If by original sin some mean that we are all guilty of Adam's sin, they they are dead wrong.

Sometimes I think the study of theology generates more problems than it solves with people trying to figure out things that God has not told us and then coming up with what amounts to a fabrication.

I can only give my opinion - the very first sin recorded in Scripture is in Ezekiel 28:15 - so I would say the being called Lucifer committed the original sin.

The angelic beings that followed the one who is also called Satan and warred against God played their partner in the original sin and all were cast down to earth.
The sin of Adam (who's spirit was in a flesh body and all mankind who are also Spirits in flesh bodies) stems from the influence of the one who originally sinned.

 

[Albion]

I cannot find "original sin" in the Bible. If by original we mean the origin of sin, they it would have to be Adam and Eve

That's right.

But it certainly would not apply to us who are affected by sin but did not originate it.

If by original sin they mean we are born with a sin nature then I maintain that the terminology "original sin" is poorly chosen and confusing.

Well, that's what the term refers to.

It may be confusing to some people, but so is most of the terminology used by theologians, if you think about it. The fact is that we ordinary folks just have to learn what is meant by each of them, just as we learn what the confusing language found in many Bible passages is talking about.

If by original sin some mean that we are all guilty of Adam's sin, they they are dead wrong.

It's as you were saying above. We didn't commit what's called an "actual" sin, but the Bible does teach that we inherit the fallen nature that befell Adam and Eve, our first parents. That's why we do not doubt that all of us, just by the fact of being human, needed a Savior.

And notice...we needed a Savior, not a helper. If all of the human race were not, by nature, in sin of some sort and, therefore, estranged from God, some at least of us would presumably have lived an exemplary life, kept the Commandments, and been acceptable to God without the need of a Savior. But as Christians we know better than to think such a thing.