{"id":6085,"date":"2024-08-16T06:26:14","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T12:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bibleinteract.com\/uncategorized\/is-original-sin-in-the-bible\/"},"modified":"2024-08-16T06:26:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T12:26:16","slug":"is-original-sin-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bibleinteract.com\/?p=6085","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udcd1 Is Original Sin in the Bible?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Dr. Anne Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the doctrine of original sin?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doctrine claims that all humans are born in a sinful condition and therefore must strive to overcome sin in their lives to please God.
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Is original sin in the Bible?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theologians, who promote the doctrine of original sin, point to Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. They argue that all Adam\u2019s descendants will inherit this sinful condition at the time of their birth. However, many have begun to dispute this conclusion. Now I will ask a very interesting question.
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When did the concept of original sin begin?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doctrine of original sin did not appear in Christian theology until Augustine in the 5th century after the death of Jesus (354-480 A.D.). Augustine insisted that everyone is born sinful and therefore has a built-in urge to do bad things and disobey God. Leaders of the Protestant Reformation, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, continued to promote this doctrine of original sin.
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How does the doctrine of original sin affect Christian teaching?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s nature is love, and He draws us to Him through our increasing love for Him. \u201cI have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you [to me] with lovingkindness\u201d (Jer 31:3). Unfortunately, emphasis on the sinful nature of mankind overshadows God\u2019s love and detracts from God\u2019s desire to have us grow closer to Him through our growing love for God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disputing the Doctrine of Original Sin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 20th century, academic studies have increasingly disputed the doctrine of original sin. Their argument derives from three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The late historical development of the doctrine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Jewish tradition dating back to the time of Yeshua.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. And the Word of God<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We have already seen that the concept of original sin was not promoted until Augustine in the 5th century A.D. and was adopted by Protestant leaders during the Protestant Reformation. So, historically there is no support for the doctrine of original sin. Then, our curiosity is drawn to the 400 years before Augustine where we can look at Jewish writings and traditions to see if there is any discussion of original sin there. There is none in Jewish writings. So, that leaves us with Scripture to see if original sin appears there.
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    Is original sin in the Bible?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many theologians, especially evangelical scholars, are answering \u201cno\u201d to this question, and I agree with them. I find three compelling arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Perhaps the greatest biblical evidence<\/strong> can be found in the creation account before<\/em> sin made its appearance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      God created man [meaning all of mankind] in His own image.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In the image of God, He created him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Male and female He created them.<\/em> Gen 1:27
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      The image of God is holy and perfect without sin, and Scripture is clear that God created mankind in His image. I think the easiest way to perceive this understanding is to visualize a newborn baby who is perfect. There is no sin in that baby. I have concluded that Jews belong to God because He declares He is their Father [Deut. 32:6; Isaiah 63:16] and they are His firstborn son [Exodus 4:4]. After all God is not a man who lies [Numbers 23:19]. Gentiles who are not Jews are \u201cborn\u201d into God\u2019s family when they believe in God\u2019s son, Yeshua the Messiah. Therefore, Scripture tells us that God\u2019s children, both Jew and Gentile, are born without sin in God\u2019s holy image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. The purpose of sin<\/strong>, which enters after <\/em>the birth into God\u2019s family, is not to burden God\u2019s people with a cruel power that dominates their lives but to give them an opportunity to mature in righteousness, which is the only way we can come into God\u2019s Holy Presence. Yes, God\u2019s people have the promise of future eternal life with God, but<\/em> the timing of getting there requires humble submission to the ways of God by learning how to walk in His ways. I have explained the timing of eternal life i in a sequence of 4 books on the Remnant that you can find on Amazon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. We overcome sin<\/strong> in our lives by following God\u2019s loving instruction that He has given to us in three ways.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n