Original sin, is the doctrine, of humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized or referred to as a "sin nature," or the total depravity or automatic guilt by all humans through collective guilt.The scriptural basis for the doctrine is found in Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:22, in which Paul identifies Adam as the one man through whom death came into the world.

In the theology of the Catholic Church, original sin is regarded as the general condition of sinfulness into which humans are born, distinct from the actual sins that a person commits. This teaching explicitly states that "original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants". Thus mans concupiscence or sexual desire, according to St. Augustine, is a consequence of original sin. But he went further and formed a view (termed "Realism"), that all of humanity was really present in Adam when he sinned, and therefore all have sinned. Original sin, according to Augustine, consists of the guilt of Adam which all humans inherit. Thus as sinners, humans are utterly depraved in nature, lack the freedom to do good, and cannot respond to the will of God without divine grace.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that in "yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state … original sin is called "sin" only in an analogical sense: it is a sin "contracted" and not "committed" — a state and not an act" This "state of deprivation of the original holiness and justice … transmitted to the descendants of Adam along with human nature" involves no personal responsibility or personal guilt on their part. Personal responsibility and guilt were Adam's, who because of his sin, was unable to pass on to his descendants a human nature with the holiness with which it would otherwise have been endowed, in this way implicating them in his sin. The doctrine of original sin thus does not impute the sin of the father to his children, but merely states that they inherit from him a "human nature deprived of original holiness and justice", which is "transmitted by propagation to all mankind". Augustine held that the effects of Adam's sin are transmitted to his descendants not by example but by the very fact of generation from that ancestor. Augustine's view was that human procreation was the way the transmission was being effected. He did not blame, however, the sexual passion itself, but the spiritual concupiscence present in human nature, soul and body.

Augustine believed that the only definitive destinations of souls are heaven and hell so concluded that unbaptized infants go to hell as a consequence of original sin. But it gets Catholics in another problem because then the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is that Mary was conceived free from original sin.



Now Protrestant Reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin equated original sin with concupiscence or sexual desire. The notion of original sin as interpreted by Augustine was affirmed by John Calvin. Calvin believed that humans inherit Adamic guilt and are in a state of sin from the moment of conception. This inherently sinful nature (the basis for the Calvinistic doctrine of "total depravity") results in a complete alienation from God and the total inability of humans to achieve reconciliation with God based on their own abilities. Not only do individuals inherit a sinful nature due to Adam's fall, but since he was the federal head and representative of the human race, all whom he represented inherit the guilt of his sin by imputation.

Martin Luther agreed with John Calvin that humans inherit Adamic guilt and are in a state of damnable sin from the moment of conception. The second article in Lutheranism's Augsburg Confession presents its doctrine of original sin in summary form:
'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. Rejected in this connection are the Pelagians and others who deny that original sin is sin, for they hold that natural man is made righteous by his own powers, thus disparaging the sufferings and merit of Christ'

John Wesley, goes into orignal sin in Article VII in the Articles of Religion in the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church:
'Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually'


So what is wrong with the Augustine model of 'original sin', why is it that Adventist shuld not and cannot hold to this Catholic doctrine of "Original Sin".

God does not view us as though we ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. No one can sin for another. Each person is accountable for the sins they themselves commit. In judgment, God will not ask why we ate the forbidden fruit. "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." (Eze 18:20)

I think there is a difference. In Calvin's position, "since he [Adam] was the federal head and representative of the human race, all whom he represented inherit the guilt of his sin by imputation."
This contradicts Ezek. 18.

I agree with this:

What about the Atonement, how does it tie in to 'Original Sin', did Christ die just for Adams sin and we are covered completely as some teach, so it doesnt matter that individual sin continues....

The atonement does not accommodate "original sin" since it is a false doctrine. Jesus made atonement possible for past sins confessed, pardoned, and forsaken. Nevertheless, He paid the price for the sins of the world; unfortunately, though, not everyone will benefit. Only those who are forgiven and "go and sin no more" will benefit.

So do you think Advetist theology would be in agreement with this statement.. the church would "deny that we inherit guilt from anyone, maintaining that instead we inherit our fallen nature. In this they differ from the Augustinian position .. that each person is actually inherits Adam's guilt. ..while humanity does bear the consequences of the original, or first, sin, humanity does not bear the personal guilt associated with this sin. Adam and Eve are guilty of their willful action; we bear the consequences, chief of which is death." and "reject the notion of original sin, believing only in the sins for which men and women are personally responsible." and "do not object to the idea that Adam and Eve brought sin into the world by introducing disobedience. Disobedience influenced further generations in much the same way other ideas spread, thus making sin likely in any individual above "The Age of Accountability."

"All have sinned." Therefore, all are guilty and deserve to die eternally. We sin by default the instant we are capable of conscious thought. Our first conscious act as a viable human is sinful. And, our guilt and condemnation is based on our first sin - not on A&E's first sin. Not until we experience rebirth are we free to sin and free to imitate Jesus' sinless example of righteousness and true holiness.

Yes, from my read of it, it seems that 'Original Sin' has been twisted many different ways and used as an excuse and blanket covering of sin. So I am digging to see how it developed and from what influences/sources....

Yes, but if the sin can be blamed on Adam, and the Atonement be a blanket covering any sin that arises because of Adams fall, then a sinner today can say 'all my sins and any future sins I may commit are Adams sin so I am guiltless' or already taken care of by the Atonement. Which is the use which 'Original Sin' seems to be being used more and more today, or am I wrong?

Rick, I haven't met anyone or heard of anyone trying to excuse sinning in the way you mentioned above. The people I meet and hear about are very serious about wanting to cease sinning. Of course, I also meet people who see nothing wrong with sinning so long as it doesn't harm anyone, which, translated, means sins of pleasure are okay.

I don't have a problem with what I quoted above. Adam was created pure and holy. By transgression, he lost that purity and holiness. He could only be pure and holy as long as he was abiding in Jesus.

Since Adam had no inherent holiness, he obviously could not pass on holiness to his children. Neither could he pass on his saving relationship with Jesus. Hence, all are born without holiness and without Jesus.

By one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners. That is Original Sin. There is no problem with it.

The Catholic error of baptizing babies is not due to the belief that babies are not inherently saved, which is correct. The error is in believing that baptism infuses the holiness that was lost by Adam's sin.

Adam's sin did verily deprave us. However, the solution is not infusion of holiness through sprinkling of water. The only solution is to receive holiness from the Living Water.

True, because of A&E's sin, we are born with a sinful nature, and because of this we begin cultivating sinful traits of character from the moment of consciousness. Not until we experience rebirth are we capable of cultivating sinless traits of character. However, no one is guilty of sinning because A&E sinned, that is, God doesn't count us guilty of eating the forbidden fruit. No one, other than A&E, is guilty of the original sin (i.e. eating the forbidden fruit). The only consequence of their first, original sin, so far as the rest of us are concerned, is that we are born with a sinful nature. We incur our own original guilt the moment we commit our own original sin.

What I got from Augustine's writings is that because of Adam's sin, the rest of us are born without righteousness.

Does anyone here think that we are born righteous? If so, then you agree with Augustine on this point.

What I have found in my experience is that most people who disagree with Augustine's doctrine of Original Sin have never read Augustine for themselves. They trust other people to do the studying for them, and simply parrot their favorite spiritual father.

Furthermore, their entire belief system seems to be founded on whether or not they have guilt, as opposed to seeking what pleases God. IOW, instead of "What wilt thou have me to do," they say, "It's not my fault."

So, instead of seeking, by God's grace, to eradicate the evil heredity we all receive from Adam, they merely excuse it by saying they can't do anything about it. I guess what I'm saying is the opposite of the thread title: there are dangers in not believing Original Sin.

I guess i will have to study further as what the Catholic church now teaches also seems to have varied from the 'original' thoughts he gave...

The main reason many Adventist deny the doctrine of original sin has to do with their belief of Christ's human nature.

Also the prevailing concepts of "original sin" has a much to do with Calvinism as with Augustine.

Calvinists define original sin thus:

Would you elaborate, please?

Generally, Catholicism is three quarters correct, isn't it: sinful human nature is inclined to sin, morally weakened and unable to resist that inclination so captive to it and depraved, and condemned by God's law for its sinfulness. Guilt is excluded altogether till individually we sin.

That's the truth, right?

I don't know what the RCC teaches now, but it would be good to read what Augustine actually said before drawing conclusions.

Error lies close to truth.

By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: "Dead in trespasses and sins;" "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;" "no soundness in it." We are held fast in the snare of Satan, "taken captive by him at his will." Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. {SC 43.2}

What Adam and Eve did, alienated the whole human race. We are not guilty of their sin in any legal sense. But we are none the less, affected by their choice.

On the transmission of a sinful nature from father to son the following should be kept in mind: “It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrong-doing, but they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, except as they participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father’s sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation” {PP 306.3}

What causes sickness and death? SIN. We all have sin in our nature.

By taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses of the flesh with which humanity is encompassed, "that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet Esaias, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He was without a spot. {16MR 116.3}

There is a real, physical component to sin. It is inheritable. Romans 5:12 proves this. Ellen White confirms it.

Yeah, I guess I've heard of "original sin", but didn't really know what people meant. I thought original sin was with satan.