It has been suggested that we inherit the sinful character our parents and ancestors developed dating back to Adam and Eve, and that we are condemned to hell based on their sins. Is it true?

The following passages indicate that character is not inherited, that we are not condemned to hell based on the sins of our parents or ancestors.


Nevertheless, there are other passages which clearly teach we do indeed inherit the traits of character our parents cultivated. We inherit their traits, not their character. We inherit the inclinations, tendencies, propensities associated with the traits of character our parents cultivated.

As a result of our parents' influence on us, both by inheritance and by example, the likelihood we will develop similar traits of character is high. And it is the character we ourselves cultivate, not the traits or tendencies we inherit, that determines our eternal destiny in judgment.

Why do you use just some passages and omit others? The passages you quoted make clear that a right character, a noble character is not inherited. But of course a sinful, defective character is inherited; defects of character are inherited. Please study the following quotes:

“They [many of the children who attend our schools] have inherited the defective characters of their parents, and the discipline of the home has been no help in the formation of right character.” {2MCP 550.1}

“But many have inherited traits of character that in no way represent the divine Model. There are many who have some defect of character received as a birthright, which they have not overcome, but have cherished as though it were fine gold, and brought with them into their religious experience. In many cases these traits are retained through the entire life. For a time no particular harm may be seen to result from them; but the leaven is at work, and when a favorable opportunity arrives, the evil manifests itself.” {5T 418.1}

The character is the sum total of your traits of character. This is obvious. You are born with a character which can be modified at any moment.

“God expects every one who claims to be his child to reveal to the world not their natural, hereditary, sinful character, but a representation of the character of Christ.” {HM, December 1, 1894 par. 4}

If character cannot be inherited, why does she say that many children have inherited the defective character of their parents? Why does she say that we can receive defects of character as a birthright? Why does she say that we shouldn’t reveal to the world our hereditary, sinful character?

Please study the following quote:

“God gave our first parents a pure and upright character, in harmony with His law; and had they remained obedient, they would have bequeathed the same character to their posterity. But they listened to Satan's specious temptations, and transgressed this holy law, and the result was death. And the sons and daughters of Adam, instead of coming into the world, as God first made man, righteous and heirs of eternal life, have been the victims of sin and death and woe. This is the result of the transgression of God's law in Eden.” {BEcho, July 29, 1895 par. 2}

How could God have given our first parents a pure and upright character if we are not born with a character? How could this character have been bequeathed to Adam’s posterity? Please notice that, if Adam had not sinned, his sons and daughters would have come into the world righteous, that is, would have been born righteous. Does “righteous” describe a person’s character or not? Are we born righteous? Was Christ born righteous?


Why then do babies need a Savior?

If we combine all the quotes posted so far on this thread I believe it is clear we inherit the traits our parents cultivated - not their character.


We begin developing certain inherited, bequeathed traits of character right away. We are always reacting and responding to our fallen propensities, always cultivating specific traits of character. Had our First Parents not sinned we would have inherited sinless propensities, sinless appetites and passions, and cultivating sinless traits of character would come naturally.


Because "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". It only takes one sin to need a Saviour. Adam and Eve demonstrated that in the Garden of Eden. Like Eve, babies do not realize they are sinning, however, even sins of ignorance require a Saviour.

"And the sons and daughters of Adam, instead of coming into the world, as God first made man, righteous and heirs of eternal life, have been the victims of sin and death and woe.” {BEcho, July 29, 1895 par. 2}

Mike,

If Adam had not sinned, his sons and daughter would have come to the world righteous, that is, they would have been born righteous and heirs of eternal life.
Does “righteous” describe a person’s character or not? Are we born righteous? Was Christ born righteous?


We are born with a character made up of good and bad traits inherited from both our parents. The development of this character will last our whole lives.

The word "righteous" refers to many things. When referring to sinful flesh nature, the word "righteous" doesn't apply. When referring to inherited traits of character, it doesn't apply, either.

No one is naturally born with a righteous character. Otherwise, theoretically a person could go through life without ever sinning, making God a liar. In the case of Adam's kids, if he hadn't sinned, they would have been born with a righteous flesh nature and would have developed righteous character.

Jesus was born "that holy thing". He was born with a sinful flesh nature just like the rest of us. He also had to develop a sinless character just like born again believers. He was not born with a character already developed or even partially developed. He began developing character from the moment He was incarnated. As a man, He is still developing it, and will continue to do so throughout eternity.

What does the following mean to you?

I have quoted several passages, and others could be quoted which say that Adam possessed a righteous character when he was created, like the following one:

"The human race do not stand in the righteousness of character which Adam possessed at his creation." {ST, June 11, 1894 par. 11}

Besides, Ellen White makes abundantly clear that parents give the stamp of character to their children:

"Their children often receive the stamp of character before their birth; for the appetites of the parents are often intensified in the children. Thus unborn generations are afflicted by the use of tobacco and liquor. Intellectual decay is entailed upon them, and their moral perception is blunted." {ST, February 3, 1890 par. 8}

[Note: "stamp of character" is not just something with which you are born, as many quotes make clear, among them the following one:

"All who enter the missionary field will have hardships and trials to endure; they will find hard work, and plenty of it; but those of the right stamp of character will persevere under difficulties, discouragements, and privations, holding firmly to the arm of the Lord." {PH078 33.1}]


So Jesus wasn't born righteous.


What you've just said makes no sense. He was born "that holy thing". What distinguished Him from us?


This does not make sense either. Adam had a righteous character when he sinned.
I didn't understand what you said. What exactly would make God a liar?


It means Jesus was born with a body like ours, not with a sinful character like ours.

Rosangela, if, as you say, we have a character even before we are born, does that mean we are condemned to death even before we are born? If so, based on what? According to the SOP, it is character that determines our eternal destiny in judgment. Are we lost in judgment based on the characters our parents developed?

Not only was Adam created with a righteous character, he was also created fully grown, capable of intelligent speech, and many other things that do not apply to us when we are born. In addition to everything else, Adam's flesh was in harmony with God's will, that is, his appetites and passions were pure and holy, the thoughts and feelings they generated and communicated to his sinless mind were righteous. Which is not how we come into the world, nor is it how Jesus came into the world.

If we are born with a righteous character like Adam had when he was created, then, theoretically, we could live our lives without ever committing a sin. However, God said "all have sinned" and if we could live our lives without sinning then it would make a God a liar. I am not implying this is what you are saying.

The point is, we do not inherit character, instead, we inherit traits and tendencies that cause us to develop character. And, we naturally nurture and cultivate sinful character, which is why God can truthfully say, "All have sinned" and why Sister White repeatedly wrote - "character is not transferable".


I realize you believe these insight only apply to righteous character, that the righteous character of someone else does not count toward our salvation. However, there is no evidence that the sinful characters our parents developed is any different, that is, nothing suggests that we are lost because of the characters our parents formed.

Regarding Jesus and the "great law of heredity" it stands to reason that if we inherit our parents' sinful characters then so did Jesus. That is, He inherited Mary's sinful character as a minimum. But, I'm sure no one believes such a thing, therefore, how can you say we have a sinful character even before we are born? The reason I ask is because the SOP says Jesus inherited everything we inherit at birth.

Mike,

"Human nature is depraved, and is justly condemned by a holy God." {RH, September 17, 1895 par. 7}

"The nature of man is in opposition to the divine will, depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God expressed in his law." {ST, June 9, 1890 par. 12}

In these quotes, what is "nature"?

Ellen White still says the following:

"You have transmitted to your children a miserable legacy, a depraved nature rendered still more depraved by your gross habits of eating and drinking." {2T 61.2}

We have a depraved nature and transmit to our children a depraved nature. It's said that this nature is "in opposition to the divine will" and, therefore, "is justly condemned by a holy God". Of course God must condemn that which is not in harmony with His will. And this is true of the nature with which we are born.

"The duty of intelligent souls is to hold to the truth, to practice virtue. We are born with a disinclination to both. It is sad to find in one's own constitution an opposition to virtues that are commendable in the sight of God, as submission, charity, sweetness of spirit, and patience that will not be provoked." {TDG 34.3}

Wouldn't God condemn a nature (character) opposed to virtue? How could God approve of it?


Well, Jesus never sinned. Did this make God a liar?


Not so. First, nobody knows how character traits are transmitted. Even if they are indeed transmitted through the DNA, as Tom affirms, Mary's cell had a single set of 23 chromosomes. For every trait (physical or otherwise) information from both sets of 23 chromosomes is necessary. Therefore, God had to supply the lacking information, and what God supplied must necessarily be good. How this affected Christ's heredity nobody knows.

Of course God condemns fallen flesh nature. But He doesn't condemn us. He especially condemns its unholy clamorings. But He doesn't condemn us based on its unholy clamorings.

"The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words "flesh" or "fleshly" or "carnal lusts" embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God." {AH 127.2}


Are nature and character synonymous? We inherit fallen flesh nature, whereas we cultivate character. Character is not part of nature. It is separate and distinct.

"Mental ability and genius are not character, for these are often possessed by those who have the very opposite of a good character. Reputation is not character. True character is a quality of the soul, revealing itself in the conduct." {ML 267.4}


The passage "all have sinned" does not apply to Jesus. The point is, we do not inherit character, instead, we inherit traits and tendencies that cause us to develop character. And, we naturally nurture and cultivate sinful character, which is why God can truthfully say, "All have sinned" and why Sister White repeatedly wrote - "character is not transferable".


Sister White is clear. Jesus' human nature was "perfectly identical with our own nature". The only difference is - He didn't sin. Like a born again believer partaking of the divine nature, Jesus did not indulge the unholy appetites and passions that tempted Him from within to sin. Like a believer, He held them in subjection to a sanctified will and mind.

"Like every child of Adam [Jesus] accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity." (7A 452)

"His human nature was created; it did not even possess the angelic powers. It was human, identical with our own." (3SM 129)

"He had not taken on Him even the nature of the angels, but humanity, perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin." (16MR 181)