Beech Tree News Network

Many denominations teach that man has inherited his sin from Adam, seeing that he is the one that fell from a sinless state (Philadelphia Confession of Faith p. 7-8). This doctrine has certainly infected many churches today. It has also infected the lives of people on a daily basis. Have you ever justified some mistake or wrong by saying, “Well, I’m only human”? If you have, then you have fallen into the trap that says we are born in sin. After all, if we are born in sin then we cannot do anything right! Does the Bible teach such a doctrine? Let us see …

The Bible says, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4, 20). This is a significant statement, for this is saying the only one responsible for my sin is me! Ezekiel 18:20 will go on to say that the son shall not inherit the sins of the father and vice versa. The soul who sins shall die. It is not true that the father of the one who sins is responsible! We also read in the New Testament that the sinner will be punished for his own sin (Col. 3:25). James makes a similar point in James 1:14-15. There, James makes the point that every man is tempted when he is drawn away by “his own lust.” The father’s, grandfather’s, or great-grandfather’s lust will not be held over the soul of the descendants. Each one has his own lust and he will be held responsible for how he acts. The Bible never teaches that one inherits the sins of past generations.

For those still insisting that we inherit our sins from our fathers, and ultimately from Adam, let’s go back to the beginning. If we have inherited our sins through Adam, why did his children not inherit his sin? Notice in Genesis four that God warned Cain that if he did well he would be accepted, but if not, “sin lieth at the door” (Gen. 4:7). Read Genesis 4:7 again and notice this statement from God contradicts the teaching that we have inherited Adam’s sin. Why do I say this? I say this because according to the doctrine of “inherited sin,” one born in sin can’t do anything “well” and “be accepted” because of the sin already extant. Yet, God said Cain could “do well” and “be accepted”! Did God forget? Did He not understand something that future generations understood? Or, did God know that Cain had not inherited any sin from Adam? I choose this answer!

Further, if Cain had inherited Adam’s sin then it did not “lie at the door” as God said, for it was already in his soul and pronouncing him guilty! Yet, God didn’t teach that, either! Shall we then say that God didn’t understand about inherited sin in those days? Shall we say God simply contradicted other plain passages when He spoke to Cain? Or could it be that Genesis 4:7, Ezekiel 18:4, 20, James 1:14, Colossians 3:25, etc., are correct and the truth is that no one inherits sin at all?

There are other examples we can cite, but it is obvious that man is not born a sinner. Man becomes a sinner when he commits a sin, not because his father committed a sin (Jas. 1:14-15; I Jn. 2:15-17, 3:4)! The truth is that there has never been, nor will there ever be inherited sin.

-- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167 Our Gospel Meeting with Raymond Castillo is October 8-12. 7 PM Mon-Fri. Come see is then!