This installment is titled “The History & Theology of Calvinism” by
Curt Daniel, Chapter Thirty-One, Original Sin.
“God’s word
teaches that all humans except Jesus Christ inherit a sinful nature from Adam
that we call original sin. The term is not in the Bible and was probably coined
by Augustine. All evangelicals and Roman Catholics believe in it. Pelagius was
one of the first to deny it. Semi-Pelagians and Arminians hold to a modified
version. Reformed theology has the strongest view of all. To understand the
doctrine of total depravity, we must first understand original sin.”
This
chapter is divided into eight subsections.
The Nature
of Original Sin. Four paragraphs. The first paragraph deals with Ephesians 2.1–3, with
mention made of Genesis 1.31, Ecclesiastes 7.29, and Hebrews 4.15. “We have a
fallen human nature. Sin is what we are, not just what we do.” Pelagius’ view
that mankind is morally neutral following Adam’s sin is disputed. The second
paragraph describes original sin as a spiritual congenital disease that is
passed on to our children and his fatal. Romanism’s view of the Immaculate Conception
and impeccable sinlessness of Mary is disputed. Jonathan Edwards’ description
of babies as “young vipers,” baby serpents with the fallen nature of the Serpent
is mentioned. The third paragraph mentions sins as proceeding from a sinful
nature, with reference to the Belgic Confession, and quotes John Calvin’s
description of children: “There is a secret poison working in them, and that
although they do not show it at first, yet they are like a brood of serpents.”
The final paragraph comments about Roman Catholic theology differing from
Pelagianism. The Reformed position is said to be, “We hold that original sin is
both the absence of righteousness and the presence of unrighteousness. It
includes the active predisposition to sin. Human nature is never morally
neutral. Adam was pro-God before the fall and anti-God afterwards, as we all
are.”
Sinful from
Conception. Two paragraphs. “It is a biblical diagnosis that fallen man
obviously dislikes. It hurts our pride. But a doctor does not hate his patient
when he tells him the hard truth that he has terminal cancer. Too often
sentimental parents refused to see that their newborn child is born sinful.
When he begins to show it, parents sometimes say, ‘Isn’t that cute?’ “When
parents fail to see sin in their babies, they often later make excuses for
their sinful behavior. For example, they presume he is regenerate, even though
he shows no evidence thereof but rather much the contrary. Or, they still think
their child is saved because she ‘accepted Jesus into her heart’ as a child,
even though her lifestyle is blatantly wicked. Babies are just little sinners,
just like the elderly are just old sinners. Original sin permeates our nature
from womb to tomb.”
Biblical Proofs. The first
proof is the unity of the human race. All humans have sinful humanity in
common. The second proof is the principle of inherited nature. We inherit our
humanity from our parents, who got it from their parents, all the way back to
Adam and Eve. The third proof is infant sinfulness. The fourth proof is infant
mortality. The fifth proof is universal human morality. The sixth proof is
universal sinfulness.
How is
Original Sin Transmitted? Two paragraphs.
Mediate or Immediate
Imputation? Six paragraphs. The discussion begins with an illustration of original
sin as a fire that can be transmitted. The question of a child inheriting guilt
with original sin is addressed. Pelagius, semi-Pelagians, Arminians, and
Calvinists are discussed. Mention is made of Augustine, the Amyaldians, Jonathan
Edwards, and W. G. T. Shedd. Traducianism versus immediate imputation is
discussed, which is the view of the Westminster Confession, John Murray,
Charles Hodge, and others. It is sometimes called the federal headship view.
Objections
to Original Sin. Five paragraphs include references to Arminian objections as well
as homosexuals who argue, “I was born this way. God made me gay. Therefore,
there is nothing sinful about it anymore than being born a certain race.” The
author’s response is to point out that one’s racial identity does not involve
sin. Sodomy does.
Evil Comes
from Evil. Three paragraphs. “One reason why non-Calvinists reject the
doctrine of total depravity is because they fail to see its root in original sin.
Deny the root, you deny the fruit.” “Pelagius and some starry-eyed Arminians
would say ‘There’s no such thing as a bad boy. Calvinists reply, there is no
such thing as a good boy.’”
Conclusion. “All
humans have this disease. It is a universal terminal illness with disgusting
symptoms, and it is passed on to our children. But we can be grateful that
there is a cure – and only one cure. Roman Catholicism and some Protestants say
that original sin is forgiven, though not removed, through baptism. They are
wrong. That error is part of the heresy of baptismal regeneration. Others such
as the Nazarenes, many “Holiness” churches, and Wesleyans say that original sin
may be removed in a post-conversion experience of entire sanctification usually
called perfectionism. That too is wrong (1 John 1:8; Philippians 3:12).
Reformed theology teaches that the guilt of original sin is forgiven in
justification, then Christ’s holiness is put into us by the sanctification of
the Holy Spirit, with the power to resist original sin in part. But original sin
remains in us (perhaps specifically in our bodies) as what we call indwelling
sin. That is why even the best of Christians still sin. It will be in us
until the day we die, from birth to earth. But praise God, it is left in the
grave and not resurrected to infect us in our new bodies in Heaven, where we
will live forever without sin or sins. But lost sinners will continue to have
it forever in Hell.”
