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.”
