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“Does Man Have A Sinful Nature?”
Categories: Salvation, SinDoes Man Have A Sinful Nature?
Jarrod Jacobs
This subject has probably confused and deceived more people than any other. Many of today’s “religious” people believe and teach a doctrine that says that man is born in sin. These people believe and teach a doctrine once taught by Augustine in the 400-500’s A.D., but made famous by John Calvin in the 1500’s.
Evidently, this false doctrine was taught even before Augustine or Calvin. We know this because God saw it necessary to tell the Israelites that man could not inherit sin. “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deut. 24:16). Even before this, God had told Cain that “sin lies at the door” for him (Gen. 4:7). If it was true that he had inherited a sinful nature from Adam, Cain should have been told that his sin was already within him! Further, God said, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer because of the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father suffer because of the iniquity of the son …” (Ezek. 18:4, 20).
Looking to the New Testament, we learn that God has not changed His mind about sin. It is the responsibility of the individual. Paul wrote, “He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Col. 3:25). James said, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1:14-15). No, there is no such thing as inheriting sin from a parent, or from Adam.
