“How do you explain Romans 5!? in relation to Original Sin.
How do you explain from the psalms, ‘In sin did my mother conceive me and in sin was I born. Psalm 51.’
How do you explain the verse that says this promise is for you and your children? How do you explain 1 Peter 3:21 This baptism now saves you. and Go and make disciples of all nations- i.e. the means of making a disciple is baptism and teaching. Infants are included in all nations.
The fact is that you are still under the guidance of Rome. You want to explain away the true gospel by adding in your own work of reasoned assent to the Gospel. Any decision we make for Christ was urged and guided upon us by the Holy Spirit creating faith within us. We have nothing to do with it.”
I am personally acquainted with the doctrine of original sin, as I was reared in Catholicism. However, based on the following biblical principles, it is no longer my belief that original sin is a divine doctrine. Further, the doctrine of original sin was unknown until introduced in the 14th century according to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, among other resources. Obviously, that doctrine, then, was introduced too late to be divine and eternal in origin. The doctrine of Immaculate Conception was not devised to shield the mother of Jesus from the supposed original sin until the year 1687. The doctrine of total depravity, which is Calvinism’s treatment of original sin, was not developed until 1794. According to Philip Schaff in his History of the Christian Church, the Council of Trent in 1546 decided the question of original sin in favor of what became the popular doctrine in the Catholic Church. All of this indicates the time period in which the doctrine of original sin became popular and was adopted. Of course these dates are far removed from the introduction of mankind on earth, the beginning of revelation from God and well beyond the close of the New Testament when revelation from God concluded.
Regarding Romans 5, please note the following: “12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead . . .” (Rom. 5:12-15). Please read the above quotation from Scripture carefully. The verses say that (1) Adam was the first person to sin. (2) The consequence of sin was death. (3) Through Adam sin and death were introduced into the world. (4) Death passed to all men because “that they all have sinned,” too! The verses do not say that sin passed to all men because of Adam. What passed to all men was death, and that because all men have sinned, not because they received the sin of Adam. Through Adam’s introduction of death into the world, as many as sinned also faced death. That is true irrespective of whether the “death” in Romans is taken to mean spiritual or physical death (or both). (5) The contrast between Adam and Christ is that Christ brings life whereas Adam brought death.
Regarding Psalm 51, consider the American Standard Version rendering of verse 5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.” In neither the KJV nor the ASV does the verse teach original sin. Simply, the reference (twice, a parallelism) refers to the immorality in which babies are sometimes conceived, and David made application of that circumstance to himself. Whether David referred to his immediate parents is not clear; he may have referred to adultery in his ancestry between Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. Also, the child who died who was born to the adulterous relationship between David and Bathsheba (which sin haunted David and may have been the catalyst for Psalm 51) .
Your reference to “How do you explain the verse that says this promise is for you and your children” is somewhat vague regarding your complaint for original sin. Apparently you are referring to Acts 2:38-39, which reads: “38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” The promise referred to here is miraculous power. Acts 2:1-4 shows the apostles receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit which causes quite a stir in the city. Asked for an explanation, the apostle Peter quoted Joel 2:28-3:2 in Acts 2:16-21 in which miraculous power was promised in conjunction with the beginning of the church or kingdom. The prophecy in Joel, though, was not completely fulfilled in the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (women were to be included in the reception of miraculous power, etc.). In Acts 2:38-39 Peter repeated the promise to include those who obeyed the Gospel and became members of the church.
Obviously, I concur that baptism saves, as 1 Peter 3:21 says it does. Notice 1 Peter 3:20-21, “20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The baptism discussed in 1 Peter 3:21 is water baptism from its comparison to the water in verse 20 of the flood of Noah’s day, whereby verse 21 begins with the words “The like figure.” The passage simply attests the point at which one’s sins are taken away — at baptism. Therefore, Acts 22:16 says of baptism, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Incidentally, this baptism is an immersion as noted from Romans 6:3-5, just beyond the Romans 5 context with which you began your inquiry on original sin. It reads, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Burial and planting indicate immersion rather than sprinkling or pouring water. Colossians 2:12 also teaches that Bible baptism is a burial — immersion.
Though “infants are included in all nations,” as you note, they do not otherwise qualify for biblical baptism according to Scripture. Note the following, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . .” (Mark 16:16). Infants are incapable of believing the Gospel, indicating that the command to be baptized does not apply to them. Remember Acts 2:38 says “repent and be baptized.” Small children cannot repent either, so baptism does not apply to them.
The real reason that baptism does not apply to small children is because God does not (1) impute original sin on anyone, and (2) does not impute sin upon them for the bad things they may do while as infants they do not know the difference between right and wrong. Read what Ezekiel wrote regarding responsibility for sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). Clearly, one is only guilty of the sins that he or she commit. No one is guilty of sin committed by others, including one’s father or even Adam. The soul who sins is guilty of the sins he commits. That is what God’s Word teaches. Jesus would hardly use children as examples of heavenly habitants were their souls blacked with sin (original sin or their own sins). “13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:13-14).
Lastly, your following statement, though you sincerely believe it, does not correspond with biblical truth. You wrote: “Any decision we make for Christ was urged and guided upon us by the Holy Spirit creating faith within us. We have nothing to do with it.” Romans 10:17 reveals the true source of biblical faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If it were as you believe, that the Holy Spirit is responsible for one’s faith and subsequent salvation without the willing participation of the saved, the Holy Spirit would not only be responsible for those who are saved, but equally responsible (culpable) for everyone who is lost.
In truth, though no one could be saved with the intervention of the Godhead (Father, Holy Spirit and Son), mankind must also use his free will and opt to meet God on his own terms (recorded in the Bible). Therefore, the New Testament indicates that human activity is necessary (obedience — imperfect as it is) to be the recipients of God’s grace and mercy. Consider these verses regarding obedience and human activity in redemption. “8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus saves those who obey. He will punish those who do not obey; “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). It is no surprise, then, that the apostle Paul commanded souls to work out their own salvation; “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Hebrews Chapter 11 lists several Old Testament characters who were praised for their faith — in conjunction with active obedience in their lives.
God sent Jesus into the world to save mankind. The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets, apostles and others God’s revelation to mankind (the Bible). Jesus willingly sacrificed himself for us — the perfect, sinless for the imperfect, sin laden. Essentially, regarding redemption, God (Godhead) voted for us; Satan voted against us; and we cast the deciding vote by either our obedience or disobedience. Man’s part, simplified, includes hearing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), believing or faith (Mark 16:16); repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30); professing Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37); immersion for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16); and, faithfulness (Rev. 2:10).
Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts and passages with you. I am sincerely interested in the welfare of my soul and your souls, too.
