What is the Biblical evidence for original sin? Are we born sinners? Is sin even inherited?
I recently read a post on another blog on these subjects, and I thought I would do a study on it. I have found many verses and some interesting articles that explain, and answer these questions. Though, please be sure to read through this entire post before leaving a comment. If your opinion differs, and you wish to say so, please leave a scriptural reference to back it up.
So…. What does the Bible really say about this? ? ?
ARE WE BORN SINNERS?
I know many believe in the “age of accountability” which young children are not held responsible for sin and are not counted guilty before God. However, the following verses do show that there is ”inherited sin” and that before a child is even born, they are counted guilty before God.
Job 14:4 – “Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!”
Job 25:4 – “How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?”
Now hold on for a minute – don’t start turning your views against me yet – I’m not saying that when a baby dies that they are automatically going to hell! I am writing this post to answer questions, including the ones I had before I did the study on this subject, so that we may better understand this, and learn to look to God’s Word for a better understanding, before developing an opinion.
First of all, let’s look at the three kinds of sin that man has to deal with:
- Inherent sin - sin that is inherited, innate, inborn, inbred
- Imputed sin- sin that is put to our account by virtue of our position in Adam
- Personal sin – sin that is willful disobedience to the will of God
It is nothing the baby did before birth that made him a sinner. As you just read above, there are three sins of which we all are counted guilty before God, and it’s not just because of one sin, our personal sin, that we are then counted a sinner.
Romans 5:12 - “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (My emphases added) This is an excellent example of imputed sin. Sin is imputed (put) to our account through Adam’s disobedience, therefore, we are declared guilty by God.
When it says “death came to all people, because all sinned”… It wouldn’t make sense that someone could die only once they have sinned. So think about this, if babies are born innocent, and one dies at birth – the death part would be because they were born a sinner. Because if they were innocent, death couldn’t happen to them. Therefore it would make sense that in this verse that we are all born sinners.
Psalm 51:5 - “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; in sin, my mother conceived me” (This is an example of inherent sin)
What inherent and imputed sin show, is that we are all born with a sin nature, and we are all declared guilty by God.
Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (My emphases added) This is an excellent example of personal sin.
Unless there is another scripture verse that can be pointed out to me that says “for all have sinned except infants” – will I then understand the meaning of “all” in this verse. For it looks to me that when God says “all”, he means all and everyone.
There are many verses where God tells us about the sinfulness of mankind…..
I Kings 8:46 - “There is no man who doesn’t sin.”
Proverbs 20:9 - “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from sin’?” No one.
Ecclesiastes 7 and verse 20 - “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”
Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it?”
There is something I want to point out here. Everyone is born with a heart, and Proverbs 20:9 is saying that no one can cleanse their heart and be pure from sin – for “the heart of man is deceitful above all things”. Doesn’t that say something?
1 Samuel 16:7 - “. . .The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (My emphases added)
IS SIN INHERITED?
Romans 5:13-14 - “Sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.”
From the time of Adam to the time of Moses, people didn’t have God’s written laws. Paul points out, that though their sins were “not counted” they still died. This looks like proof that God counted people guilty on the basis of Adam’s sin.
Eph. 2:3 - “…gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath…” (My emphases added)
Everyone knows that we are born with a tendency to sin. No child has to be taught to do wrong. It is but by our sinful nature of which this inherited tendency comes.
Romans 5:12 - “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (My emphases added)
Adam, our first representative sinned – and God counted us guilty. But Christ, the representative of all who believe in him, obeyed God perfectly – and God counted us righteous. That is simply the way in which God set up the human race to work. God regards the human race as an organic whole, a unity, represented by Adam as its head. And God also thinks of the new race of Christians, those who are redeemed by Christ, as an organic whole, a unity represented by Christ as head of his people. ~ Wayne Grudem
Sin is imputed (put) to our account through Adam’s disobedience. God says we are guilty because of imputed sin. Not only did we just inherit our sin from Adam, but we are count
ed guilty before God on the account of it.
Look at it this way. Jesus said that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Because Adam disobeyed God and ate the fruit, he is a sinner, and can only bring forth sinners.
Luke 6:43 – “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.”
WHERE WILL A BABY GO THEN?
Without the Bible, some can easily say that infants are born innocent. For God wouldn’t send newborns, or young children, who aren’t yet able to understand the Gospel to hell, would he? So what is the answer when the question arises, “where will an infant go if he died young?”
2 Samuel 12:23 - “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
David is saying that he will see his son when he dies and goes to heaven. But the child cannot now return to David. This is the only verse that we can find, that even mentions a child going to be with God.
I know we all want to believe that all babies and little children who die, automatically go to Heaven. But I cannot find where the Bible says that. I know this view can be a tough one, especially for all parents, but this is something we should just trust God in. We know that God is in full control, and he will do the right thing when it comes to this matter. If they are saved, it will not be because of their innocence, it will be on the basis of Christ’s redeeming work, and God’s mercy and grace.
If it seems unfair to know that we are counted sinners “because of Adam”, then you may want to consider the point Wayne Grudem makes in the following quote:
….If we think it is unfair for us to be represented by Adam, then we should also think it is unfair for us to be represented by Christ and to have his righteousness imputed to us by God. For the procedure that God used was just the same.
After doing this study, and looking deeper into God’s Word, I thought it would better help me explain my view when I wrote this post, along with Scriptural references which give good evidence of inherited guilt and sin from birth.
Thank you for reading,
Kira
Here are some other articles/ books on this subject that you can check out:
What Is The Biblical Evidence For Original Sin? – Desiring God Blog
The Salvation Of Babies Who Die: part 1 – John Mac Arthur
The Salvation Of Babies Who Die: part 2 – John Mac Arthur
The Westminster Shorter Catechism: 2nd Edition by G.I. Williamson
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Filed under: Theology Tagged: | Adam, babies who die, Bible, clean, death, disobedience, evidence, God, grace, guilty, heart, Heaven, hell, impure, imputed sin, infants, inherent sin, John Mac Arthur, law, mankind, mercy, Moses, original sin, personal sin, pure, righteous, salvation, saved, sin, sin nature, sinners, Wayne Grudem
A literal interpretation of Psalm 51:5 is also inconsistent with numerous passages and teachings throughout the Bible. It makes God the Creator of sinners. For the Bible clearly teaches that God is our Creator, that he forms us in our mother’s womb, and that he gives us life, breath, and all things. It directly contradicts the Scriptures that teach that God has created us upright and in his own image. And it makes Jesus a sinner, for the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus took upon himself human nature and became a man. Heb. 2:11, 14, 16-18; Heb. 4:15.
The second rule that it breaks is the rule that a text must not be interpreted in such a way as to contradict reality. We should forever remember that the Bible does not teach nonsense. It does not teach that God breaks our bones when we sin (Psalm 51:8.). It does not teach that broken bones rejoice (Psalm 51:8..). It does not teach that our sins are purged with hyssop (Psalm 51:7). It does not teach that babies speak and tell lies as soon as they are born (Psalm 58:3). It does not teach that men go back into their mother’s womb (Job 1:21). And it does not teach that the substance of unborn babies is sinful (Psalm 51:5). These are all figurative expressions, and to interpret them in their literal sense is to teach nonsense and what every man knows to be impossible and contrary to reality.
This is a very interesting post, Kira. We don’t know for sure where all the unborn children who are killed go. But that verse in 2 Samuel does give some hope that because they don’t have the understanding to do good or ill, maybe God does receive them into heaven. We won’t know until we get there.
The Bible says everyone is born in sin, because of Adam’s sin. This would be very interesting to study. This is something to think on tho. Glad you wrote the post.
Thank you for the comment you left me on the birthday post. Yes, my Momma is very talented. Glad you went and wished Amanda a happy birthday!
Thank you for coming by! It was nice hearing from you.
love and blessings!
Love,
Lady Rachel
Oh and, just wondering, do you use the King James Version Bible?
love and blessings!
Love,
Lady Rachel
Lacy -
Obviously, we do not agree with each other on this. I do believe all men are guilty in Adam, and are therefore born with a corrupt nature. Through Adam’s sin we became guilty and polluted. As our representative, Adam’s sin was imputed to us. And because of this we are all born in a corrupt state, and are guilty in him. This is original sin, not actual sin. And this is the root of all actual sins that are committed. Man is by nature, totally depraved. Where each baby goes when he/ she dies, we won’t know until we get to Heaven. Of course, I would want each one to be able to go to Heaven, however, the Bible does not make this clear.
In Christ,
Kira
Rachel -
We have many Bibles around our house!
We use the NIV, KJV, NKJV and the NASB. I tend to use the NIV the most.
~ Kira
I agree with you. It’s a difficult area though, because I don’t want to think that God would allow ANY babies to go to Hell. Our Reformed Theology would say that everyone is *born* in a state of sin, and therefore, that would send them to hell even if he/she died as a baby. I would like to think that even if children are born in sin, that if a child died at birth God would protect them and allow them to go to heaven. I guess we’ll find out someday!
I had not thought about it much until the past year or so. And it was interesting a few months ago, when one of our elder’s baby boy (Samuel) was crying, and he said Samuel didn’t have any self-control.
Allison –
Thank you for your comment!
I agree with you, this is a difficult subject. I don’t want to see any babies go to Hell either. I guess we can find hope in the verse
2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Love,
Kira
Hi Kira,
I just want to point out, that the first comment by the girl named Lacy is taken word for word from the writings of A.T. Overstreet. I don’t know if this girl realizes that it is considered plagiarism to copy someone elses writings and put it as their own.
I looked up A.T. Overstreet, and his writings are based on Charles G. Finney.
To read more about Charles G. Finney, go to this link:
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue53.htm
By the way, great post!
~ Anonymous
Kira I think you did an excellent job studying, researching, and presenting this. It is definitely something to think on. I haven’t ever really thought about it until I read Lacy’s post.
I haven’t studied it enough to say yes or no indefinitely, but as I said on Lacy’s post I don’t know that I believe babies are born sinners. I believe they are born into sin and have a sin nature, and will sin at a very young age, even though they won’t be able to grasp what they’re doing.
The verse you posted about sin being inherent I think you’re right, but I’m not sure if it means they are sinners when they’re born. I think rather it might mean inherent as in because they were born of a human they have the same sin-nature… it’s “inherent”. Like if both your parents have brown eyes it would be inherent that you would also get brown eyes. Inherent means “Existing in something else, so as to be inseparable from it”. We are inseparable from our sinful-nature.
However, whether they are born sinners or not I do think that all children (and babies) who don’t understand the Gospel or didn’t live long enough to do so will go to Heaven. Jesus said in the Gospels “let the children come unto me for such is the Kingdom of Heaven”. He would not turn them away.
And you should use the KJV…. it’s the closest to the original Greek and Hebrew, and is the easiest version to read in terms of what the authors meant. You’ll be intrigued to find out that many of the other versions are of New Age origins – yeah does that sound wrong or what?
Oh I don’t think the 2 Samuel 12:23 verse was used in context…I don’t think David was talking about seeing him when he goes to heaven. I think he was saying “He’s dead. I cannot bring him back to life. If I go to him[his body] he will not come back to me so why should I fast when he is dead”
He prayed and fasted while Jedidiah was being born, praying that God might have mercy on him and spare the child, but God told David the child would die. So when he did died David quit fasting and praying as it was a hopeless matter. He would “not return to me”.
I have read both your post and Lacy’s. To tell you the truth, I have not seen evidence directly supporting either claim.
But where does baptism come in here? I think there is a connection between baptism and this topic.
Hey!! I’m really glad that you decided to attack this subject. It is generally acknowledged by Christians that all babies when they die shall go to heaven. Phrases like “age of accountability” and “innocent as a child” probably came from the teachings of the Torah (that would be Genesis-Deuteronomy). It talks about how a child is not held accountable for his actions until he is older (Deut. 21:18-23). This particular reference does not specify age, however. It merely states that parents must train up their children with wisdom.
Now, I have never found Biblical backing for the belief in the phrase “age of accountability”. I am persuaded that God loves the children and that God does not wish that any should perish. I also believe that God is a God of mercy. If he desires to save the children than he may… but He is God and WHATEVER he does is right (Read Romans 8:14- end of chapter). I don’t know everything or even half of it. But God does, and, weather or not we agree, He knows what is best. We cannot base our opinions on what we would like or on what we think, but ONLY on what the Bible says.
We must face the fact that all have sinned and are guilty at birth (that is why Christ was not born of and earthly man. Sin nature is passed on “…from father to son” I can’t for the life of me find that reference and I don’t have time this morning).
God is perfect and cannot tolerate sin in any form, that’s why he sent his son. Now, does this mean that all children who die are going to go to hell? I don’t know, I hope not and I don’t think so, but I don’t know.
I’m going to be doing a study on this and I’m thinking about opening up a forum type thing over at my blog to discuss this topic.
Thanks again Kira!
Blessings!!
In Christ~
I think you did an excellent job of addressing this topic. It is a difficult one, but when we accept God’s sovereignty over all things I believe we can rest in peace about little babies who die before they can make a profession of faith. God’s Spirit works in ways we cannot see. I believe that God does have a plan for those who are physically incapable of making an outward profession of faith. It’s one of those things we need to trust Him with.
Anyway, you have a beautiful blog and I will return!
This blog is absolute trash! Nobody in their right mind would believe that my God of love would send an innocent child to Hell! Yes, I believe in inherent sin but that is EXACTLY what Jesus came to Earth to save us from! Jesus loved the children with all His heart and there is no way that He would see any child suffer in Hell!
Matthew 18:1-6 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven? And calling to Him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 19:14 but Jesus said, Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.
Romans 9:11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad–in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls–
Emma,
Thank you for your comment. Though, I don’t feel there was a need for you to call my blog trash just because you felt you disagreed with my post.
First of all, I want to humbly clarify, that my post was to point out that we are born with inherent sin. My intention of the post was not to argue whether infants and children will go to Hell when they die. I truly hope that they all go to Heaven, however, I don’t see where the Bible is clear on that, so I have to admit I do not have an answer.
In reply to the verses you listed – from what I’ve studied, I have found that passages like Matthew 18:1-6 and 19:13-15 don’t affirm that children go to Heaven, but they do show God’s heart and love towards them. Like my ESV study Bible notes say, these verses are using children as a metaphor of the humility necessary for entrance into the kingdom of Heaven.
All I can say, is that God is absolutely sovereign in salvation. We don’t deserve it, cannot earn it, it’s all grace, and what He chooses in this matter is His right (even though we all hope that He would choose for all babies/young children to go to Heaven).
Here are some helpful links on this topic: John MacArthur, Wayne Grudem, Time Challies.
Hi Kira,
Thanks for your post – I was researching inherited sin for my wife when I came accross the heresy espoused by A.T. Overstreet. I was confused because he made sense, but I knew he was leaving passages out . . you have accurately brought those to light.
My bother (also my pastor) points out that the inherited “sin” that we all are born with is very easily explainable through DNA. Our DNA is Adam’s DNA (a few generations removed) . . . We were in Adam when he sinned. . . All of us.
Here’s more support to this entire conversation from the scientific community:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1275574/Babies-know-difference-good-evil-months-study-reveals.html
Hello Jonathan,
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and leave a comment!
I will head over to the link you provided – I’ll be interested in reading that.
Kira, Job 25:4? Those are not the words of God, but Bildad the Shuhite. And what did God say about Bildad’s words? (Addressing Eliphaz the Temanite) “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7 NASB) You seem like a nice young lady. However, it did not take me long, stumbling upon this blog, to know that your upbringing is Calvinistic. Only a Calvinist could not be sure a dying infant is destined for Heaven. I highly encourage you to read A.T. Overstreet. I believe he was mentioned in one of the responses above. I don’t agree with him completely, but his general premise is scripturally based. Read it with an open heart and MIND. (I would also like you to contrast abortion to your doubt. I submit if abortion is unjust, so is God sending infants to hell. You can’t have it both ways.) I know you love and trust your parents, but you will eventually be held accountable for all your beliefs. I’ll give you a pass for now, you are only 16 (I also was taught original sin as truth growing up.) However, it’s my prayer you will shake heresies like original sin and unconditional election at some point in your future.
“Among the gross falsehoods which have been uttered against the Calvinist Proper is the wicked calumny [slander] that we hold the damnation of little infants. A baser lie was never uttered. There may have existed somewhere in some corner of the earth, a miscreant (a criminal) who would dare to say that there were infants in hell, but I have never met with him, nor have I met with a man who ever saw such a person! We say with regard to infants, Scripture saith but little, and therefore, where Scripture is confessedly scant, it is for no man to determine dogmatically, but I think I speak for the entire body or certainly with exceedingly few exceptions and those unknown to me when I say we hold that all infants who die are elect of God and are therefore saved! We look to this as being the means by which Christ shall see of the travail of his soul to a great degree and we do sometimes hope that thus the multitude of the saved shall be made to exceed the multitude of the lost. Whatever views our friends may hold upon the point, they are not necessarily connected with Calvinistic doctrine! I believe that the Lord Jesus who said, ‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven,’ doth daily and constantly receive into his loving arms, those tender ones who are only shown and then snatched away to heaven.”
–Charles Spurgeon
You have not found one scripture that says when a person is born he has sin in him. It is not found any where in scripture. You have taken many scriptures and attempted to “MAKE” them say things. No disrespect. All doctrine must be in agreement with all scripture or it is false.
The wages of sin is death. Without sin, there would be no death. If a child/baby/fetus did not carry the guilt of sin, little babies would not die, there would be no stillborn babies, and there would be no miscarriages. Because that is all the wages of sin.