Articles
Inherited Sin?
Jesus said, "in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).
The doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity (THD), popularized by John Calvin, is a doctrine and commandment of man. This false doctrine of man is basically the teaching that all men are depraved, in other words, they are caught up in and guilty of sin at birth. Man is said to be wholly or totally sinful and that man's sinful condition is hereditary (one's sinful state comes to each newborn baby from his/her parents). This false doctrine of man simply says that Adam's sin has been transmitted to the whole world and that every baby born into this world is totally sinful.
Does the Bible teach such a doctrine? NO! Let's notice what the inspired Word of God does teach.
"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). The prophet of old taught, by verbal inspiration, that a man was only guilty of the sins that he himself commits. The New Testament writers, by the verbal inspiration of God, teach the same doctrine (in other words, the Truth).
The apostle John states the truth of God very plainly concerning inherited sin. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). John says that the person that violates the law of God is the one that is guilty of sin. The apostle goes on to say, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:7-8). John is saying that the man that lives righteous is the one that is righteous and the man that commits sin is the one guilty of that sin.
Listen now to Jesus Christ himself: "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-4). Jesus taught that each of us, as children of God, should be as little children. Was Jesus saying that we all need to become sinners like John Calvin taught they are? NO!
Friend, little children aren't born sinners; neither do they inherit sin from Adam or their parents. Nowhere in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is such a doctrine taught. If there is such a scripture in the Bible, would someone please show me!
