Are Men Born Sinners? - Library of Theology

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Introduction Ignorance protects and perpetuates the doctrine of original sin. Most Christians who profess to believe in the doctrine of original sin are ignorant of exactly what its teachings really are. They are ignorant of the fact that the doctrine has not always existed. They are ignorant of the fact that it evolved, that it had its roots in a heathen philosophy, and that it was made a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in the 5th century A.D. They are ignorant of the fact that it is only a theory, and that there is really not one but several differing theories that have evolved and come down to us in the church. They are also ignorant of the fact that the Bible passages used as proof-texts for this doctrine have been taken out of context and tortured into teaching a doctrine that is completely foreign to the Bible. Finally, they are ignorant of the fact that the doctrine of original sin is an evil doctrine that corrupts Christian practice, blackens the character of God, excuses sin in the sinner, contradicts the Bible, makes Jesus a sinner, harms the cause of Christ, and stumbles professing Christians into hell. And it is this ignorance of Christians concerning these facts that helps to protect and perpetuate the doctrine of original sin. I must confess that at one time I also preached that men are born sinners. At that time I had only been saved a short while and had little knowledge of the Word of God. I testified and preached at street meetings, in jail services, and in missions and taught that men are sinners and lost because they were "conceived and born in sin." Why? Because that is what I had heard other preachers preach. I was ignorant at that time concerning the very doctrine I was preaching. But at the time I was preaching this I felt a check in my spirit. I did not feel right about telling sinners that they were sinners and on their way to hell because they were born sinners. My God-given convictions of justice told me that a sinner could not be to blame for and could not sincerely repent for the nature he was born with. It was later, in my studies of theology at Bethany Bible College, that I came across a copy of Charles G. Finney's Lectures on Systematic Theology and, through it, came to realize that the doctrine of original sin was a false and unbiblical doctrine. The doctrine of original sin is not only false and unbiblical, it is also gross superstition. At one time men thought that the earth was flat and that sailors were in danger of sailing off the edge of the world. Now, regrettably, there is superstition in the church concerning the most fundamental doctrine of the Bible the doctrine of sin for the church teaches that sin can be propagated and that men are born sinners. Are men born sinners? Our answer to this question will affect our attitude toward sin and will ultimately affect our conduct as well. The Christian's views on sin cannot help but affect his conduct. If the Christian believes he is born with a sinful nature and sins unavoidably because of that nature, he is not likely to view his sins as the serious crimes they really are. If he believes he has a nature that makes holiness impossible, he is not likely to be concerned about sinning against God. If he believes that God is his Creator
and that he has been created with a sinful nature, this must affect his attitude toward God and the justice of God's dealings with man. Are men born sinners? Our answer to this question is of supreme importance. For how we answer it will have a direct bearing on our attitude toward sin, toward God, and toward holy Christian living.
Page 1 and 2: Are Men Born Sinners? The Myth of O
Page 3: Appendix A: The Nature and Attribut
Page 7 and 8: are born: "The wicked are estranged
Page 9 and 10: We are the offspring of God. Acts 1
Page 11 and 12: Biblical proof-texts. It is these p
Page 13 and 14: not a substance. It has absolutely
Page 15 and 16: flesh and of the mind." And then, s
Page 17 and 18: Rom. 5:12-19 does not in any way te
Page 19 and 20: This is the incredible dogma that i
Page 21 and 22: And, If in Adam human nature as a w
Page 23 and 24: e disciplined and purified. He taug
Page 25 and 26: Even the most cultured Fathers from
Page 27 and 28: They being the root of all mankind,
Page 29 and 30: 2. It means that, since we are the
Page 31 and 32: possible to make mankind miserable
Page 33 and 34: 10. The fact that men will deny the
Page 35 and 36: think of the multitudes upon multit
Page 37 and 38: Part Two: Answering the Christian's
Page 39 and 40: men are tempted through the desires
Page 41 and 42: doctrine that Christians were now d
Page 43 and 44: Christ, he points out that Levi had
Page 45 and 46: Why? doth not the son bear the iniq
Page 47 and 48: Those who heartily believe in the d
Page 49 and 50: forth good fruit; but a corrupt tre
Page 51 and 52: appealing to the false logic that "
Page 53 and 54: commanded the sun and not the earth
Page 55 and 56:
Second, the doctrine of original si
Page 57 and 58:
Part Three: Implications of a False
Page 59 and 60:
5. It is a stumbling-block to the u
Page 61 and 62:
The Bible says that God will "judge
Page 63 and 64:
heathen philosophy, and was foisted
Page 65 and 66:
would lose all its force and meanin
Page 67 and 68:
In 426 or 427, it was reported to A
Page 69 and 70:
But again, the doctrine of inabilit
Page 71 and 72:
The doctrine of a natural inability
Page 73 and 74:
they think reason is to be distrust
Page 75 and 76:
art Four: Insurmountable Problems o
Page 77 and 78:
sinned in Adam before they were bor
Page 79 and 80:
Who will have all men to be saved,
Page 81 and 82:
John wrote his epistles, condemning
Page 83 and 84:
No man is able...by any grace recei
Page 85 and 86:
means has been born and continues t
Page 87 and 88:
Return to the Index Chapter 12: God
Page 89 and 90:
Is God telling lies when he makes t
Page 91 and 92:
6. See further commentary on Romans
Page 93 and 94:
Finney, Charles G., Lectures on Sys
Page 95 and 96:
Appendix A The Nature and Attribute
Page 97 and 98:
until they have a knowledge of good
Page 99 and 100:
accountability, for this they had b
Page 101 and 102:
Matt. 13:38-39; John 3:8; Rev. 12:9
Page 103 and 104:
summing up of all he had said befor
Page 105 and 106:
"The righteousness of the law" is "
Page 107 and 108:
The Bible can be used to prove the
Page 109 and 110:
constitution and this mental consti
Page 111 and 112:
It follows that the elect may deman
Page 113 and 114:
us certain irresistible convictions
Page 115 and 116:
manifestly angry; but I do not reco
Page 117 and 118:
Excerpts from Charles G. Finney's L
Page 119 and 120:
where only the potency comes into a
Page 121 and 122:
striking and melancholy evidences o
Page 123 and 124:
this was through a degradation of t
Page 125 and 126:
12-21. This passage has been usuall
Page 127:
8. Moses Stuart, Commentary on Roma
show all

Are Men Born Sinners? - Library of Theology

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?