Are Men Born Sinners? - Library of Theology

But again, the doctrine of inability contradicts the very heart of the Gospel the good news
that Jesus died to liberate us from our sins:
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,
according to the will of God and our Father. Gal. 1:4
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from his iniquities. Acts 3:26
Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish. Eph. 5:25-27
If the doctrine of inability is true, the atonement of Christ was a failure, because he died
to "redeem us from all iniquity," to "deliver us from this present evil world," to "turn us
from our iniquities," and to make us "holy, and without spot, wrinkle, or blemish."
The doctrine of inability demeans the grace and the power of God. What a low opinion
preachers have of the grace and power of God when they say that God cannot enable his
people to live without sin. God tells us that "sin shall not have dominion over us because
we are under his grace," he tells us that "where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound," and he tells us that we are "kept by the power of God, through faith." But the
doctrine of inability tells us that, with all of God's abounding grace, we are still unable to
obey him and live without sin. Listen as the advocates of original sin cast aspersions upon
the power of God's grace to free from sin: "No man is able...by any grace received in this
life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought,
word, and deed." Larger Catechism.
The doctrine of inability makes God a liar. He solemnly promises to keep us from being
tempted above our ability to obey. He promises to liberate us from all sin, and to preserve
us in righteousness and holiness, but according to the doctrine of inability, his promises
are all empty. If the doctrine of inability is true, then God is insincere and deceitful
because he commands us to do what he knows we cannot do. Surely if the doctrine of
inability is true, God knows about it. Yet in the face of all this, he commands: "Be ye
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" and "As he which hath called
you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Matt. 5:48, I Peter 1:15. Now if
God gives us these commandments, knowing that it is impossible for us to obey them,
then he is insincere and deceitful.
The fact is that the doctrine of inability turns the whole Bible upside-down. It mocks both
the promises and the commandments of God. It blackens God's character, demeans his
grace, and excuses the sinner in his sins. It is not just a harmless myth and religious