Are Men Born Sinners? - Library of Theology

John wrote his epistles, condemning those "who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh" because of the teaching of the Gnostics. The Gnostics had a syncretic religion
that combined Christianity with eastern religion, pagan philosophies, and the doctrines of
mysticism and gnosis. They denied that Jesus Christ came in the flesh because of their
philosophical belief that matter is evil. So according to their belief, if Jesus had come
with a real human body, he would have been sinful. They denied the real incarnation of
Christ, his bodily sufferings on the cross, and his bodily resurrection because of their
view that man's material body and all material things are polluted and sinful. They denied
that he came in the flesh to save him from sin. His fleshly manifestations were not real
but only apparent.
It was from the teachings of gnosticism, with its pagan philosophical belief that all
material things are essentially evil, that the doctrine of original sin was born. Augustine,
the father of the doctrine of original sin, was for many years a disciple of the
Manichaeans, which was a Gnostic sect. His doctrine of physical moral depravity and of
inherited physical sinfulness had its roots in the teachings of gnosticism.
Why is all of this important? Because the Bible teaches that Jesus was a man and that he
came in the flesh. However, the doctrine of original sin teaches that man, his flesh, and
his bodily nature are corrupted and sinful because of Adam's transgression. It is
impossible to believe the doctrine of man's inherited bodily sinfulness without either
believing that Jesus was born a sinner or that he was not a man. For if the doctrine of
original sin is true, either Jesus was born a sinner or he was not a man! Jesus was a man.
He did come in the flesh, and he was without sin. Therefore the doctrine of original sin
cannot be true. It is a myth and a lie.
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not
those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever
transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in
the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you,
and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. II John 7-11
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in the flesh
is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should
come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are
of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of
God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know
we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. I John 4:2-6
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. John 1:14