Are Men Born Sinners? - Library of Theology

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
Anyone who has read much of God's Word knows that the above declarations are
altogether foreign to the Bible. The Bible teaches that the believer can live without sin.
Its pages are filled with promises to the believer that he can live a holy life and have
victory over sin, temptation, the world, the flesh, and the devil:
Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed. John 8:34, 36
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. I John 5:4
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither
known him. I John 3:6.
And we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God
keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. I John 5:18
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God. I John 3:9
Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Rom.
6:6
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory
and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24, 25
Now, who are we going to believe? Will we accept the uncertain declarations of mere
men or will we accept the sure Word of God? If, after all that God has said and promised
in his Holy Book, it is still impossible to live without sin, then God is a liar, deceitful, and
insincere. Surely, if it is impossible to live without sin, God knows it! Yet he promises
victory over sin. He commands holiness and Christian perfection. "Be ye holy, for I am
holy." I Peter 1:15. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as you father which is in heaven is
perfect." Matt. 5:48. Would God command us to walk in Christian holiness and Christian
perfection if he knew it was impossible for us? I cannot believe it! Do those who
propagate the evil doctrine of original sin know its implications on the character of God?
If God knows that we can't obey him, if he knows that we are born with a corrupt sinful
nature which makes obedience impossible, then he is insincere and deceitful in
commanding us to do what he knows is impossible. And if God knows that we are born
with a sinful nature that makes sin necessary, then all his promises of grace and power to
keep us from sin are lies.