Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

under condemnation and therefore need the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
Children are never made an exception to this rule, cf. the preceding passages and also
John 3:3,5; I John 5:12. This is not contradicted by those passages which ascribe a certain
righteousness to man, such as, Matt. 9:12,13; Acts 10:35; Rom. 2:14; Phil. 3:6; I Cor. 1:30,
for this may be either civil righteousness, ceremonial or covenant righteousness, the
righteousness of the law, or the righteousness which is in Christ Jesus.
C. THE CONNECTION OF ADAM’S SIN WITH THAT OF THE RACE.
1. THE DENIAL OF THIS CONNECTION. Some deny the causal connection of the sin of
Adam with the sinfulness of the human race either wholly or in part.
a. Pelagians and Socinians deny absolutely that there is any necessary connection
between our sin and the sin of Adam. The first sin was Adam’s sin only and does not
concern his posterity in any way. The most they will admit is that the evil example of
Adam led to imitation.
b. Semi-Pelagians and the earlier Arminians teach that man inherited a natural
inability from Adam, but is not responsible for this inability, so that no guilt attaches to
it, and it may even be said that God is somewhat under obligation to provide a cure for
it. The Wesleyan Arminians admit that this inborn corruption also involves guilt.
c. The New School (New Haven) theory teaches that man is born with an inherent
tendency to sin, in virtue of which his moral preference is invariably wrong; but that
this tendency cannot itself be called sin, since sin always consists exclusively in
conscious and intentional transgression of the law.
d. The Theology of crisis stresses the solidarity of sin in the human race, but denies
that sin originated in an act of Adam in paradise. The fall belongs to pre- or super-
history, and is already a thing of the past when the historical Adam appears upon the
scene. It is the secret of God’s predestination. The story of the fall is a myth. Adam
appears as the type of Christ in so far as it can be seen in him that life without sin is
possible in communion with God. Says Brunner: “In Adam all have sinned — that is the
Biblical statement; but how? The Bible does not tell us that. The doctrine of original sin
is read into it.” 40
40 Man in Revolt, p. 142.
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