Are we punished for Adam’s sin? Will God hold us accountable for what Adam did in the Garden of Eden? It does not make sense that we should be punished for something we did not do. After all, we were not there in the Garden. We did not do anything. So, are we punished for Adam’s sin?
The answer is yes and no.
On one hand, we suffer the consequences of Adam's disobedience and have inherited a sinful nature from him (Rom. 5:12-23). The Bible states that “ . . . through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned," (Rom. 5:12 - all Bible quotes are from the NASB). Adam sinned. We did not. He was in the Garden of Eden. We were not. When we face God on the Day of Judgment, the Lord will not say to us, "Adam sinned, so you are going to pay for it." We are responsible for our own sins, not the sins of others.
On the other hand, we are affected by Adam’s sin. This is how. Before the fall, Adam was sinless, perfect, and good (Gen. 1:31). He had a ‘good’ nature. But, after the fall, he became a sinner. His nature was changed from ‘good’ to ‘bad.’ Since we are his children, we inherit his sinful nature (Rom. 5:12). In this sense, we suffer for what Adam did; that is, he caused his descendants to have sinful natures and all of us suffer because of it. This is called original sin. It means that we have inherited a sinful nature and that all of what we are as individuals (mind, body, soul, spirit, emotions, and thought) is touched by sin. But this does not mean that we are as sinful as we can be. After all, God has written His Law on our hearts (Rom. 1:19; 2:15).
In addition, the fall deeply affected all of creation. God had given dominion of the world to Adam. Adam sinned and sin entered the "world" as it says in Romans 5:12. That means that death entered the world along with disease, pestilence, earthquakes, famine, etc. They all have their root in the fall. That is why the Bible states that creation is longing for its redemption (Rom. 8:18-22).
Different Views on Original Sin
Calvinism
Generally speaking, the Calvinists maintain that the sin of Adam was imputed (made to count for) to the whole human race. This is maintained largely concerning the concept of Federal Headship. This is a theological term for one person representing another person or group. Consider Hebrews 7:7-10,
But without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case, one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Levi was a descendant of Abraham, but because he was still in the loins (seed) of his Father Abraham, when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, Levi is said to have paid them also. The concept is that Abraham represented his descendants and the tithes were counted to Levi as well.
Therefore, if Adam's sin was imputed to his descendants, all of them are guilty of sin and justly deserve punishment.
Arminianism
Generally speaking, the Arminians maintain that we inherited a sin nature from Adam and sin due to that nature. We are not guilty for Adam's sin and cannot be punished unless we actually sin.
Whichever view or combination of these views you hold, we suffer for Adam’s sin by effect as well as nature. We are sinners and live in a sinful world. We are suffering the consequences of Adam’s sin. We have our own sin to contend with because we are by nature, children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). We are sinners.
What is original sin?
Original sin is known in two senses: the Fall of Adam as the "original" sin and the hereditary fallen nature and moral corruption that is passed down from Adam to his descendants. It is called "original" in that Adam, the first man, is the one who sinned and thus caused sin to enter the world. Even though Eve is the one who sinned first, because Adam is the Federal Head (representative of mankind), his fall included or represented all of humanity. Therefore, some hold that original sin includes the falling of all humanity. Some see original sin as Adam's fallen nature is passed to his descendants. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned," (Rom. 5:12).
Original sin is not a physical corruption, but a moral and spiritual corruption. It could be compared to the Reformed Doctrine of Total Depravity which states that sin has touched all parts of what a person is: heart, mind, soul, will, thoughts, desires, etc.
There has been much debate over the nature of the sin of Adam and how it effected mankind. Pelagius taught that Adam's sin influenced the human race only as a bad example and that all people are born in the same state as Adam was before his fall. Augustine taught that men inherit natural corruption from Adam.1
At the return of Christ and the resurrection of all Christians, the sin nature will be done away with.
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Very well put. Yes we are sinners and yes those who are not in Christ will be judged someday for the sins committed in their bodies.
ReplyDeleteBut there is one thought you did not cover ... and that is Jesus took care of the sin problem when He became sin on the cross. All sin, past, present and future was placed on Him.
What I am trying to say is this ... a person doesn't go to hell because of his sin. He goes to hell because he never accepted what Jesus did on the cross. He goes to hell only because he wasn't born again, not because he sinned.
Only if your name is not found in the Book of Life will the other books be opened, the books that contain all your sin from which you will then be judged from.
I don't know about anyone else's book but mine would be pretty thick. Thank God because of Jesus, mine will stay closed.
I love you my brother ... keep writing, it's good stuff.
Following Him.
Thank you for your encouragement. Yes, thank God that He so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten to cover our sin with His blood. Indeed, the sin is dealt with past, present, and future.
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