Original Sin
When the word sin gets thrown around, it is usually helpful to discuss what this actually means. Once this definition is laid out, then one can properly define what original sin means. When it comes to the word sin, theologians have come up with a fancy word to study this and it is called hamartiology (Bird, 2013). Sin can be described as the act that broke humankind’s relationship with God (Bird, 2013). Many words throughout the Old Testament and New Testament describe the nature of sin: lawlessness (Gk. anomia; willful violation of God’s law), transgression (Gk. parabasis; crossing over a boundary), rebellion (Gk. apeithes; deliberate rejection), perversion (Gk. diastrepho; bent or twisted), and missing the mark (Gk. harmatia; Bird, 2013; Grudem, 2004). Sin is the despising of God, an attempt to dethrone God, the worship of self, and “is the evil that emerges in the absence of good” (Bird, 2013, p. 670). McQuilkin and Copan (2014) summarize sin this way,
Sin is a departure from the character and will of God—a deviation from the way things ought to be. Shalom (“peace”) in the Old Testament represents life that is well-ordered, whole, flourishing, and right with God and others. By contrast, sin is anti-shalom. (p. 158)
When it comes to the doctrine of original sin or the peccatum originale, this describes more of the outcome or inheritance people suffer today due to the original rebellion against God done in the Garden during the beginning of humanity (Gen 3; Berkhof, 1938; Diffey, 2015; Hodge, 1997). Due to the craftiness, deceit, pollution, and misrepresentation of God’s Word, Satan was able to convince Eve to disobey the very Words of God which in turn caused Adam to fall into sin and disobey God (Gill, 1839; Grudem, 2004). It is due to the fall that pain, thorns, suffering, evil, man’s inhumanity, decay, and even death were introduced to humankind (Berkhof, 1938; Diffey, 2015; Genesis 2:17 & Romans 6:23). Diffey (2015) notes,
Paul stated that sin and death entered the world through Adam’s sin, and because of this, as well as the sins each person commits, everyone is a transgressor, sinful by nature, and under the just judgment of a holy God.” (para. 9; Berkhof, 1938; Romans 5:12-15, 18-21)
Original sin thereby is a miserable condition that the human race is born in to by default due to the original fall of humanity (“Grand Canyon University, 2019; McQuilkin & Copan, 2014). It is an inherited guilt that every human suffers from in which people are naturally inclined to evil (Heb. 3:12), they are deceitful, desperately sick (Jer. 17:9), and totally depraved (Berkhof, 1938; Bird, 2013; Gill, 1839; Hodge, 1997). What is interesting about original sin is that theologians actually debate this! G.K Chesterton (1959) has famously said, “certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proven” (p. 53).
Hodge (1997) accurately labels why it is called original sin:
(1.) Because it is truly of the nature of sin. (2.) Because it flows from our first parents as the origin of our race. (3.) Because it is the origin of all other sins; and (4.) Because it is in its nature distinguished from actual sins. (Vol. 2, p. 227)
Therefore, original sin by nature bends humanity towards sinful acts due to the inheritance of Adam’s sin. Humanities hearts are deceitful and beyond cure (Jer. 17:9), they only think of evil continually (Ge. 6:5; Heb. 3:12), they are filled with a desire for wrong (Ecc. 8:11), and they do not desire or seek after God (Rom. 3:11). Original sin makes people slaves to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16-20). This is precisely why Jesus says, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander” (Matt. 15:19). It is these sins and many others that are directly related to original sin.
References
Berkhof, L. (1938). Systematic theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co.
Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical theology: A Biblical and systematic introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Chesterton, G. (1959). Orthodoxy: One man's journey to sound belief. San Luis Obispo, CA: The Parable Group.
Diffey, D. (2015). Departure from wisdom. In A. DiVincenzo (Ed.), The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Retrieved from http://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-introduction-to-christian-thought-and-life/v2.1/#/chapter/4
Gill, J. (1839). A complete body of doctrinal and practical divinity: Or a system of evangelical truths, deduced from the sacred Scriptures(New Edition, Vol. I & II). London: Tegg & Company.
Grand Canyon University. (2019). HTH-330 topic 2 overview: Moral formation in a fallen world[HTML Document]. Retrieved from http://lc.gcu.edu/
Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: An introduction to Biblical doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.
Hodge, C. (1997). Systematic theology. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
McQuilkin, R., & Copan, P. (2014). An introduction to Biblical ethics: Walking in the way of wisdom (Third ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.