Topical Bible: Man: Born in Sin

◄ Man: Born in Sin ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of man being born in sin is a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, rooted in the narrative of the Fall in the Book of Genesis and further expounded upon in the New Testament. This doctrine asserts that all human beings inherit a sinful nature due to the original sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Original Sin and the Fall

The doctrine of original sin originates from the account of the Fall in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve's disobedience to God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil resulted in the corruption of their nature and the introduction of sin into the human race. Genesis 3:6 states, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

The consequences of this act were immediate and far-reaching. Genesis 3:17-19 describes the curse placed upon Adam and the ground, leading to a life of toil and eventual physical death. This event marks the entrance of sin into the world, affecting all of creation and every subsequent human being.

Inherited Sinful Nature

The Apostle Paul elaborates on the concept of inherited sin in his epistles. In Romans 5:12 , he writes, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." This passage underscores the belief that Adam's sin resulted in a fallen nature being passed down to all his descendants, making every person inherently sinful from birth.

David, in Psalm 51:5 , acknowledges this inherent sinfulness, stating, "Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me." This verse is often cited to support the idea that humans are born with a predisposition to sin, not merely as a result of their own actions but as an inherited condition.

The Universality of Sin

The universality of sin is a key aspect of this doctrine. Romans 3:23 declares, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse emphasizes that no one is exempt from the taint of sin, reinforcing the belief that all humanity is in need of redemption.

The Apostle John also affirms this in 1 John 1:8 , "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." This acknowledgment of universal sinfulness is crucial for understanding the necessity of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Need for Redemption

The doctrine of man being born in sin highlights the need for divine intervention and redemption. The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the solution to the problem of sin. In Romans 5:18-19 , Paul contrasts the disobedience of Adam with the obedience of Christ: "So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."

Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus provides the means for humanity to be reconciled with God, offering forgiveness and a new nature to those who believe in Him. This transformative process is described in 2 Corinthians 5:17 , "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!"

Conclusion

The doctrine of man being born in sin is integral to understanding the human condition and the Christian narrative of redemption. It underscores the need for a Savior and the transformative power of Christ's atoning work, offering hope and restoration to a fallen world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Man Born Blind and Joseph of Arimathea
... blind. We find the Lord's disciples asking Him: "Master, who did sin, this
man or his parents, that he was born blind?". Jesus answered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vi the man born blind.htm

Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
... suffered, regarding it as a case of extreme hardship, for to be born blind is ... in
some pre-existing state.] 3 Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxi contention over the man.htm

Original Sin
... many men are infected with many vices, and even born with a ... declares that all men
are conceived in sin," and "shapen ... that hence there is in every man a "carnal ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 44 original sin.htm

Jesus Cures a Blind Man
... blind, and the disciples asked him, "Master, for whose sin, his own or his parents',
was this man born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither for his own sin nor his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jesus cures a blind man.htm

Of This, Then, Ye have Now Received, have Meditated...
... We were brought low, became mortal, were filled with fears, with errors: this
by desert of sin: with which desert and guilt is every man born. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the creeds/section 2 of this then.htm

The Old Man and the New.
... strength. That person was once born in the old man, and therefore was born
in trespasses and sin, and is a child of wrath by nature. And ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xii the old man and.htm

A Miracle in Jerusalem.
... disciples asked him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that
he should be born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/a miracle in jerusalem.htm

The Man Christ Jesus
... For this man was not "born in sin," as we are; neither was he "shapen in iniquity."
This is a thing to be thought of and considered in our privacy, but it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the man christ jesus.htm

Letter Lxviii. To Castrutius.
... When the Apostles speculated concerning the man that was born blind from the womb
and asked our Lord and Saviour: "Who did sin, this man or his parents, that ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxviii to castrutius.htm

Another Cavil Met, IE , the Devil who Instigated Man to Sin ...
... prince's: for none among human beings was either born in the ... is none else than the
very author of sin who was denoted in the person of a sinful man: he was ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter x another cavil met i e.htm