"Original" Sin
Theologians often distinguish between the sinful acts that we commit and the sinful nature that we possess. We all have been corrupted by Adam's fall; we all are deemed sinners even before we sin. The widespread rite of infant baptism is linked closely with the acknowledgment of this belief. The idea is that a newborn child who dies without having been baptized will be lost eternally because the child is a sinner, and if this sinfulness is not somehow taken care of, the child loses eternal life.
There is no scriptural support for this practice, nor for the idea that a child who dies is automatically condemned to destruction. Now, it is true that the "original" sin of Adam and Eve has had all-pervasive consequences that impact everyone. Sin entered the world through one person, and through this sin death came to "all men" (Rom. 5:12, NIV).
How does the apostle Paul describe the powerful tendencies toward sinful behavior with which all of us are born? Rom. 8:7, 8; 7:21-24. How have you experienced the reality of these tendencies in your own life?
Through the ages some Christians have declared that they achieved a state of perfection. Yet, those who claim perfection delude themselves. It is contrary to the clear words of Scripture. Quoting Psalm 106:6 Paul stated: " 'There is no one righteous, not even one!' " (Rom. 3:10, NIV). His fellow apostle John is just as adamant: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8, NIV).
"Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to earnestly cry to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome, and there is no stopping place. There is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained."—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 947.
| Suppose you reached a point where you truly had victory over sin; that is, you weren't committing any known sin. More so, you were always kind, loving, generous, and living in accordance with all the light you had. Suppose you "perfectly" reflected the character of Jesus. Why, though, would you still need a Savior whose righteousness alone can allow you to stand with "no condemnation" (Rom. 8:1) before God? |
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