by admin | Apr 12, 2019 | Christian Religion, Faith
There are a few different understandings when it comes to the doctrine of Original sin. This ranges from the belief that man has inherited a sinful nature at birth to the belief that everyone is from birth born already being a sinner. Everyone is already a sinner even though they have not yet personally sinned because they have inherited the sin of Adam. It is through the latter belief that the doctrine of infant baptism was born. A child would require to be baptised in order to wash that sin away as if the child were to die before baptism then the child would die in essence a sinner and would not therefore be saved. This has caused countless mothers who have had to first deal with the loss of a child to then also have to deal with the belief that that child has either no salvation or has to progress through purgatory in order to obtain salvation.
But is original sin Biblical. The FIRST and most IMPORTANT thing we need to do before starting the answer to this question is to separate Original sin and INHERENT Original sin. These 2 are NOT the same….and I will repeat this because it is very important, Original sin and INHERENT Original sin are NOT the same.
There is a fundamental difference between the doctrine of original sin and the doctrine of Inherent original sin.
Original sin is biblical, Inherent original sin is NOT.
When most people argue for or against original sin they actually include inherent original sin in the argument. The 2 are combined. This is an INCORRECT argument.
So let's look at both of these and show how people get this wrong and what the correct understanding should be.
Original sin.
The Bible very clearly states that through Adam’s sin, through one man, sin entered into the world.
Romans 5-12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5-19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
It is very clear that there was an original sin, the first sin of man. Sin then entered into the world as before it sin was not in the world. This sin then is the first sin it is the original sin. However this is very different than saying each and every person is born with that sin already attributed to them. They are in essence born already being a sinner. Although they have yet to personally sin Adam's sin, the original sin is already credited to their “account”. This is inherent original sin. And it is this belief that is more often than not being referred to when people talk about original sin. As I also stated there is also the belief that is slightly different regarding the inherent original sin and that is that a person is not actually born with sin but born with the nature to sin. They are so inherently bad , so inherently depraved that they simply will sin and there is nothing they can do about it, it is impossible for humans not to sin, its just their inherited nature to do so.
Saying that a person has no choice but to sin no ability to not sin takes away the wickedness of the sin itself and takes the responsibility away from the person sinning. Even if a person wanted to not sin they wouldn't be able to not sin. It therefore is not the fault of the person sinning they are only doing what is in their nature to do. It is in itself wrong to be held accountable for something you have no choice over.
The doctrine of Inherent original sin is very easily disproved however before I get to this let's have a look at the verses that are used to support the belief and address them.
Supporting verses
Romans 5- 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Here we have a verse that is used to show that all have sinned. It is read into this verse that this means that all have sin and so this must mean that all have inherited sin. However the verse very clearly states all have SINNED not that all have inherited sin. A person has sinned when they have sinned. As all men sin all men have sinned. If we were born with that sin it would have to say for all men have inherited sin. There simply is nothing in this verse to state that a person is born with sin, EVEN if the doctrine was true this verse could not demonstrate it. Through Adam's sin, sin entered into the world and all have the ability to sin and all do indeed sin. But they are sinners once they have exercised that ability to sin and they themselves have sinned.
Psalm 58- 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Notice that it states ONLY the wicked therefore very clearly not referring to all otherwise it would state all and not the wicked. Later in the same psalm there is a reference to the righteous so there are wicked and there are righteous not everyone is called wicked.
Psalm 58- 10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
The verse also states that as soon as they are born they are speaking lies. Now are those who say this verse is referring to a person being wicked and sinful from the moment they are born really going to use the fact that they speak lies from the moment they were born to prove it. I've never heard a new born baby speaking anything let alone lies. Maybe there is a different understanding here. The verse very clearly states they go astray it does not say they are astray. The wicked go astray. In order to go astray you must first not be astray otherwise you are astray and can't go astray seeing that is what you already are. So even if we take this to literally mean as soon as a person is born they are wicked and go astray they must have been not astray to start with. However you look at this it cannot show a person is born astray or with sin, they must go astray and therefore have to sin.
Psalm 51-5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
This verse just doesn't say what the original sin believers claim it does. First off it does not refer to ALL humanity but the psalmist (David) is claiming this about himself. Secondly when they read this verse they substitute the word IN with the word WITH. David is not claiming that he was shapen with iniquity but in iniquity, and he wasn't conceived with sin but in it. Sin is in the world and the mother was a sinner, it is IN sin that David is claiming not that he was conceived WITH sin.
The NIV would have us believe that a person is born with sin
Psalm 51-5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
But as i've already shown in the KJV that is NOT what the Bible states.
The Hebrew just does not state this
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A literal translation would be
Behold in iniquity I was shaped and in sin conceive did my mother
It isn't the psalmist who was in sin but his mother in a sinful world.
Now that we have a proper understanding of what these verses actually mean lets disprove the doctrine itself. There is ONE simple way to disprove this doctrine…..Jesus.
JESUS
Jesus was a man made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2-7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Jesus was sinless, he had NO sin
2 Corinthians 5-21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
If inherent original sin was indeed true then Jesus would also have inherited that sin and could not have been sinless. Just as if he inherited a sin nature where it was impossible for him not to sin, he would again not have been sinless as he would have sinned. Jesus himself would have required a removal of that sin.
Jesus was not infant baptised and he himself claimed that we should be like little children.
Matthew 18-3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was baptised at the age of 30 and it was NOT to remove sin but to fulfill all righteousness.
Matthew 3- 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
So original sin can be found in the Bible but it is not inherited. A person becomes a sinner once they sin.
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by Benedict Soghie | Apr 12, 2019 | Christian Religion, Faith
Since circumcision was so very important under the Old Covenant, why is circumcision of the heart taken so lightly nowadays under the Renewed Covenant?
"A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code..." Rom. 2:28-29
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Col. 2:9-14
I wondered if the fact that there are “carnal Christians” and what I have often referred to as “theological Christians” for lack of a better term, has anything to do with circumcision of the heart. Both types of professing Christians may know a lot and do lots of good deeds, but something is missing in their witness. I have always referred to that missing element as supernatural heart surgery performed within them that makes all the difference. It is time for me to find out the truth.
2 Timothy 3:7 comes to my mind: “who are always learning but never able to come to full knowledge of the truth.” (CJB)
- Born again = salvation = conversion = professing belief in Yeshua haMashiyach (Jesus Christ); Ruach haKodesh = Holy Spirit
- When does the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) begin to dwell within the believer? (Immediately at the moment of being born again
, at or after baptism, a process that takes place over time?) At the moment of TRUE conversion –Ephesians 1:13(CJB) “Furthermore, you who heard the message of the truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were sealed by him with the promised Ruach HaKodesh”
(NASB) “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your
Salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise”
There is a distinct difference between the Ruach haKodesh indwelling us and the Spirit filling us. The filling of the Ruach haKodesh was something used by YHWH since the Old Testament times. (Deuteronomy 34:9; 1 Samuel 19:18-24; Luke 1:15) After the death and resurrection of Yeshua the Ruach haKodesh continued to fill people including Paul (Acts 13:9), Peter (Acts 13:52), and the other disciples (Acts 15:32). This is much different than the indwelling of the Spirit experienced by all TRUE believers. He will never leave TRUE believers. (John 14:16)
CONCLUSION: We must ask for Him to dwell in us. (Luke 11:13) The work of the Ruach haKodesh is to write Torah in the inward parts, which is confirmed by the appearance of “fruits” of the Spirit. In other words, each one of us must prepare a place in our hearts to welcome the Ruach haKodesh. The scriptures tell us that the Ruach haKodesh “indwells” us at the moment of TRUE conversion. (Ephesians 1:13)
- When does circumcision of the heart take place? How? (
Immediately at the moment of being born again, at or after baptism, a process that takes place over time?)
Short answer – after a person has become a believer in Yeshua, and enough time has passed that his faith has grown through study, and a TRUE lifestyle change is evident. It is NOT the same as being “born again”.
Long answer – Paul enlightened people to the fact that circumcision comes after faith, after a person believes, after they have made a lifestyle change: “And the father of the circumcision; not to them only who are of the circumcision, but to them also who fulfill the steps of the faith of our father Awraham in (his) uncircumcision.” Romans 4:12 (AENT) Note from the AENT: “Rav Shaul is teaching that Awraham’s physical circumcision came after he believed, after he had faith, after his heart was circumcised, in opposition to a contemporary false teaching that circumcision should come first before belief or faith. At no time does Rav Shaul ever discount physical circumcision; he simply rejects false religious traditions that turned circumcision into a device to control new converts.”
According to the illustration YHWH gives us in the Old Testament circumcision is not optional, and failure to do so was grounds for exclusion from the Old Covenant. Since YHWH consistently shows us physical illustrations all through the Old Testament (the Old Covenant) so that we can understand the same principle in the spiritual sense under the Renewed Covenant, to discard the spiritual fulfillment and reality would defy one of YHWH’s great attributes – His unchanging consistency.
In keeping with physical circumcision of the Israelite people, several comparisons can be made. Some are:
- Circumcision was performed on the eighth day after birth, not right away after the baby was born.
YHWH lovingly nurtures us for a time (comparable to the eight days after physical birth), working in our lives to prepare us for His dealings.
- Physical circumcision is the cutting off of flesh that is unnecessary.
Likewise YHWH cuts off what is unnecessary, spiritually.
- The eighth day signifies a new beginning – something is different after circumcision.
Spiritual circumcision is the removal of the old fleshly nature, which begins at conversion, continues through baptism (which becomes the “sign” of the Renewed Covenant), and will be a continuous spiritual work in us throughout our lives.
- Priests circumcised the Israelite baby boys.
In the same manner YHWH does not ask us to spiritually circumcise ourselves. The Ruach haKodesh does it. This is to teach us to YIELD to His Spirit. (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:9-14)
In Colossians 2:9-14 circumcision is the common theme, both physical and spiritual; but Paul also brings in baptism and says that a circumcision takes place at that point. Some of the old flesh nature is cut away and the Spirit of YHWH is passed on to us. Baptism then becomes the “sign” of the Renewed Covenant, just as circumcision was the “sign” of the Old Covenant. Paul says something happens in our lives when we yield to baptism in faith. Again it is obvious that scripture is speaking as if the conversion was genuine. If a person obediently yields to baptism in faith and understanding, a spiritual work would take place in his or her life without a doubt. However, when there is no evidence of a life change, there has been no spiritual circumcision and thus no conversion.
- Why did Yeshua say that many will say “Lord, Lord, etc.” in Matthew 7, and then tell them that He never knew them? How could they cast out devils and heal in Yehua’s name if He never knew them?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
“23. And then will I profess unto them—or, openly proclaim—tearing off the mask.
I never knew you—What they claimed—intimacy with Christ—is just what He repudiates, and with a certain scornful dignity. "Our acquaintance was not broken off—there never was any."
depart from me—(Compare Mt 25:41). The connection here gives these words an awful significance. They claimed intimacy with Christ, and in the corresponding passage, Lu 13:26, are represented as having gone out and in with Him on familiar terms. "So much the worse for you," He replies: "I bore with that long enough; but now—begone!"
ye that work iniquity—not "that wrought iniquity"; for they are represented as fresh from the scenes and acts of it as they stand before the Judge. (See on the almost identical, but even more vivid and awful, description of the scene in Lu 13:24-27). That the apostle alludes to these very words in 2Ti 2:19 there can hardly be any doubt—"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
The name of Yeshua carries so much power that even devils tremble - “You believe that "God is one"? Good for you! The demons believe it too - the thought makes them shudder with fear!”
James 2:19 (CJB)
So should the focus on this passage be on why those who will enter are able to do so rather than those who are denied entry? There is a simple answer to the question, “who among those who say "Lord, Lord…" will enter? And that answer is, “those who do the will of the Father.”
Those who TRULY place their trust completely in Yeshua haMashiyach have done the will of the Father and have already passed from death to life (John 5:24 CJB “Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever hears what I am saying and trusts the One who sent me has eternal life -- that is, he will not come up for judgment but has already crossed over from death to life!”) and will not come into judgment regarding their eternal destiny (John 3:18 CJB “Those who trust in him are not judged; those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the one who is God's only and unique Son.”)
But those who seriously seek answers are still left with the questions, who are those who Yeshua will turn away and why are they being turned away? Am I one who will be one who is denied by Yeshua? – Especially after pondering the unpopular fact that circumcision of the heart is not immediately accomplished at the moment one is born again. There are undoubtedly those who will use the power of Yeshua’s name for profit, their own glory, etc. probably knowing He is not really their Lord. But the very saddest case of all will be hearing the words, “Lord, Lord have we not prophesied, cast out demons, and done many wonders in Your name" coming from the mouths of people who in this life were pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers, even missionaries who endured great difficulties in the mission fields. They may have baptized hundreds and done many good deeds. And Yeshua does not question whether they did those things or not, but denies them entrance to the Kingdom because they failed to trust in Yeshua haMashiyach only and thereby failed to do the will of the Father. This would be an example of assuming one’s heart is circumcised at conversion so spiritual growth is not pursued.
Carnal Christians and theological Christians are “nominal” Christians. Nominal Christianity cannot save. Yeshua does not dwell in their hearts (That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” Ephesians 3:17 GNV) nor do they have His mind (“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he might instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 GNV) Judgement day will find them trying to justify themselves because of their own good works and neglecting the only “work” that matters to YHWH, “to have faith in the One He sent.”
Then I had a quick “leftover” thought.
Is “sanctification” the same thing as “circumcision of the heart”?
Easton’s Bible Dictionary says: “Circumcision as a symbol shadowing forth sanctification by the Holy Spirit has now given way to the symbol of baptism. But the truth embodied in both ordinances is ever the same, the removal of sin, the sanctifying effects of grace in the heart.”
It all boils down to Acts 4:13 – “…they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus” (NASB). As Charles Spurgeon wrote, basing a sermon on this scripture, “A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of Him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;" but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus;”
by Benedict Soghie | Apr 12, 2019 | Christian Religion, Faith
Jesus said “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40. Jesus was three days and two nights in a tomb, in the heart of the earth, in a dark place. The third night had to have been the night before, to make it three in a row because after He rose there would be no more night for Him. Jesus was in a dark place from the time Judas went out from the place where Jesus and His disciples were eating supper to the time of His rising from death making it three nights and three days. Thursday night, the night of the last supper, Friday He was crucified and died and placed in a tomb and Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night still in the tomb, and very early Sunday morning still in the tomb.
During His last meal with His disciples, Jesus dipped a piece of bread giving it to Judas Iscariot.” As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” John 13:30. ‘It was night’ is loaded with meaning. It was the beginning of the end for Jesus, and the first of three nights and three days of darkness.
Even before Judas returned with the armed crowd to arrest Jesus, He began going through extreme stress. “Being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44. Hematohidrosis is when blood vessels dilate and burst moving into sweat glands. It can happen when a person is going through great stress or just after. Then the person sweats blood. Jesus was under huge duress if He was sweating great drops of blood. Tremendous pain.
After His arrest “Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple guard, “This is your hour – when darkness reigns.” Luke 22:53. God appointed these dark times for Jesus.
He spent one night, Thursday night under arrest before Caiaphas, the elders and the scribes. The next day He was tried and died and then He spent two nights in a tomb.
Jesus met with a lot of unjust harm. He was picked up by an armed mob, Caiphas tried bringing some charge against HIm, along with the scribes and elders. He was sent to Herod to be examined, and then to Pilate who finally gave the order to execute Him because He wanted to please a bloodthirsty crowd. People were hitting Jesus with the palms of their hands, mocking Him, and whipping Him. To cap it all they crucified Him leaving Him to die a slow death on a cross in public place where many people could see Him. He did it all for us so that we might live.
