Understanding Original Sin (Part One)

Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 Posted: 8:13:17PM HKT

Different philosophers have differing views on the subject of whether man is born (by nature) good or evil.

What does the Bible say?

The Holy Book appears to present both pictures; of human beings as inherently evil and as inherently good. Popular Scottish New Testament commentator William Barclay referred to humans as a ‘walking civil war’.

Yet an inadequate, vague understanding of the matter is of little practical help.

The Apostle Paul addressed this issue especially in the seventh chapter of his letter to the Church in Rome but also elsewhere in the letter and in his other writings.

He frequently referred to those who ‘walk’ according to the ‘flesh’ and those who ‘walk’ according to the ‘Spirit’ or to those in the ‘flesh’ and those in the ‘Spirit’, to those ‘in Christ Jesus’ and those without, and to those under law and those under grace.

According to Paul, there are two very different modes of human existence. One mode will lead to sin and God’s wrath; the other will lead to righteousness and God’s peace and favour.

The key to grasping what Paul means by being in the Spirit and being in the flesh can be found in the beginning of Romans 7.

Here the Apostle uses a parable to describe the differing nature of the relationship that Christians and non-Christians have with God.

This is an elaboration of what he has dealing with in the previous chapter.

In the seventh chapter of Romans, Paul uses the example of a married woman to talk about the relationship with God.

Suppose this woman’s husband is the relationship with God in which there is no justification – or better, there is no justification for justification (pardon the pun).

What this means is the relationship with God whereby people have no undeniable proof – a situation that does not really exist since God has furnished countless proofs from eternity except that human beings have no faith to accept them – that He has justified them from the guilt due their sins.

Naturally, those who do not believe that God has justified them can only live burdened by guilt for past sins and accumulate an increasing burden of guilt for future sins.

In such a scenario, where people believe that they are condemned for their sins, it is impossible to overcome the yoke of slavery to sin. ‘Since I will hang for my past sins anyway, why should I try to be a righteous person? I might as well go and sin to my despairing heart’s desire!’

Thus, such people live virtually opposed to God and His laws, hating Him. There is no salvation for them by implication.

This is the first mode of existence, which Paul refers to as living according to the ‘flesh’.

What about the other mode?

Suppose, Paul suggests in his parable, that the woman’s husband – the first relationship where there is no sure proof of justification – dies.

Then, he says, she is free under the law to marry another man. Who is this man? This is the relationship where there is indeed sure proof of justification.

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