Original sin?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Sigh. No one is really addressing my main question, at least not to my satisfaction. I'm not discussing to argue; I'm trying to understand this doctrine. It's not your fault if I don't understand...LOL...I'm just feeling a little frustrated that there seem to be some holes here.

The doctrine of original sin works from the premise that Adam's sin brought sin and judgment upon the rest of the world, right? However, I think the idea that Adam's sin brought a "sin nature" onto the rest of the world is possibly extra-biblical. Where does scripture say that? Adam had the ability to sin, and even though he was innocent of sin and ignorant of the consequences, he still chose disobedience. Doesn't that illustrate that he had a carnal nature before the fall?

Which scriptures disprove this?

Maybe the terminology is what's throwing me off?

FTR, Catholic theology teaches that babies are born sinners--that's why they baptize infants. Protestant theology teaches that we are sinners once we commit sin, and that requires a knowledge of right and wrong.

Meditate upon these texts...

Sin nature:

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5)

“The wicked are estranged from the womb; these who speak lies go astray from birth” (Psalm 58:3)

"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isaiah 64:6)

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7:15-20, ESV)

[Aquila]

It's important to note that in our lost and sinful state our sin nature alienates us from God. This means that we cannot approach Him on our own or in our own timing:

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Romans 8:6-7)

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Thus we can only come to God as He has chosen us and His grace pursues us to draw us to Him:

Matthew 22:14 (ESV)
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen.”

John 6:44 (ESV)
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

Acts 13:48 (ESV)
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 16:14 (ESV)
14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Romans 8:30 (ESV)
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The elect do not find God. God was never lost. God seeks out and draws His elect, His chosen, from mankind. Without God's grace drawing us, we cannot approach Him. We cannot simply choose to believe in Jesus. This is why so many tarry for the Holy Ghost. Sometimes, it's not their time. Sometimes, although they are among the called, they simply are not chosen.

In this we must simply trust in God's power and wisdom.