Most people in the denominations have been taught that man is born with inherited sin. They have been told by their preachers that Adam’s sin was passed on to subsequent generations. The idea is, man is born totally depraved, alienated from God and inclined to do evil.
There is a major problem with this–Jesus. How can it be that man is born with inherited sin, and Jesus did not have it (cf. Hebrews 4:15)? The Catholics came up with the “immaculate conception” theory. They say Mary was somehow born without inherited sin and, thus, Jesus was too. But, it cannot be so easily explained away.
The truth is, man is not born in sin. Sin cannot be passed from father to son (Ezekiel 18:20). Man is born not knowing good or evil (Romans 9:11). Therefore, neither Jesus nor any man inherited sin from Adam or anyone else.
The false doctrine of total hereditary depravity, along with the other tenets of Calvinism (Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of the saints), must be rejected (cf. Galatians 1:6-9).
Steven F. Deaton
