The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Babies and Election

Romans 5:12-21 (ASV) "Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:-- for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come. But not as the trespass, so also [is] the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many. And not as through one that sinned, [so] is the gift: for the judgment [came] of one unto condemnation, but the free gift [came] of many trespasses unto justification. For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ. So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The historic Protestant Church has always officially held that when Adam sinned, the entire human race was judged with him, aka: Corporate Solidarity or Federal Headship. That judgment of God upon Adam and his posterity is called, "Original Sin", which consists of two parts: 1) Guilt: all men are guilty of sinning against God in Adam and thus are conceived as "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3), and 2) Corruption of Nature: all men are conceived with a nature which is predisposed toward evil and against God and all that is good, aka: Totally Depraved. Thus all inherit the guilt of Adam and are liable to judgment and are conceived with a corruption of nature which predisposes them to sin, which accumulates additional judgment and punishment.

The following articles present more information on this topic:

- The Sinfulness of Original Sin by W.G.T. Shedd

- Adam's Fall and Mine by R.C. Sproul

- Canons of Dordt - 2nd Head of Doctrine Article 8 and Rejection of Errors 5 et al

- The Doctrine of Sin by G.H. Kersten

In His grace,