The Myth of Inherent Sin
Sex, life, death, and quantum law.
Christians assume that we die because of Adam’s disobedience, therefore pain, suffering and death are the result of original sin.
The bible simply does not teach this fairy tale!
Neither Genesis or the gospels teach that Adam or a devil are responsible for humanity’s current state of unrest. Genesis teaches that through Adam’s choice to become like God - a door was opened to a more glorious Eden. Through the vehicle of procreation, eternal life is guaranteed because the seed recreates itself over and over again. Every species on this planet had the seed within itself and pronounced very good before Adam was banished from the garden. The tree planted in your garden just twelve months ago, is not twelve months old, it is as old as the earth itself. Humanity, like a tree, has the seed within that guarantees our own regeneration into one conscious entity. This is the message of Genesis and the gospels.
Most Christians hold to the erroneous view that humanity has an intrinsic sin problem. Mainstream followers of the bible are of the opinion that Paul’s epistle, particularly Romans 5, states unequivocally that humanity is in a state of hopelessness, so much so, that the whole human race has inherited evil propensities from our first parents and their offspring.
But is Paul really talking about humanity as a whole, or is he referring to a single race of people who killed and totally rejected the man who carried a universal message of hope, love, equality, and compassion to those born into less fortunate circumstances? The question of equality still underscores the hatred and violence between neighbours today which causes a stumbling block towards peace. Jesus’ message was simple; follow the law of love that is written in your heart, simply love one another, don’t be envious of each other, don’t steal, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, or any other law that violates the law of love towards a friend or neighbour. There is no excuse for hatred. Christians, Jews and Moslems have to stop blaming a mythical devil for all the woes in today’s world.
The problems we face today can be solved by choices the individual has the ability to make. We decide whether to be good or evil. Our spirit is either made perfect as we journey through our eternal destinies, or our spirit is weakened by everyday setbacks. To rise above the cares of this world, we need knowledge of who we are. To see beyond the pain and suffering within the physical world, we first need an understanding as to why we are spirit- as well as flesh and blood. We are not a single component.
The flesh decays just as grass withers and dies, but the seed within ensures that new life ultimately emerges. The cycle of life we see in the natural world also applies to humanity. Everything within the natural world lives on after it dies. All living species of plants, animals, and people are separate physical bodies with varieties of characteristics, all having separate genetic information that remains eternal through procreation and regeneration. The seed within ensures that generation after generation will continue and multiply. Whatever station of life we are born into is a result of choices we have made from our former life- although our former life cannot be remembered, whom we are today is the direct outworking of what the apostle Paul refers to as the law of the spirit of life. Jesus defines this law of the spirit of life in very simple terms: "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:7-9)
Unfortunately, believers as well as unbelievers in the main find an excuse for iniquity. We witness hell on earth every day in our news papers and television channels. Corruption, violence, hunger, disease, natural disasters, etc, all common place happenings around the globe we seem to be impervious to. The everlasting fire should not be understood as a literal hell, but rather those who continue to be slaves to evil right here in this world. Heaven and hell will exist side by side until knowledge is increased. On the other hand, we witness positive stories that keep a balance on the good within this world. Sadly, the very ones who should be guiding humanity away from the pain and physical suffering of this world are the very ones who are doing the opposite. They call sin by its name, and warn us of the consequences, yet indulge in the pleasures of what they describe as deserving of hellfire. We see this time and time again when television evangelist are caught with their hands in the till, or caught in the act of adultery. Their defence; the devil made me do it. Before we understand the definition of sin, consider the following account from John’s gospel.
3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8)
It is worth noting that the man caught in the act of committing adultery was not mentioned, or presented before the mob to be stoned, but when Jesus started writing their individual sins in the sand, their guilt and shame obviously dismissed any thoughts of continuing with the stoning of the woman. The fact that Jesus began with the eldest to the youngest may imply that their own adulterous liaisons would one day catch up with them. Little wonder that Jesus often described them as hypocrites. But here is the main point: We cannot blame the presence of evil for deliberately breaking a moral code, whether it is adultery, murder, or any other law that contravenes the nature of love. The story of Cain killing Abel is a lesson about uncontrolled envy, anger, and jealousy that can easily turn to rage, violence, then in turn, murder. Cain could just as easily have made a choice to ignore the circumstances that caused him to murder his own brother. Being jealous and angry is not a sin (the God of the Old Testament got jealous and angry on quite a few occasions). Similarly, lust in itself is not a sin. Like anger, it can be controlled. Without sexual desire, we would have no interest in procreation, but when lust leads to adultery, it creates evil.
Romans 5 makes it clear that not all are evil by nature, equally, not all are good by nature.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Rom 5:19)
Reading of the entire chapter of Romans 5 does give the impression at first glance that we do in fact have an intrinsic sin problem. However, Paul is addressing something much more profound here, making it clear that we are born with a nature that is subject to both good and evil. In other words, we also have a natural tendency towards loving one another as we have towards sinning against each other. The reason Paul is accentuating the opposing nature in verse twelve, is to demonstrate the power that both good and evil may have over us. The remedy for overcoming the opposing nature is having the knowledge of both good and evil and how it relates to perpetual life and the strengthening of our faith. Paul is addressing the Jewish converts in Rome, explaining the history of a backsliding nation who rejected a universal message of hope, and who have, even to this day, totally disassociated themselves with the gospel message and the letters that Paul addressed to the Jews in Rome.
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. (Rom 5:12)
Here we see that sin and death were introduced into the world, but don’t assume that either the man or his partner are responsible for the evil in this world. In Genesis 3: 22, we are told, Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”.
It should be noted that if the man became like God, he could not have been the same man made in the image and likeness of God as stated in Gen 1:26-28. There is something much deeper here to look at. It is clear that Genesis is talking about two separate races - Mankind and Adam. The Genesis debate website has been set up to discuss how and why Adam was made separate and why he opened a door to a more glorious Eden.
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