|
ON THIS PAGE
Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
THE MYTH OF ORIGINAL SIN
Original Sin... Fact or Fable
Many Christians today including most Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Catholics unblushingly subscribe to the view that the sin of Adam was transferred to all future generations tainting even the unborn. This makes me wonder how many of those that profess to believe in Original Sin have given any thought to the fact that sin is not a substance with physical properties that can be transmitted from person to person like a virus.
Much to the contrary, sin is a conscious, willful act performed by an individual (in thought, word or deed) that transgresses God's law. Think about it - sin can not even exist unless a sinner has an immoral, unrighteous thought then acts on it. Besides which, if sin can be inherited there is absolutely no reason why virtue, goodness, and righteousness cannot also be passed on.
Original Sin Or Epigenetics
There are innumerable passages of Scripture that clearly and unambiguously tell us that no person can bear the guilt of another, that everyone will answer for their own sins and misdeeds, and that our eternal destiny is determined by our conduct not inheritance. So how in the world can we believe that we are sinners because Adam sinned?
On the other hand, what we cannot ignore is that Paul made a direct connection between the sin of Adam and the fallen condition of the entire race. In Romans 5 he was pretty clear that something happened to all humanity because of Adam’s sin. Which begs the question… What exactly was it that Adam passed down to his descendants?
DID GOD DECIDE WHO WOULD BE SAVED?
Doctrines of Grace or Calvinism
Calvinism not only flies in the face of common sense but contradicts everything we know about our God. If as claimed Calvinism is a very "high view" of Scripture then it is no wonder that God first proclaimed his message of salvation to peasants tending their sheep.
Once the ‘highly educated' got a hold of the extremely straightforward and uncomplicated message of salvation, they turned it into highly complex bewildering ideas presented with a deluge of words, intricate arguments and endless repetition. The resulting potpourri of baffling complexities and contradictions bears little resemblance to the original message and certainly has no basis in the Scriptures. I have often wondered if the angels who delivered the message are even now scratching their heads in perplexity wondering what happened to the 'glad tidings' they were sent to announce.
Filthy Rags
Isaiah 64:6 has long been used as a ‘proof-text’ for two totally distinct yet equally unfounded beliefs. Calvinism uses it to bolster the doctrine of "total inability" - the foundation of Reformed doctrine. The Evangelical who uses it to show that good works, obedience, virtue are all useless sets the stage for "accepting Christ" through a once-for-all act of faith. the problem being that both sides ignore the textual and historical context.
None That Seeketh?
Romans 3:11-18 is often quoted to bolster the claims of universal depravity - that no one ever seeks after God. However, if you were to examine the source of Paul’s quotes, you would realize that the Psalms in question often spoke of God’s protection and favor towards the virtuous people of the day. The million dollar question then is why Paul presented one side of the coin, but ignored the verses that speak of God's support and favor for those who feared Him. The answer is very simple...
ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED
 The Question We Should Be Asking Is NOT Can We Lose Our Salvation
But Whether Any Living Christian Is Completely And Finally Saved
OSAS - The Doctrine of Eternal Security
The doctrine of Eternal Security also known as Once Saved Always Saved or OSAS, is one of the most perilous teachings in the modern church and goes like this - At the moment a person makes the once and for all decision to "accept" Christ as Savior, He pays for all of their sins: past, present, and future. Thus they remain saved irrespective of how they conduct their lives thereafter, how much they backslide, or even if they actually disown Christ. The tragic result of this extremely lethal doctrine is that all too many Christians blissfully sail through life under the dangerous delusion that they are permanently and eternally saved on the basis that they once made a confession of faith, walked an aisle, prayed a prayer etc. Although they may not have actually murdered someone many of them live pretty much as the world does. What a terribly tragic state we have talked ourselves into.
The Two Phase Atonement
The New Testament sometimes says that salvation is an accomplished reality but at other times says it is still in the future. This seeming contradiction is not limited to salvation alone but also occurs with confusing regularity in statements about other topics of crucial importance... justification, redemption, glorification, and adoption. Check it for yourself.
So what is the answer? Can we be assured we have salvation now or is it something we have to strive and hope for. Have we already been adopted as sons or are we eagerly waiting for this adoption? Are we righteous now or is it yet a distant hope? For those who are actually interested in what the Scriptures have to say on the subject, as opposed to what parents, pastors, friends, or denomination may believe and teach, the answer to all of the above questions is .. BOTH.
However, in order to understand when we are fully and finally saved we have to undertake an in-depth study of the Old Testament ritual of Yom Kippur and how it relates to our salvation.
A “Deposit” “Guaranteeing” Our Inheritance?
Sadly, the NIV and several other popular translations have a completely biased Calvinistic bent. This is made clear by their rendering of three verses in which the Hebrew arrhabōn has been translated deposit when it actually means earnest, which is a very different concept. However, what is even worse is that, in some cases, they translated arrhabōn into the English deposit, then added the word guarantee. Unknowingly, countless people have relied on these translations, believing that Scripture actually speaks of a guarantee when, in fact, it does no such thing.
The Assurance of Salvation
Anyone who read 1 John 5:13 as a stand-alone completely misses the whole point that John was trying to make. Reading the entire book of 1 John (or at least the last chapter) will bring a person to a very different conclusion… ‘Assurance of Salvation’ is very different from ‘Unconditional Eternal Security’
ALSO SEE
Shallow, Abbreviated, and Highly Inaccurate Salvation Messages
The most important question that anyone can ask is what must I do to be saved? - the answer to which is the central point of the whole New Testament. Yet, there are no end of well meaning Christians who, in answer to that life and death question, will inform you that you have to ask Jesus into your heart, pray the Sinner’s Prayer, or accept Jesus as your Personal Savior.
The burning question is whether any of these phrases accurately communicates the Gospel message. As Greg Koukl says
“I fear we’ve inoculated a whole generation of people who got a partial injection of Christianity and are now resistant to the real thing. They prayed the sinner’s prayer, got their "fire insurance" and then disappeared - never to be seen again. When confronted with the Gospel anew they shrug, "Been there, done that. Now leave me alone. I have a life to live."
|
