Question
Is it true that a sin is inherited?
Answer
Excellent question! However, let me broaden it out just a bit so that I try to answer (from Scripture) two questions. Besides your initial question, what about the broader questions, “Is sin, in general or the initial sin of Adam and Eve, inherited?” When we deal with one, we will deal with the other. But first, let me summarize what most religious groups who claim to be “Christian” teach in regard to this vital subject.
Sadly, there are many of the denominations that teach that we have inherited the sin of Adam and Eve. Therefore, when a child is born into the world, they are guilty of sin.
Because of this error, there have of necessity come many others. Because children are lost, they need to be baptized (sprinkled or water poured on them, not the meaning of baptize which means immerse) in order to be saved. Also, because of this teaching, many teach that there is nothing man can do to facilitate his Salvation, the Holy Spirit must do it for him. This is because he is in a state of total hereditary depravity because he was born in sin. Lastly, if God saves us without our having nay part in it, then there is no way for us to be lost after we have been saved.
When we boil all of these teachings down from the root teaching of man inheriting the sin of Adam and Eve or by extension the sins of parents, we get the same key feature that runs through them, showing them to be false. They avoid and deny the Choice and responsibility of man in every way! This in and of itself ought to be enough for us to reject them. However, we should and will provide some specific Scriptures which should lead us to understand that we do not inherit anyone’s sins, including Adam’s!
1. What is sin?
Note the following four passages,
ROMANS 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 JOHN 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 JOHN 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
JAMES 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.
The first indicates that sin is missing the mark, coming short of God’s expectations. The second indicates sin is transgression of God’s law. The third that is not doing right. Finally, the fourth indicates sin is failing to do what we know to be right.
All of these indicate choice! Sin is something that we do either in thought or action.
2. Who is responsible for our sins?
Read carefully Ezekiel the 18th chapter. In this passages, the children of Israel in Jerusalem which is being conquered by their enemies (the Babylonians) are seeking to blame their fathers for their sins. But, note carefully verse 4,
EZEKIEL 18:4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
Do not blame others for your sins for you shall be held accountable for your own actions! Note verse 20,
EZEKIEL 18:20 “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
Clearly, God holds us accountable for our own sins, not someone else. Sin is something we do, not something that is passed through our DNA!
One final point – although we are responsible for our sins, often the consequences of others’ sins are passed to us. For example, we all suffer the consequences of Adam’s sin, whether we ever actually sin ourselves or not. We all suffer physical death as well as other things listed in Genesis 3. Also, the drunken mother might do damage to her unborn child, but the child is not guilty of drunkenness or any other sin.
Instead of blaming God or others for our sins, we should acknowledge them before Him, turn from them and be baptized (immersed in water) into Christ so that we might receive forgiveness for them. Acts 2. And, if we have done this, we must continue to confess and repent of our sins so we might be forgiven. 1 John 1:1-2:2.
By Gary Hunt
