Man’s Moral and Natural Ability, Part 3

When speaking about both man’s moral and natural ability to choose, it should be noted that we’re making a crucial distinction between the two.  In his fallen state, man has a free will that lacks liberty.  I know this sounds strange especially when I use the word “free” attached to “will.” 

You see, the sinner is still able to choose what he wants, he or she just cannot choose God on their own without divine intervention. As a result of having a will that is corrupt because man was born with such, he does not have the royal liberty to choose spiritual things of God as those who have been set free unto righteousness. Man is in a serious state of moral bondage to his sin.

The Bible clearly teaches the Fall of Man from innocence to sinfulness. One of the first things we need to do before coming to Christ is to acknowledge our sinfulness. We are helpless to see our need of a Savior if we do not see the fact that we’re sinners.

There are those who admit that the Bible teaches original sin, but the disagreement is over the concept and extent of original sin.

What is original sin?

First of all, this is what original sin is not:

1.   Original sin is not the first sin (i.e. the sin of Adam and Eve).  Original sin refers to the result of the sin of Adam and Eve. Original sin is the punishment God gives as a result of the first sin having been committed.

Here, let’s put it this way: Adam and Eve committed the first sin. As a result of their sin, God plunged everyone after them into moral depravity – thus the whole human race.  Human nature underwent a moral downfall. Things changed for all of us after the first sin was committed. Everyone born is born with a corrupt human nature that cannot on its own choose God. This subsequent corruption is what evangelical theologians refer to as “original sin.”

We’ll look at a second thing original sin is not, in Part 4.

End of Part 4