Today Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt consider the incarnation of Jesus and the ramifications regarding Original Sin.
We want to give a Shout out to Warren McGrew of Idol Killer and Will and Brian of The Church Split for their series’ on Original sin and for helping us articulate some of the content in this episode.
• The immaculate conception of Mary is a late dogma created to prop up original sin. But not only this a “preservative redemption” is also needed for Mary to remain sinless
• The Virgin birth in both Protestant and Catholic circles is used incorrectly to promote the doctrine of Original Sin.
o For Catholics it deals with the issue of concupiscence
o For Protestants it actually does nothing as Mary was born of human parents and still would transmit Original Sin
o We affirm the virgin birth but in Isaiah 7 it is called a sign pointing to the miracle of the messiah and has nothing to do with original sin.
• The way Protestants try to get around this is the hypostatic union, which we also affirm, but Protestants use it incorrectly to support this Doctrine.
• 3 points of the incarnation:
o Jesus came in flesh- he was fully human like us (yet fully God). He experienced what we do.
o Jesus had no sin in him (he wasn’t born with it)
o And Jesus never sinned
• Thus, no Original sin if Jesus assumed exactly what we are and partook of the same nature yet did not sin.
• If Original Sin is true and Jesus was spared it through the immaculate conception then Jesus was not like us in every way and cannot sympathize with our weaknesses and Hebrews 4:15 is a lie and Jesus is an unfit High Priest.
o This is what the Doctrine of Original Sin gets us into.
Conclusion/ The Better Way
Jesus was fully God and Fully Man. He assumed all that we are so that he could make us all that he is and heal us.
The Incarnation
o We saw that Jesus came in the flesh just like us (but also fully God)
o We saw that there was no sin in Jesus (no original sin)
o We saw that Jesus did not sin
We also looked at Mary and all the gymnastics that needed to happen with her to hold up this unbiblical doctrine.
We looked at how Calvinists have no foundation to stand on with Original sin in the Virgin Birth (we affirm it!), the Hypostatic Union (in which they downplay Jesus’ humanity), and they come dangerously close to many Gnostic heresies.
The Better Way
As humans it is comforting to know that Jesus went through all that we did and was still sinless. He has redeemed us and comes beside us to conform us into his image.
So rather than focusing on the negative theology of Augustinianism and Calvinism look at the beauty that is in Jesus becoming just like us in every way to heal us and make us whole!
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If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com
