Exploring Calvinism and Free Will: A Theological Dilemma

In this series, we have looked at the doctrine of Original Sin. We believe there was an original sin but disagree with the doctrine of Original Sin. We observed that Augustine introduced this doctrine into the church over 400 years after Jesus and none of the earliest church writers (or the Bible) affirm this doctrine. It’s actually more closely linked to Pagan and Gnostic ideas than Biblical Ideas. Recap: What is Original Sin? The doctrine of Original Sin teaches that because of Adam and Eve’s sin we are all born guilty before God and that we inherit their guilt from birth (Original Guilt). Augustine defined this through concupiscence which he believed that original sin was passed on sexually. Total Depravity Not only are we born with Original Sin, the guilt of Adam’s offense, but this also totally depraved and unable to respond to God according to this Doctrine. Total Depravity states that all mankind is born spiritually dead, possessing both Adam’s guilt and his sin nature and that man’s intellect, will, body, and spirit are so corrupt they cannot seek God or cry out for his help unless they are first saved and regenerated, given the gift of faith with a new heart and new mind. Infant Depravity According to John Calvin we are born “doomed from the womb”, and Voddie Baucham says all babies are “vipers in diapers”, born in the guilt of Adam and totally depraved. So in this view Jesus comes to save us from Original Sin (God’s wrath)… Or just save “the elect” (if you are consistent). We have shown in this series how all of this is a distortion of what the Bible says and we’re going to get into some of the theological implications of this view today in our conclusion, showing how those who hold to original Sin are building on the wrong foundation and bad readings of scripture. Theological Implications Distortion God’s Character Distortion of the view and nature of Humanity Penal Substitutionary Atonement The cross is not about satisfying wrath. It is actually about the liberation from the hostile Powers of Sin, Death, and the Devil and therefore the cross is a rescue. In this, there is still room for the wrath that is being stored up for the ungodly on the "Day of Wrath". Eternal Conscious Torment the notion of retributive punishment flows from original sin and what we have show earlier about Anselm’s medieval feudal views and Calvin’s retributive views of God. The Better Way There’s a better way to look at all of this. · In the garden Humans were made in God’s image to rule with him and keep creation · The humans sinned wanting to define good and evil on their own terms · God separated them from the tree of life so that they might not live forever in their sinful state · Adam did not transfer his guilt to all of humanity but transferred mortality to all (this is what Romans 5:12 says!) · We are not born guilty but born mortal and into an environment of death and sin and because of this we become sinners when we sin. · We are born with desires and they are neutral (yetzer). We can choose the good or the evil (tov/ra)- Choose life! · The world was held captive by the Powers (D32) , Sin, and Death and Jesus came to release us from that futility of slavery and death. He didn’t need to pay off the Father but rather was on a rescue mission. · We now are to walk by the Spirit and conform ourselves to the image of the Son and the Divine nature by walking in His Tov way of Life to return to our original purpose in Eden. _________________ Visit www.expedition44.com for posted articles and more. If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com