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"Doctrine & Theology: Original sin or inherited sin?" from the Spring 2017 Vision Newsletter
Receiving the sacraments is part of being a Christian and they are a prerequisite for salvation. Because the sacraments are so essential to our understanding of Christianity and salvation, it is important that we deepen our knowledge of them. In this article, we are going to focus on Holy Baptism and the difference between original sin and inherited sin.
Holy Baptism with water dispensed in the Triune name of God allows us to enter into our first close relationship with Him. Through Holy Baptism, we become a Christian and part of the church of Christ. Baptism with water is an act of God that He alone does and it forever changes the relationship between God and a person. It is a true expression of His love for us.
Through baptism, original sin is washed away. This image of “washing away” brings to expression that God has removed the condition of permanent separation from Him that began with mankind’s fall into sin. With original sin removed from us, we can enter into a relationship with God. Even though original sin in washed away in Holy Baptism, we still have the propensity to sin. Referred to as “concupiscence,” the human inclination to sin persists after baptism as another consequence of the Fall. Concupiscence brings to light the brokenness that we all have as sinners, but it is also a reminder of our dependence on God and His grace in our lives.
Now that we understand that original sin is our permanent remoteness from God and that Holy Baptism washes away that permanence, we can look at what inherited sin means.
The term “inherited sin” was coined by Saint Augustine. His study of Scripture led him to believe that all of Adam’s descendants biologically inherited his sin through the sexual act of procreation, therefore equating sex with sin. Although we do not align with this concept, for many years our church considered “inherited sin” to mean the sins we obtained from our parents and ancestors, which are washed away in our baptism. However, inherited sin cannot exist when we believe in the eternal love of God. In consideration of His limitless mercy, how could we reckon that He would allow a parent’s sin to pass on to their children when He allows each soul to have an individual relationship with Him? Thus, we no longer use the term “inherited sin.”
Our relationship with God is the greatest gift of His grace. Once the connection is made with Him through baptism, it can never be severed. His love for us is so deep that even if we turn away from Him or become unfaithful, the opportunity for a relationship with Him, created by our baptism, will remain. How comforting it is that God expresses His love for us in this way!
*This article is written based on a presentation from the international church theologian, Dr. Reinhard Kiefer