Important Notice:
Always check out what you read and hear for yourself, using the Bible, asking our HEAVENLY FATHER for wisdom, guidance, and understanding. Never take anyone's word alone, including this website, without first doing your own homework. As Christians, we should be listening to GOD's WORD, not what someone else has to say if it can't be documented. As it's written in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Please note, the yellow text in our studies is Scripture, whereas the white text is our commentary.
Are We Born Sinners?
Many of us have grown up hearing the quote "we're all born sinners", which means from the very moment we came out of the womb, we were already guilty of sin, and to many non-Christians, that quote doesn't settle well and actually turns many of them away from being open to the Gospel, as they usually respond by saying "why would GOD condemn me for my sin if HE made me this way?" As we know, GOD's way is perfect (Psalm 18:30) and HE makes no mistakes, and so if we were to believe we are guilty of sin from the moment of birth, then Psalm 18:30 couldn't be true, neither could Ezekiel 18:19-20 as we'll get to later on. Below, let's begin in Romans 9 with the time of when Jacob and Esau were in the womb.
Romans 9:10-11
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Notice from the time of when Jacob and Esau were in the womb, neither one of them had done any good nor evil. If we were born sinners, this verse wouldn't be true, as we all would have already done evil. "But what about Romans 5?" Continuing, let's turn there.
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Notice from the time of when Jacob and Esau were in the womb, neither one of them had done any good nor evil. If we were born sinners, this verse wouldn't be true, as we all would have already done evil. "But what about Romans 5?" Continuing, let's turn there.
Romans 5:8-21
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" The question however, is when does one become a sinner? Certainly it cannot be through the act of entering this world because CHRIST HIMSELF entered this world as a baby, and yet HE never sinned (see 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 9:14). After all, no where in the law does it say "thou shalt not be born.", nor "the one born is a sinner", as sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
And so it is. This only holds true because again, HE lived this life flawlessly and never once sinned.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
We can never save ourselves because we all have sinned at some point (Romans 3:23), and it takes perfection in order to get into the Kingdom of GOD, which is why animal sacrifice occurred all throughout the old testament (because animals aren't capable of sinning), to make atonement for our wickedness, but as Hebrews 10 documents, that only covered sin, whereas the perfect, sinless, blood of CHRIST totally fulfilled that, and washes away our sin, and renews us in perfect standards with GOD. After all, we needed a SAVIOR and that's what JESUS came to do, "to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10)."
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Why is death passed upon all men? Because all have sinned as we see here (excluding JESUS CHRIST).
13 (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
In other words, sin can't be punished if there is no law. However, we know from the beginning (from the first couple, Adam and Eve) that they knew right from wrong, and what GOD had told them, and all the people who lived after them. Although they didn't have the law written upon tablets as Moses and the Israelites had, nonetheless, objective morality still existed; hence GOD said in Genesis 26:4-5, "4 and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Those words "charge", "commandments", "statutes", and "laws" that Abraham obeyed (before Moses' time) are the exact same words in the Hebrew that were given unto Moses, so we know before the law was written upon the tablets given unto Moses, that people knew right from wrong. Back to the main point of this study though, babies, and even some handicap people have not come to the age of accountability to know right from wrong, therefore how can they be guilty of something they have no ability to comprehend? As we have just read, "sin is not imputed when there is no law."
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
In other words, we didn't have to sin the same way Adam did for death to come upon us, but nonetheless we (including all those from Adam to the time of Moses, and even those born later on in the Bible, have sinned in some way at some point).
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Notice the gift of grace has abounded unto many due to the actions of ONE man (JESUS CHRIST), just as the offense of one (Adam), many die. If one is to believe that we're all guilty due to Adam's sinful actions, then one would have to believe we're all redeemed (including the non-Christian) due to ONE's (JESUS CHRIST's) righteous actions and HIS grace, which clearly is not so, as all those who reject HIM will have their part in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:15).
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
And so it is. When we sin, that's it. It cannot be undone, just like spilled drink, which meant all that was left for us was condemnation/damnation, because sin leads to separation from GOD, who is eternal life (and the opposite of that is eternal death). The same with our court of law today. When one breaks the law, it cannot be undone, and the criminal is then separated from society to face their punishment. However, GOD made a way for us to be forgiven and set free from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation, and to be reconciled unto HIM, through the free gift of HIS one and only begotten SON (JESUS CHRIST). So where we have sinned once, judgment unto condemnation awaited, but the free gift covered and forgives us, and not only of our first sin we ever committed, but of all other sins we've ever committed, to whosoever believes in HIM (see John 3:16 and compare to John 12:46, John 14:12).
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Again, if one believes the context of this chapter is saying that we all are by default punished for what Adam did, then one would have to apply the same concept to what CHRIST did, and believe that everyone by default (including the non-Christian) are now made righteous because of the actions of one man (JESUS), because this chapter is a comparison between Adam and JESUS. Ezekiel 18:19-20 says, "19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.", which documents that a child is not punished for the sins of their parents/ancestors, which clearly wouldn't be true if we all were declared sinners from birth due to Adam's actions. After all, if one has read our study, "Did We All Come From Adam & Eve", one would know that we're not all descendants of Adam, as there would be no such thing as gentiles or foreigners in the Bible. That would be like punishing a Hispanic man today for the actions of a white man's ancestors (or vice versa), whichever scenario you would like to use, which clearly wouldn't make any sense.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Again, if one implies that we're born sinners due to Adam's actions, then they would have to believe that those who are born today (after CHRIST's death & resurrection [i.e. HIS fulfillment]) are born righteous and that eternal life by default awaits for all, which clearly isn't true to those who reject CHRIST.
What this verse is saying is that many were made sinners because they dwelled in the same lifestyle as Adam (rebellion/disobedience to GOD), so today can many be made righteous by dwelling in CHRIST and following HIM, and that's only through HIS power living within us that equips us in newness of life. Those who die in the lifestyle of Adam will not receive eternal life, just as those who die in the lifestyle of JESUS (becoming born again as HE instructed [see John 3]) will not receive eternal death.
This verse would be equivalent to Exodus 20:5-6, in which we all have walked in at some point (following the sinful lifestyle as Adam, an ancestor, biological or not), which is how many were made sinners (all who have lived long enough to sin), and why the wrath of GOD awaited for us (before we came to repentance), as we're not punished for other people's sins, but only if we walk in the same disobedience as other people's sins, as we all have at some point to those of us today, who have lived long enough to sin.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Although everyone knows right from wrong due to objective morality, the law was our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24) to show us the reality of just how wicked we truly are as humans (see Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7), compared to GOD, and points us to the only solution (JESUS CHRIST) to our problem of sin and death.
21 that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
And so it is, only through JESUS do we overcome, and the evidence of someone who is truly in HIM is a transformed life, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 informs us: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
As we can see, Scripture makes it's pretty clear that we suffer the consequences of Adam (death) because we all have followed his actions (sin, [Romans 3:23]), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The only way one can see it the other way is to read it with a pre-conceived mindset of that theory, and to force it into the text. Also, it would make Ezekiel 18:20 a lie, which says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." We're all responsible for our lives that we have lived (Deuteronomy 24:16). Many throughout the years have taught "generational curses" which simply is NOT true. Generational curses only exist if the next generation continues in the same sinful lifestyle as their parent or forefather as Exodus 20:5-6 explains. Again, if one believes all are made unrighteous because of one (Adam) and his actions (in the sense that we're all punished because of him), then one would have to believe all are made righteous due to the actions of one (JESUS CHRIST), and that we're all rewarded eternal life because of HIM, and clearly that's not true as many will miss out on the free gift of everlasting life, due to their rejection of JESUS CHRIST, as only through HIM can we be Saved (Acts 4:12).
Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" The question however, is when does one become a sinner? Certainly it cannot be through the act of entering this world because CHRIST HIMSELF entered this world as a baby, and yet HE never sinned (see 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 9:14). After all, no where in the law does it say "thou shalt not be born.", nor "the one born is a sinner", as sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
And so it is. This only holds true because again, HE lived this life flawlessly and never once sinned.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
We can never save ourselves because we all have sinned at some point (Romans 3:23), and it takes perfection in order to get into the Kingdom of GOD, which is why animal sacrifice occurred all throughout the old testament (because animals aren't capable of sinning), to make atonement for our wickedness, but as Hebrews 10 documents, that only covered sin, whereas the perfect, sinless, blood of CHRIST totally fulfilled that, and washes away our sin, and renews us in perfect standards with GOD. After all, we needed a SAVIOR and that's what JESUS came to do, "to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10)."
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Why is death passed upon all men? Because all have sinned as we see here (excluding JESUS CHRIST).
13 (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
In other words, sin can't be punished if there is no law. However, we know from the beginning (from the first couple, Adam and Eve) that they knew right from wrong, and what GOD had told them, and all the people who lived after them. Although they didn't have the law written upon tablets as Moses and the Israelites had, nonetheless, objective morality still existed; hence GOD said in Genesis 26:4-5, "4 and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Those words "charge", "commandments", "statutes", and "laws" that Abraham obeyed (before Moses' time) are the exact same words in the Hebrew that were given unto Moses, so we know before the law was written upon the tablets given unto Moses, that people knew right from wrong. Back to the main point of this study though, babies, and even some handicap people have not come to the age of accountability to know right from wrong, therefore how can they be guilty of something they have no ability to comprehend? As we have just read, "sin is not imputed when there is no law."
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
In other words, we didn't have to sin the same way Adam did for death to come upon us, but nonetheless we (including all those from Adam to the time of Moses, and even those born later on in the Bible, have sinned in some way at some point).
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Notice the gift of grace has abounded unto many due to the actions of ONE man (JESUS CHRIST), just as the offense of one (Adam), many die. If one is to believe that we're all guilty due to Adam's sinful actions, then one would have to believe we're all redeemed (including the non-Christian) due to ONE's (JESUS CHRIST's) righteous actions and HIS grace, which clearly is not so, as all those who reject HIM will have their part in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:15).
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
And so it is. When we sin, that's it. It cannot be undone, just like spilled drink, which meant all that was left for us was condemnation/damnation, because sin leads to separation from GOD, who is eternal life (and the opposite of that is eternal death). The same with our court of law today. When one breaks the law, it cannot be undone, and the criminal is then separated from society to face their punishment. However, GOD made a way for us to be forgiven and set free from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation, and to be reconciled unto HIM, through the free gift of HIS one and only begotten SON (JESUS CHRIST). So where we have sinned once, judgment unto condemnation awaited, but the free gift covered and forgives us, and not only of our first sin we ever committed, but of all other sins we've ever committed, to whosoever believes in HIM (see John 3:16 and compare to John 12:46, John 14:12).
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Again, if one believes the context of this chapter is saying that we all are by default punished for what Adam did, then one would have to apply the same concept to what CHRIST did, and believe that everyone by default (including the non-Christian) are now made righteous because of the actions of one man (JESUS), because this chapter is a comparison between Adam and JESUS. Ezekiel 18:19-20 says, "19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.", which documents that a child is not punished for the sins of their parents/ancestors, which clearly wouldn't be true if we all were declared sinners from birth due to Adam's actions. After all, if one has read our study, "Did We All Come From Adam & Eve", one would know that we're not all descendants of Adam, as there would be no such thing as gentiles or foreigners in the Bible. That would be like punishing a Hispanic man today for the actions of a white man's ancestors (or vice versa), whichever scenario you would like to use, which clearly wouldn't make any sense.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Again, if one implies that we're born sinners due to Adam's actions, then they would have to believe that those who are born today (after CHRIST's death & resurrection [i.e. HIS fulfillment]) are born righteous and that eternal life by default awaits for all, which clearly isn't true to those who reject CHRIST.
What this verse is saying is that many were made sinners because they dwelled in the same lifestyle as Adam (rebellion/disobedience to GOD), so today can many be made righteous by dwelling in CHRIST and following HIM, and that's only through HIS power living within us that equips us in newness of life. Those who die in the lifestyle of Adam will not receive eternal life, just as those who die in the lifestyle of JESUS (becoming born again as HE instructed [see John 3]) will not receive eternal death.
This verse would be equivalent to Exodus 20:5-6, in which we all have walked in at some point (following the sinful lifestyle as Adam, an ancestor, biological or not), which is how many were made sinners (all who have lived long enough to sin), and why the wrath of GOD awaited for us (before we came to repentance), as we're not punished for other people's sins, but only if we walk in the same disobedience as other people's sins, as we all have at some point to those of us today, who have lived long enough to sin.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Although everyone knows right from wrong due to objective morality, the law was our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24) to show us the reality of just how wicked we truly are as humans (see Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7), compared to GOD, and points us to the only solution (JESUS CHRIST) to our problem of sin and death.
21 that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
And so it is, only through JESUS do we overcome, and the evidence of someone who is truly in HIM is a transformed life, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 informs us: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
As we can see, Scripture makes it's pretty clear that we suffer the consequences of Adam (death) because we all have followed his actions (sin, [Romans 3:23]), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The only way one can see it the other way is to read it with a pre-conceived mindset of that theory, and to force it into the text. Also, it would make Ezekiel 18:20 a lie, which says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." We're all responsible for our lives that we have lived (Deuteronomy 24:16). Many throughout the years have taught "generational curses" which simply is NOT true. Generational curses only exist if the next generation continues in the same sinful lifestyle as their parent or forefather as Exodus 20:5-6 explains. Again, if one believes all are made unrighteous because of one (Adam) and his actions (in the sense that we're all punished because of him), then one would have to believe all are made righteous due to the actions of one (JESUS CHRIST), and that we're all rewarded eternal life because of HIM, and clearly that's not true as many will miss out on the free gift of everlasting life, due to their rejection of JESUS CHRIST, as only through HIM can we be Saved (Acts 4:12).
What About Psalm 51:5?
Psalm 51:5 says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." If one is familiar with David's psalms, they would see many times where David uses figurative speech, like in Psalm 6:6 "I am weary with my groaning;
all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." Obviously David's bed isn't floating from his tears. The context of Psalm 51 is considered to be David's guilt for his sin with Bathsheba, and having her husband (Uriah) put in a position where he would be killed, to try and cover it up. David starts Psalm 51 (verses 1-13) with "1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Obviously David's bones weren't literally broken, nor would pouring hyssop make him clean, rather David is figuratively speaking of how he has been crushed by the weight of his sin. As we can see, David is discussing his sinful nurture and how his actions have corrupted him. Perhaps verse five is simply figuratively referring in the sense that David is so sinful, that even his mother sinned (not literally) by conceiving him. Now regardless of whether it has a figurative or literal meaning, David stated that in sin, his mother conceived him. So if one were to take it in a literal meaning, there is no way it could be used to support that we all are sinners from birth, because it was David's mother who "in sin, conceived him." It would be equivalent today to saying, in recklessness, the man hit me. Clearly in the literal sense, it wouldn't be us who did the hitting but the man who hit us, as he would be the one who did wrong, not the one hit. However, the context of Psalm 51 is about David's nurture, which again, likely is figuratively speaking for how corrupt he was in that point in time for his actions, that he likens it to his mother sinning just for conceiving him. Obviously the context is about David and if he was pointing to the theory that he was made that way, he would be shifting the blame on GOD which clearly isn't the context, nor intention of his writing.
all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." Obviously David's bed isn't floating from his tears. The context of Psalm 51 is considered to be David's guilt for his sin with Bathsheba, and having her husband (Uriah) put in a position where he would be killed, to try and cover it up. David starts Psalm 51 (verses 1-13) with "1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Obviously David's bones weren't literally broken, nor would pouring hyssop make him clean, rather David is figuratively speaking of how he has been crushed by the weight of his sin. As we can see, David is discussing his sinful nurture and how his actions have corrupted him. Perhaps verse five is simply figuratively referring in the sense that David is so sinful, that even his mother sinned (not literally) by conceiving him. Now regardless of whether it has a figurative or literal meaning, David stated that in sin, his mother conceived him. So if one were to take it in a literal meaning, there is no way it could be used to support that we all are sinners from birth, because it was David's mother who "in sin, conceived him." It would be equivalent today to saying, in recklessness, the man hit me. Clearly in the literal sense, it wouldn't be us who did the hitting but the man who hit us, as he would be the one who did wrong, not the one hit. However, the context of Psalm 51 is about David's nurture, which again, likely is figuratively speaking for how corrupt he was in that point in time for his actions, that he likens it to his mother sinning just for conceiving him. Obviously the context is about David and if he was pointing to the theory that he was made that way, he would be shifting the blame on GOD which clearly isn't the context, nor intention of his writing.
What About Psalm 58:3?
Psalm 58:3 says, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." Again, even that verse has literally nothing to do with people being born sinners, but rather people born who will be sinners (not because GOD made them that way, but because they rejected good for evil, therefore becoming that way with their free choice). This verse is simply referring to the fact that the wicked will be wicked after they are born, just as we saw written about Esau in his lifetime throughout Genesis; in the womb, he did no good nor bad as we saw earlier, but as soon as he grew up, he became rotten due to his lack of care towards GOD, and for this reason, GOD hated him.
Why do babies die if they haven't sinned?
This is a good question that really cannot be answered by no man, as we're not in the position of GOD to say why it is allowed. However, we live in a world, full of sin, that's become corrupt, due to the fall of mankind, and man's choice to allow satan to govern them. Sometimes bad things just happen and it has nothing to do with one's sin, as JESUS explains in Luke 13, and sometimes it does when people commit evil against another, or make sinful choices (like a drunk driver hitting and killing another person in a vehicle). Obviously it doesn't mean GOD desired for it to happen, but simply that it did happen. Many ungrateful people often blame GOD for the actions of others and what the devil has caused, and other people. They act as if GOD is supposed to serve them instead of them serving GOD, regardless of their current situation.
In the case of Job, we see how mature he was, and that even when he had nothing, GOD was still his everything, as HE should be to us today, regardless of what we have or face. As for JESUS, we know HE is no stranger to our pain, sorrow, tears, and suffering, as HE suffered all of that unjustly, and we know HE never once sinned, yet HE died, paying the price of our sins, all to give us the free gift of a much greater life to come in the eternity, where there will be no more pain, sorrow, or tears (Revelation 21:4). Again, sometimes bad things just happen and we know GOD isn't the cause of it, but rather satan (as shown in Luke 13:16). Never forget though that we have power in the name of JESUS to trample over demons and all spiritual attacks of the enemy. When JESUS healed the man who was born blind in John 9, HIS disciples asked HIM if it was the man that sinned, or his parents that sinned which caused him to be born blind, and JESUS responded by saying "... neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." GOD has a reason for allowing what HE allows, and regardless of our ability to comprehend it, doesn't change the fact that HE is GOD and that HIS ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30) and higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9); by that man being born blind, JESUS was able to lead others to GOD through that miraculous healing.
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 also says, "11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."
Again, just because bad things happen doesn't always mean, nor most of the time mean that GOD is the cause of it, nor does it mean one brought it upon themselves by sinning, as in the case of a baby which has passed on. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 documents that this flesh is corruptible and time and time again, we see that throughout life, even within animals, as sometimes animals have babies that die right after birth, and obviously animals are not capable of sinning, because if they were, they could never have been used for sacrifice in the old testament. Again, the death of a child doesn't mean they sinned. Consider the situations of abortion (the murder of a child). Did the baby sin in which caused its death? Of course not, as the child didn't do any good or bad (sin), (as we saw with Esau and Jacob), yet died.
As a side note, it is personally believed that when GOD created the order of this world, that HE already preprogrammed the genealogies of mankind in which who would carry the seed of another person and that from there HE allows it to run its course, and if it's HIS will to intervene, HE will, if not HE won't. Obviously mankind has free choice to do as they wish, whether they choose sin or not, and as a result, we can see how mankind has corrupted this world and destroyed many of GOD's creation. In comparison, imagine you build a beautiful habitation for ants, and you place the different ants in there, and you somehow are able to give the ants knowledge of right from wrong, and the ants choose to disobey and mingle with other ants that they shouldn't be with, and as a result it leads to corruption, defects, lawlessness, etc. It would obviously be the ants that caused the destruction, not the builder. That may seem silly when comparing ants, to men being GOD's creation, but if ants had the same brain as man, it wouldn't be silly, but one should be able to grasp the analogy. If that seems too confusing, think of someone creating a video game, and in that video game characters are given certain skills, resources, height, weight, etc. Many video games can be set under a simulator where the game plays itself, leaving the organizer in stand by while it takes its course. The designer of the game knows certain events and when they will take place, but it is left up to the characters choices of when those events will be set to begin, or who will make what choices.
In the case of Job, we see how mature he was, and that even when he had nothing, GOD was still his everything, as HE should be to us today, regardless of what we have or face. As for JESUS, we know HE is no stranger to our pain, sorrow, tears, and suffering, as HE suffered all of that unjustly, and we know HE never once sinned, yet HE died, paying the price of our sins, all to give us the free gift of a much greater life to come in the eternity, where there will be no more pain, sorrow, or tears (Revelation 21:4). Again, sometimes bad things just happen and we know GOD isn't the cause of it, but rather satan (as shown in Luke 13:16). Never forget though that we have power in the name of JESUS to trample over demons and all spiritual attacks of the enemy. When JESUS healed the man who was born blind in John 9, HIS disciples asked HIM if it was the man that sinned, or his parents that sinned which caused him to be born blind, and JESUS responded by saying "... neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." GOD has a reason for allowing what HE allows, and regardless of our ability to comprehend it, doesn't change the fact that HE is GOD and that HIS ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30) and higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9); by that man being born blind, JESUS was able to lead others to GOD through that miraculous healing.
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 also says, "11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."
Again, just because bad things happen doesn't always mean, nor most of the time mean that GOD is the cause of it, nor does it mean one brought it upon themselves by sinning, as in the case of a baby which has passed on. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 documents that this flesh is corruptible and time and time again, we see that throughout life, even within animals, as sometimes animals have babies that die right after birth, and obviously animals are not capable of sinning, because if they were, they could never have been used for sacrifice in the old testament. Again, the death of a child doesn't mean they sinned. Consider the situations of abortion (the murder of a child). Did the baby sin in which caused its death? Of course not, as the child didn't do any good or bad (sin), (as we saw with Esau and Jacob), yet died.
As a side note, it is personally believed that when GOD created the order of this world, that HE already preprogrammed the genealogies of mankind in which who would carry the seed of another person and that from there HE allows it to run its course, and if it's HIS will to intervene, HE will, if not HE won't. Obviously mankind has free choice to do as they wish, whether they choose sin or not, and as a result, we can see how mankind has corrupted this world and destroyed many of GOD's creation. In comparison, imagine you build a beautiful habitation for ants, and you place the different ants in there, and you somehow are able to give the ants knowledge of right from wrong, and the ants choose to disobey and mingle with other ants that they shouldn't be with, and as a result it leads to corruption, defects, lawlessness, etc. It would obviously be the ants that caused the destruction, not the builder. That may seem silly when comparing ants, to men being GOD's creation, but if ants had the same brain as man, it wouldn't be silly, but one should be able to grasp the analogy. If that seems too confusing, think of someone creating a video game, and in that video game characters are given certain skills, resources, height, weight, etc. Many video games can be set under a simulator where the game plays itself, leaving the organizer in stand by while it takes its course. The designer of the game knows certain events and when they will take place, but it is left up to the characters choices of when those events will be set to begin, or who will make what choices.
Things to consider:
- Deuteronomy 24:16 "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Although context is important (speaking of Israel here), and though there are times in life where people sometimes suffer the consequences of other people's actions, no one will stand upon judgment day to give account for another person's sin, as it will be up to each individual.
- If one believes babies are born sinners, then they would have to believe that CHRIST was born a sinner (as HE was once a baby in the flesh too), which clearly as we know, HE never once sinned (see 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 9:14).
- 1 John 3:4 says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So with that in mind, if sin is transgression of the law, what law have babies transgressed in the moment they came out? That's just it, they haven't transgressed any law in that moment. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." As we can see, CHRIST knows exactly what it is like to be flesh, yet never once did HE sin, and if being born makes one a sinner, HE too would have been one, and again we know HE never once sinned. HE took on the same challenge as we did, but got it done flawlessly/perfectly without ever once transgressing the law.
- Genesis 8:21 says, "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." Notice it doesn't say "for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his birth...", rather it says "his youth". And so it is, as young children quickly choose to disobey, even if it's from a very early age.
- If one believes we're born sinners, then they would have to believe that GOD made us that way, and clearly GOD does NOT make mistakes. Psalm 18:30 says, "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
- As a visual example, imagine a "game show" of dangerous obstacles, consisting of swinging blades, fire the pops out of the floor, deadly lasers, hornets that attack, an electric rope to walk on that electrocutes after a few seconds. It wouldn't take a person long to stumble and die and it's like respawning over and over again, and from our youth, we adapt to trying to accomplish things ourselves, and we never can get through this facility on our own to win. However JESUS was able to and with HIS SPIRIT and power amongst us today that lives within us, when we come to HIM in repentance, we can do just that. We can choose to keep respawning and go our own way and continue to fail over and over again, until we run out of time or lives (figuratively speaking), or we can dwell in HIM and allow HIM to walk us through to the other side. Only through HIM can we be victorious. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." This is why it is important for children to be raised in a true Godly home from an early age, whereby parents don't have to worry about them going astray. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
- We know animals are NOT sinners because if they were, they could never have been used in the Old Testament for sacrifice. However, miscarriages and still borns sometimes occur even within them, the same that they sometimes occur within humans. None the less, a baby's flesh death doesn't mean they sinned. After all, CHRIST died, never once did HE sin. Now that's not to compare CHRIST to us, even in our infant, innocent state, but nonetheless one can get the point addressed. After all, GOD knows each soul and the characteristic of what one will likely choose to be. Sometimes a babies death could simply be allowed as GOD's way of protecting that child from . Only HE knows.
- In 2 Samuel 12:23, David said that he would be reunited with his dead child after death, which means if an infant could enter in to heaven, clearly that infant wouldn't be guilty of sin or else David wouldn't be reunited with him at the time of his death. Some might would then say, "but why did GOD punish David's son for the actions of David and Bathsheba?" Although some might see it as punishing the child, really it wasn't. It was grace to the child, David, Bathsheba, and to the Kingdom that the child died. If the child had lived, he would have always been known as the "product of sin", and the child "born out of wedlock." If the child had lived, he would have bore the social brunt of king David's sin. David also would have it thrown in his face and be continually reminded, as would Bathsheba. The child did no wrong and GOD relieved him of bearing his father's sin. Also, once David died, that child would have taken over as king. The heathen, enemies, of David knew that his child was born out of wedlock and was attempted to be covered up through the death and killing of his mother's husband (Uriah), which would have also led to people blaspheming GOD, and JESUS when HE would eventually be born. By that child's survival, it would also have given the tares another reason to scorn and reject JESUS, and call HIM a fraud. It would also be a reminder to people of David's sinful acts committed, again, leading to blasphemy towards GOD, and even rebellion of his son's rule, and ultimately more rejectors of JESUS, as HE had to come through a pure pedigree. Though it might appear unfair for his child's life to be taken, we know GOD's reasons are always fair and justified, with pure motives. Remember, HIS ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and HE sees the full picture and plan of how everything fits into place. We don't.
- It is impossible for GOD to create a sinful being (compare Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 9:6, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 119:73, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Corinthians 11:7, James 3:7-9, Job 31:15)
- Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." This verse quoted not only affirms that GOD has created man, but also affirms that man is created upright. If man is created upright, he cannot be born a sinner; if man is born a sinner, he cannot be created upright. Either one or the other may be true, but they cannot both be true for the two are contradictories. But when GOD says he has created us "in his image," and has given us "life and breath and all things," are we to understand that he created us as sinners? When he says, "We are his offspring," are we to understand that his offspring are born sinners? And when JESUS said, "I am the root and the offspring of David," are we to understand that David sprang forth from the root CHRIST JESUS with a sinful nature? Or, are we to understand that JESUS, as the offspring of David, was born with a sinful nature? We know that JESUS did not create David a sinner, and we know that JESUS was not born a sinner as the offspring of David, which would have to be true if the doctrine that men are born sinners were true. The doctrine that men are born sinners is false!
- People sin against the good nature that GOD created them with, as several verses declare that men have corrupted themselves and sinned against the good nature the GOD created them with. See Genesis 3:11-12, Genesis 6:5-7, 12, Exodus 32:7-8, Deuteronomy 31:29, Deuteronomy 32:5-6, 18, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:3, Psalm 82:6-7.
Other verses to read: Deuteronomy 1:39, Isaiah 7:15-16, Genesis 18:25, 2 Chronicles 25:4, Ezekiel 18:30, Romans 2:14-16.
Excerpts from: https://www.gospeltruth.net/OS100bibleverses.htm