The Bible itself says that children will not be punished for the parents' sins(Deuteronomy 24:16). Furthermore, if God really created Adam not knowing either good or evil (Genesis 3:22), how could such a harsh and enduring punishment as death for Adam and all his descendants possibly be just? Our secular courts are more just than God when they show mercy on people who cannot distinguish between right and wrong, such as children and the mentally handicapped. And why isn't this doctrine of original sin found anywhere in the Bible except in Paul's writings?
2006-11-28 19:24:44 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think I asked this question before...
Yep, pretty much this exact question.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjF37zM4oW29ltdpR5mQ2ibsy6IX?qid=20061014135624AAB5eBa
I've read that site too.
According to Christian mythology, if Adam hadn't sinned, none of us would sin. Adam did sin, therefore we're all capable of sin. It was God's decision to make it so. God didn't have to hang the ability to sin on the actions of one man but he did. God then allowed the punishment for sin (death) to befall us all after Adam opened the floodgates of sin. It was God's decision to make it so. Why?
2006-11-28 19:25:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Judgment day comes to all. Men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
In the garden of Eden initially Adam did not know between good and evil, but after Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit their eyes were open (as it was put) and they could then distinguish between good and evil.
The death is just because it's subject to this life time and not the next where there will come a time when people will be resurrected. So this life time becomes a test of our worthiness to prove ourselves to the Lord.
Some of the court cases that I have observed don't show mercy to the Innocent victims. To many people are more concerned for the criminal then the victim.
There have been other writings that contain such or similar recordings. You simply need to know where to look.
2006-11-29 03:43:16 · answer #2 · answered by Brenmore 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess the best way to describe it, in my opinion is that since both Adam and Eve did it, the repercussions were passed down through all people like any other inherited trait. If both parents are Italian, their kids will be Italian. I know its in a much wider form in this example but Im only human I cant express God's actions since I dont understand them all myself. But, immediately following God did promise a Savior, so He was ready for such an event. Also I might add that under the Law, punishment for sins was handed down through generations.
I also think the one commandment that Adam and Eve had, which was to obey God, wasnt broken unknowlingly... they were in constant communion with God, He told them what would happen if they ate of the fruit. It wasnt like they had no clue that they shouldnt eat it. Just like we dont even know really the conciquences of the bad decisions we make either, until they happen
2006-11-29 03:39:46 · answer #3 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's alright if you asked it before. We are not punished for Adam's sin. God would have told Adam to eat the apple sooner or later. Physical death is a result of the mortality that we all gain when we come to this earth. The only way to get back to heaven is to die. The physical body resides in the physical plane. (This is why we get new bodies. The old ones are worn out.)
2006-11-29 03:29:32 · answer #4 · answered by gogododo3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, God set in place a principle that works for or against mankind; that is, whatever is introduced into our human bloodline is passed on through our bloodline. When Adam rebelled and developed his "blood disease" of sin, he, being the first man, passed on his punishment to all mankind through his bloodline. Adam had a choice; he chose rebellion, and therefore violated a principle of life and opened the door for sin and death to be introduced into mankind's bloodline. That is why Jesus became a man and died for us; He offered a new bloodline to those who would receive him. By becoming human and taking on the punishment himself, the sin disease that was introduced by a man was also repaired and healed by a man. God's very holiness requires that he judge sin wherever it is found, even when it was credited to his very son, who commited no actual sin, but took the punishment for all anyway.
Secondly, regarding God's justice, when you understand what was available to Adam through God and what Adam rejected, then you will understand the punishment. Adam knew what was right and what was wrong by God's revelation of the law to him; that is how he was able to share it with Eve. What he was deceived into doing was coming into the knowledge of right and wrong by actually experiencing right and wrong through personal rebellion. He was deceived by the devil into believing that there was greater benefit than loss, but afterwards he realized that it was the loss of relationship with God, the very thing that he was designed for and that was giving him life. He learned about right and wrong the hard way - through personal experience. What he lost was the opportunity to become a spirit-filled son of God, the very thing Jesus came to offer 4,000 years later.
When the Bible uses the word "know" here, it is speaking of an intimate experience, not just head knowledge; look further in Gen. 3 and you will see where Adam "knew" Eve and it produced a child. That is the same way he "knew" sin when he ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil -- through intimate experience.
The punishment is the result of that act, as stated before. God must judge sin, even though he withheld his judgement upon all of mankind as he prepared us for Jesus. God did design the system, and He does not simply take back His laws. Instead, he works within them to warn man and to rescue man; this is what he did with Jesus. Salvation is a rescue mission.
Regarding the doctrine of original sin, The New Testament is the clear revelation to the church of God's laws and salvation, and Paul was one of the main writers used to receive and record that revelation; as long as its in the BIble, what difference does it make who wrote it? Every writing in the Bible has its own distinct purpose, readership and revelation to the church, even though you will find common revelations woven through many of them.
2006-11-29 03:51:47 · answer #5 · answered by Rodeba1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I’ve tried to read the Bible, but I can’t understand it."
The Scriptures tell us that the "natural man" cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. Most Americans would find it difficult to understand the Chinese language. However, a child who is born into a Chinese family can understand every word. That’s why you must be born again with God’s Spirit living within you (John 3:3). The moment you become part of God’s family, the Bible will begin to make sense.
2006-11-29 03:27:18 · answer #6 · answered by I_Need_Help 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, the doctrine of original sin isn't in the bible. We all have sinned therefore, we all have tasted that apple. Do you understand now?
2006-11-29 03:27:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My actual answer would probably get me all sorts of hate messages, even though I don't mean it so harshly. So I'll go with, I don't know, but I'm tired of the cramps every month just because Eve had to have that friggen' piece of fruit. ... the actual answer is better...
2006-11-29 03:28:06 · answer #8 · answered by Willow Wisp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are not punished for Adam's sins - for we have committed enough on our own - all it takes is one to be dirty and not able to enter the presence of a Holy and Just God
2006-11-29 03:28:17 · answer #9 · answered by tomkat1528 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lol,this was what my pastor asked me....
Adam's sin has been washed away when Jesus came to the cross
(Ok,so he carried in first..)died on it and was reborn.
When Jesus gave his blood to us,all the sins from past,present and
furture were erased.
2006-11-29 03:31:16 · answer #10 · answered by chilling_1ce 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋