Ezekiel 18:20... Rejects the idea of original sin?

Question

Ya i am confused with the Christian perspective of Original Sin. When in Ezekiel 18:20 and various others the idea is completely rejected. Note (Iniquity means sin)

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 hime righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

So according to this in the bible.. Original Sin cant exist. So why then is this preached, as the most fundamental believe in Christianity. From which is derived that God had to come down in human form to die for "our" sins that we didn't even commit... Its very confusing really.
If Adam and Eve didn't consult me before eating the forbidden fruit why should i be held accountable. Same way if my dad kills someone or i kill someone why should me or my dad be held accountable for either one.

Answer 1

Original sin was not an original concept. That came much later after the death of Jesus. Jewish people did not believe in such a doctrine and since Jesus was Jewish he would not have ascribed much to it either.

It was believed by the Jews that Adam gave up perfection and immortality by disobeying God but sin is a choice.

"The Western tradition, both Catholic and Protestant, concerning original sin is largely based on writings by Augustine of Hippo, who concluded that unbaptized infants go to hell because of original sin."

Answer 2

I have MANY problems with the Christian doctrine of Original Sin and I have asked quite a few questions regarding this on this forum.

This is another good one. Some of my issues revolve around:

1. The NEED to test in the first place when God already KNEW the outcome and it would mean human suffering and tragedy

2. Allowing two humans who were so innocent they had to "eat from a tree" to know good from evil and did not even realize they were naked to undergo such a test that would impact not only THEM but the ENTIRE human race

3. Allowing a celestial creature far superior and more powerful and cunning than those two humans to run amok and influence and actually decieve Eve, who was gullible enough to believe it

4. The only warning given to Adam and Eve was that they would die. Death of course, being ALIEN to them, since they were in a perfect, utopian paradise and knew not of such things. So how could they fully understand the RAMIFICATIONS of what that entailed?

5. Then of course, YOUR question (a very intelligent one at that) that this bible God supposedly created a universal justice system where children pay for their parent's mistakes with their LIVES!

And then my sixth issue with this doctrine

6. Creating a solution (what Christians or Muslims call salvation) which involves once again making a blind choice purely on faith. Something the VAST majority of humankind cannot do or even if they do, they may not do in the "RIGHT" sect (if there is such a thing) because faith is SO subjective. It is influenced by- family history, geography, education, personal experiences, social status etc. So what rings true to one person may completely not ring true to another, even if they are exposed to the same thing. It does not mean one is more GOOD than the other either.

To this date, NO Christian or Muslim or any other sect that believes in original sin has been able to answer these questions in a way that rings true and makes sense to me.

Answer 3

I had to stop for a moment and look at the bible. Inequity is an act of sin, injustice, wickedness. An act of sin that demonstrate depravity. Now, this is a human terminology, and know I sin every day. A sin is something I know is wrong. If I live my entire life doing or thinking wrong or doing bad thing, then my soul dies. I lose my capacity to be a good person and my ability to be good to others. According to what you've wrote, the inequities of a person committing sin makes him a sinner because it's a personal choice. The writer is saying that the spirit dies if one continues a lifelong sinful life. Sinning is progressive and accumalative and inequety is falling short to the wishes and glory of GOD. That's why everyone will be raise from death and judge accordingly. Genesis is a great example to what
happens to anyone who disobey GOD. This example applies to all humans living or dead. It doesn't matter if the original sin is true or not. GOD wrote the word and this is the truth. The bible is our guide, our instructions to live life to the fullest expectation of GOD, to do his will on earth until the day of his coming. Until all will be judge by the all mighty GOD. You speak of accountability, well I learn this a long time ago. "action =consequences". I am accountable for my own present actions and the consequences that may result
from good or bad decisions.

Answer 4

Good question-Adam and Eve may have been forgiven, but God gave us free choice. Cain killed Able, and not because Adam told him to. It was a choice. Do you see where I'm going with this? Even if Adam and Eve were restored to perfect nature, someone would have still sinned. Have you ever thought what the original sin actually was? It was disobedience, and the choice (as you can see today-MANY people are disobedient towards God) would have been made eventually. It's how humans are. We naturally rebel against higher power. We have a sinful nature, and there is nothing we can do about it, save live a perfect life. Jesus didn't sin, He took sin for us. If He hadn't...Jesus would have lived forever. That was part of the sacrifice. So do we sin, and if we didn't sin at all...I don't know.
The point being is that someone would have sinned, and you aren't being held accountable for Adams sin, you will be judged eventually and not for Adams sin but your own.

Answer 5

Ezekiel was Jewish, and Jews do not believe in the existence of Original Sin. The concept of Original Sin simply states that because Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they brought Death into the world. Every human being dies because Adam and Eve committed a sin, and for their sin, all humans are punished with death. However, the Bible describes something entirely different. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because if they remained, they could eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, which would make them IMmortal. If Adam and Eve had to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life to become IMmortal, then they were created mortal to begin with. They did not bring Death into the world, and we don't die because they sinned. As a matter of Biblical fact, the answer to Question One shows that one person cannot die as the punishment for the sins committed by another. We die because Death is a natural part of existence, and has been since from the moment the first human beings were created. That is why God told the animals, before Adam and Eve ate the fruit from The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil, to be fruitful and to multiply, since they needed to replace themselves. God also told the same thing to Adam and Eve before they ate that fruit as well.

Answer 6

Are you trying to take Christianity apart?
We all know that THE WOMAN EVE was the devil's instrument to tempt Adam!

Saint Paul says that Eve was deceived (he really hated women) NOT ADAM, but that women will be saved if they are good at making babies!!!!!! (nuns need not to apply!)

I Timothy 2:14-15 (NIV) And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

So the "original sin" is about the brightest idea of the early church fathers came up with to instill a guilt feeling in you for being born into this world with an "original" sin. They can help you get rid of it... but it will cost you... I am sure that you would be willing to pay whatever price in tithes and offerings... so good luck!

Answer 7

Confusing yes, but, it says that the sin of the son will not be the fathers accountability. Each one will be responsible for his own sin. In the beginning Adam and Eve were created to commune with God. They were suppose to mulitiply. They sinned and set the course for sin. That was the beginning and things had to be done differently then. This is where FAITH comes in. Taking Gods' word on things even when we don't understand. Some things are not to be revealed to us here on earth. We must take the faith and hold it, knowing God is in control. With our limited knowledge we could not understand the things of God, so it's kept from us.FAITH FAITH is the answer.

Answer 8

There is no negating the CAUSE of sin (imperfection). Ezekl., here, is stating that all men (all souls) die-period. There is no problem with this explaination when we understand that the reserrection of the dead (in God's memory) is yet future, awaiting their rising to life or judgement (after a period of reeducation to "get up to speed" and decide to comply or not).
Eccl. 5: 9, 10; 3: 19; Ps. 37: 10,11,29,34 Ps. 146: 4 further this fact.

Imperfection (sin, or "falling short of the mark" of it) is passed down from each generation since our first parents, just as our genetic flaws are. Romans 5: 12

This is why our perpitatory sacrifice (all covering) is so neccessary and welcome in the form of the Christ (annointed) God has so lovingly and generously sent in our behalf. The unblemished lamb that was bled and lain upon the alter to the Father in order to atone for the shortcoming of His chosen people of the time, prefigured Jesus perfect offering of his life, this time for ALL the offspring of Adem.

These 6k yrs. have been necessary to allow humankind to prove to itself it is incapable of ruling itself, apart from their maker, which was what Adem's decision to disobey amounted to. Most importently, this allows our Father to sanctify His good name, the formost intent of His kingdom and the formost reason for Jesus' coming to earth: Matt. 6: 9.

Answer 9

You can commit sin. You have that potential after you're born to sin the way Adam and Eve sinned. I have already done so. When I ate the fruit it was a kumquat. And I didn't eat it I just bit into it and tried to spit it back out but it was too late.

Answer 10

I don't agree with the concept of original sin.
But who knows if were talking about the same thing.
I am talking about the thing people preach.
They say that you are a sinner from the day you are born.

I believe sin comes when a person commits an act knowing that it is wrong or evil or unjust or the likes of that...

And so I disagree with that concept of original sin simply because,.

God is a fair Judge,
Also Jesus said,
"Hinder not the little ones to come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven"
'
If they had sin and they were kids and they have not repented.

Welll. They wouldn't be " SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"
They would be " SUCH IS HELL BOUND"