2c - The problem of original sin in Romans 5

Romans 5 seems to be saying that somehow, because of Adam’s sin, we are condemned (v18). Unbelievers find this a problem. How would you answer them?

There are various explanations of how we could have been involved in Adam’s sin:

We are held responsible for Adam’s actual sin.
1. The whole human race somehow was present in Adam at the moment of his sin, therefore we are all guilty of the original sin.
2. Even though we were not involved in Adam’s sin, we are treated as if we are guilty of it because he was our representative.
We are held responsible only for our own sins.
1. Because of Adam’s sin, we are all born with sinful natures, and therefore inevitably sin.
2. We all sin `in Adam’ because we inevitably follow his example and sin ourselves.
3. When Adam sinned, the whole of Creation `fell’. We are born into a fallen world and therefore we inevitably sin.

Answers 1. & 2. cannot be true becuase in Ezekiel 18 God clearly states that we are never punished for the sin of another person, even if he is our father.

The best solution is to understand the difference between guilt and consequences

we suffer the consequence of Adam’s sin—a fallen nature
we are only held accountable for the guilt of our own sin

For this reason I would favour explanation 3.

Ezekiel 18:1-32

The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul who sins shall die.
But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right;
If he has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbour’s wife, nor approached a woman during her impurity;
If he has not oppressed anyone, but has restored to the debtor his pledge; has robbed no one by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing;
If he has not exacted usury nor taken any increase, but has withdrawn his hand from iniquity and executed true judgment between man and man;
If he has walked in my statutes and kept my judgments faithfully—he is just; he shall surely live!” Says the Lord GOD.
“If he begets a son who is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does any of these things
And does none of those duties, but has eaten on the mountains or defiled his neighbour’s wife;
If he has oppressed the poor and needy, robbed by violence, not restored the pledge, lifted his eyes to the idols, or committed abomination;
If he has exacted usury or taken increase—shall he then live? he shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
“If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise;
Who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbour’s wife;
Has not oppressed anyone, nor withheld a pledge, nor robbed by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing;
Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor and not received usury or increase, but has executed my judgments and walked in my statutes—he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live!
“As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother by violence, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
“None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.
“Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ hear now, O house of Israel, is it not my way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.
“Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.
“Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
“Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not my ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
“Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”