What is Original Sin?
‘Original sin’ does not mean that Adam was created a sinner, but that we come into the world with sin upon us. We are born with a nature that has been corrupted by sin, Adam’s first sin – hence the phrase ‘original sin’
18 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgression which proceeds from it.
Guilt means debt, the punishment the law demands. As Adam’s descendants we are all guilty of his first sin, exposed to punishment on account of that sin. The want of original righteousness means we have lost that goodness or rightness of heart and life in which Adam was created. The corruption of our whole nature so that instead of the good disposition and the holy desires Adam had before the fall, we now have a nature that is unsound, set upon doing evil. This is called depravity.
Actual transgressions are our personal acts of sin, our sinful thoughts, imagination and desires, our sinful words, deeds and works. As Jesus put it, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:19)
Original Sin, particularly as expressing the corruption of our whole nature, is why we commit sin, indeed why we do not need to be taught to sin.
In confessing his own sin David also acknowledged that the problem of sin and guilt goes deeper than his actual sins.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)
Does this not help us see how much we need a great Saviour? And in His great love God has given us the Saviour who is great enough to save us from our sin: His only begotten Son.