Looking at the 39 Articles Article IX ‘Of Original or Birth Sin’ 15/09/2019 Starter question What is sin, and how deep does it go?
Bible Study Psalm 51:1-6
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; You may also want to read: according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Genesis 3:1-19 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21 3 For I know my transgressions, 1 Corinthians 15:21,22 and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Study questions 1. Was Eve responsible for Adam’s sin? (cf. Genesis 2:16,17; 3:6)
2. Why do we all have to suffer because of Adam’s sin? (Romans 5:17a among many others)
Article IX As originally stated. Original Sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is ingendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth (concupiscat) always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in the Greek, ‘Phronema Sarkos’, which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptised, yet the Apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin. Article IX In more modern English. Original sin does not consist in imitating the sin of Adam (as the Pelagians wrongly teach) but is the fault and corruption of the nature with which all the descendants of Adam are born. It is due to original sin that we have departed very far from the original righteousness in which we were created, and are naturally inclined to evil, with the result that there is a constant war between the flesh (our fallen natures) and the spirit (our redeemed nature). Accordingly, in every person born into this world, original sin is deserving of God’s wrath and condemnation. This infection of our nature (by the fall) remains even in those who are reborn in Christ. Because of it the desire of the flesh (our fallen nature) is not submissive to the Law of God. True though it is that there is no condemnation awaiting those who believe and are baptised, yet the Apostle asserts that all ungodly desires are in themselves sinful.
Talk notes:
The source of original sin
The consequences of original sin
The persistence of original sin
Discussion questions 1. Is sin a normal part of human nature or a corruption of it?
2. Are unholy thoughts and desires only displeasing to God if we act on them?
3. In what ways do we downplay or ignore the reality and depths of sin in our hearts?
4. How might we wrongly ‘accumulate teachers to suit our own sinful passions' (2 Timothy 4:3)? TALK. In the earlier articles the foundations of who God is and how we come to think rightly about Him are laid down (through Scripture as interpreted by the creeds), we now arrive at the beginning of God’s work of salvation for humanity. Before turning to the good news, we must hear the bad news, the black backdrop against which the jewel of the gospel can shine most brightly.
Article 9, ‘Of Original or Birth Sin,’ shows us just how bad we really are. Among the various technical terms is an utterly shocking analysis of human nature. Contemporary debates within the Church of England, as well as society more widely, desperately need to hear this biblical assessment of the human condition.
The source of original sin It’s not just about our environment affecting a neutral human nature (i.e. copying the bad examples of others around us and tracing it all the way back to Adam). The fifth-century bishop, Augustine of Hippo, standing in a long line of African leaders who spoke out against British false teaching, corrected Pelagius on just this point.
[Pelagius (c. AD 360 – sometime after 418) was a theologian of British Celtic origin who advocated free will and asceticism. He denied the need for God’s help in performing good works. He maintained that humans are not affected by Adam’s sin and are perfectly able to fulfill the law without God’s help. He was declared a heretic by the Council of Carthage in 418. His understanding of free will became known as Pelagianism,]
Drawing on texts like Psalm 51:5 (‘Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me’), Augustine argued that our very nature is corrupted. Every single person born in Adam’s race is 'inclined to evil.'
Yes, we are made in God's Image (Genesis I:26,27), but our nature is now positively faulty at the deepest level as a result of the fall. This means that just because we desire something, or find pleasure in something, does not make it good. We are not as we should be. Our ‘natural’ desires must be evaluated in the light of God’s word.
The consequences of original sin Our fallen nature (as we are without Christ) is sinful, and it therefore deserves ‘God’s wrath and condemnation.’ The problem with humanity is not just that we make life miserable for each other, but we face the justice and holiness of our perfect creator God. When He assesses our nature— whether we are male or female, still in utero or in an old age care home, straight or gay, black or white, or whatever other divisions we might imagine— God judges that our nature is ‘very far gone from original righteousness’ and therefore we must face the consequences.
The Bible tells us that ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23), i.e. the ultimate and fearful experience of God’s wrath. Which is why all humans so desperately need to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is easy to lose this eternal perspective of future judgement and become engrossed in the present shutting out such thoughts. But rather than do that, we should allow the dire consequences of original sin to fire our passion for sharing the gospel more and more, wherever and whenever we can so that others will also be saved.
The persistence of original sin When anyone comes in repentance and faith to Christ and is born again by the Holy Spirit, there is then ‘no condemnation’ (Romans 8:1). Nevertheless, the sinful human nature remains, persistently waging war against the work of God’s indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:5—13). Our sinful desires still bubble away inside.
Were it not for the justifying work of Christ and the continual sanctifying work of the Spirit, we would be no different from anyone else. Indeed, this is why we have liturgical prayers of confession, one which Cranmer penned says, Almighty and most merciful Father… there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. We are realistic about who we are. Despite being believers, we are continually dependent on God’s mercy even after conversion because of the ongoing lifelong battle between our sinful human nature and God’s indwelling Spirit (Galatians 5:16—25 and Romans 6—7). As the tenth commandment tells us not to covet, which means our desires must be subject to God’s will, the implication is we must therefore fight against the natural inclinations of our fallen nature which is hostile to God and His good will for His creation.
This article was specifically written to combat errors propagated by the Roman Catholic Church, particularly after the Council of Trent, which tended to downplay how bad we are as a result of the fall. We must be careful not to make that same error underestimating the darkness of our fallen nature. Don’t fall for the arguments that ‘I am only human’ or ‘it’s not going to hurt anyone’ as justification for ignoring God’s Word and His commandments. We need to return to God’s analysis of human nature and realise the profound corruption that lies at the heart of human experience and desire. As is taught in Christianity Explored, “You are more sinful than you ever realised, but more loved than you ever dreamed.”
Article 9 is vital to healthy, biblical Christianity, because downplaying the power of sin will lead not merely to a superficial statement of the Atonement (i.e. Christ’s saving work for us on the cross), but to a dismissing of the need for atonement at all. In this series we will come to those Articles that speak of the wonderful saving work of Christ, but tonight we focus on sin that penetrates to the very core of our being.
Prayer Lord God, Without You, without Jesus and without the Spirit we are unable to do anything that pleases You. Therefore, we turn to you in repentance and faith, asking that You fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of Your truth, that You mercifully forgive our many sins and that You save us from the condemnation we deserve. We Ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ our sinless Lord and Saviour, Amen.