Christianity: Original Sin and Its Consequences

The Concept of Original Sin

• The Church teaches that Adam's sin resulted in death and corruption, affecting the entire human race (Romans 5:12).
• As a result of Adam's sin, humanity was born with original sin, carrying the consequences of sin, which is death and corruption.

The Consequences of Adam's Sin

• Spiritual death: Adam's sin separated humanity from God, making it impossible for humans to be with God (Romans 5:12).
• Physical death: The consequence of sin is death, and humanity became prone to illness and disease, leading to death.
• Shame, fear, and suffering: Humanity lost the glorified image of God, experiencing shame, fear, and suffering, as seen in Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:7, 10).
• Corrupt nature: Sin settled in human nature, affecting it from all aspects, and humanity became inclined to sin.

Why God Did Not Forgive Adam

• God's justice and mercy cannot contradict each other; if God forgave Adam, it would contradict His justice.
• God gave Adam a clear warning and the necessary resources to obey the commandment, but Adam still sinned.
• God declared the consequences of sin before the fall, and He must keep His word (Numbers 23:19).

Our Relationship with Adam's Sin

• The entire human race was in Adam when he sinned, and we were born with the sin of Adam and carry the corrupt nature represented in Adam (Romans 5:12).
• We are not held accountable for our parents' sins, but rather for Adam's sin, which introduced sin and corruption into the world.

The Divine Liturgy and Our Faith

• The Divine Liturgy explains our faith, highlighting that we were created through Adam and were in Adam when he sinned (Romans 5:12).
• The Liturgy of St. Basil emphasizes that we were all in Adam when he disobeyed God's commandment, and we fell from eternal life.

The First Adam and the Second Adam

• St. Paul explains the doctrine of original sin in detail in Romans 5:12-21, stating that through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin.
• Christ, the Second Adam, came as a new beginning for a new humanity, redeeming us from the original sin and giving us eternal life.

Conclusion

• The Church's faith on this issue is that we were in Adam when he was created, sinned, died, and was corrupted by sin, and we were born sinful, corrupt, and dead (Psalm 51:5).
• Christ, the Second Adam, came as a representative for all humanity, undertaking the act of salvation to save us, and giving us eternal life.