I don't know if I believe in Total Depravity or Original Sin. But let me explain.
It is clear that Adam and Eve were created with the ability to either obey God or disobey. They could not have sinned if they were perfect.
But were they still good? Could God declare his creation very good? Yes. Because they were sinless. They were pure. They had committed no sin.
I believe the flesh itelf is the problem. Our flesh has desires, and sometimes those desires pull us toward rebellion or disobedience of God's word. Look what it says about Eve when she was tempted.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
This fruit appealed to her fleshly desires. It looked delicious, it was beautiful to look at, and it offered wisdom. She had great desire to eat this fruit for these reasons, that is what the scriputes show.
I personally do not see "the fall" men talk about. When Adam and Eve sinned, they gained awareness. Before they had walked around naked without being conscious of it, just like a little child often does. They had no personal conscience. They had never experienced shame or guilt before. This is the change the scriptures show, I do not see any other change.
If they were able to sin before they ate of the fruit, and they were able to sin after the fruit, where is a change?
I believe we are all born with these same fleshly desires inherited from Adam and Eve. We are pulled to fulfill our desires. This is obvious.
But man could do good after Adam and Eve sinned. Cain could have given an acceptable sacrifice, God said so himself.
Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
I believe babies are born with these fleshly desires. They want what they want. But babies and young children are amoral. They have no concept of right and wrong and cannot be held accountable. Therefore I believe that all babies and young children are saved.
We often talk about a sin-nature, but is that really shown in scripture? There are scriptures that show the opposite.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Here Paul speaks of Gentiles who "do by nature" the things contained in the law.
Now, how do those who believe in Total Depravity answer this statement by Paul?
I believe we all have fleshly desires that tempt us to sin, but we also have the ability to resist these desires. When a child is old enough to understand right from wrong and chooses to sin, it is at this point that they become a sinner and come under the sentence of death that was introduced by Adam when he sinned.
Look at this statement by Paul:
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
If the doctrine of Original Sin is true, when ever was Paul alive? He would be born spiritually dead if this doctrine is true.
However, if he were born amoral, that is not knowing good from evil, he would be spiritually alive until he was mature enough to understand right from wrong (the law). Then, when he did know right from wrong and chose to follow a sinful desire, upon sinning became a sinner and died.
I am still studying all this. I know it goes against what the church has taught forever. But I want to know what the scriptures teach and say even if that is controversial.
