Is the Rejection of Christ 'the' Damning Sin?

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

It has been said by some that man is born unable to make a proper moral decision being born with original sin. Others seeking to distance themselves from the logical implications of that doctrine, try to inject the notion that all men are granted one and one ability, only. i.e., the ability to accept or reject Jesus Christ. For that choice and that choice alone is man said to be accountable to God. This resulting doctrine in both cases is the notion that the damning sin is nothing more or less than the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The question remains, is that a Scriptural position to take? Do the Scriptures teach that the damning sin is in fact the rejection of Jesus Christ?

 

[Amy.G]

It has been said by some that man is born unable to make a proper moral decision being born with original sin. Others seeking to distance themselves from the logical implications of that doctrine, try to inject the notion that all men are granted one and one ability, only. i.e., the ability to accept or reject Jesus Christ. For that choice and that choice alone is man said to be accountable to God. This resulting doctrine in both cases is the notion that the damning sin is nothing more or less than the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The question remains, is that a Scriptural position to take? Do the Scriptures teach that the damning sin is in fact the rejection of Jesus Christ?

If you believe this verse:

1Jo*2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.


And these verses:

Joh*3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh*3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh*3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.


Then yes, rejection of Christ is what damns one to hell.

 

[Amy.G]

Here are more:

Mt*7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mt*7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mt*7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mt*7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mt*7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


Those that Jesus doesn't know are those who never believed. Jesus doesn't say to them "you have sinned too much" "depart from Me".

The rock that the wise man's house is built upon is Jesus Himself.

The sayings that we must do are the calls to man to put his faith in the One God has sent.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Amy, so let’s take your first verse and examine it. 1Jo*2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

How does this verse teach or support the notion that the damning sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ?

 

[Tom Butler]

I want to ask about what Jesus meant in this verse, John 3:18:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God

Can this reasonably be interpreted as meaning that one is already condemned from the moment of his first willful sin until he believes?

Can "hath not believed" be read as something other than "rejected Christ?"

What about those who have never heard of Jesus?. They don't believe, but not because they rejected him. They don't know about him. Yet they will be condemned. But not for rejecting Christ.

Isn't it reasonable to assume that all of us committed sin, thus stood condemned, even before we ever heard or understood the gospel?

 

[JSM17]

All unforgiven sins damn. Do all sins reject Christ, YES? If sin is transgression against God and Christ is God, then it seems to me that in a logical way rejecting Christ can be the damning sin, since all sin is a direct rejection of God's laws. The question to ask is whether or not a sin is damning when one is ignorant of God's laws? I know there can be many variables to this question but the question "Is the rejection of Christ the daming sin?" is to open with to many variables within itself as well. And yes this leads us back to the question of man's ability and his state of innocence or lack thereof. Certainly a hard question, we can be sure that the statement "SIN DAMNS" is true without question, yet then we would be forced to conclude that the OP's question falls into this arena.

 

[Revmitchell]

We are all born sinners. That sin separates us from a Holy and righteous God. God has made a provision to deal with our sin problem. That is the cross. Trying to complicate the gospel with all these unknowable doctrines of men that are not delineated in scripture is nothing more than man trying to puff himself up with knowledge.

The difference between law and grace is about the atonement for sin. It is not about how man responds to the gospel. Regardless of what response God requires from man He who has the authority and the power to save gets the credit.

 

[JSM17]

So we are born transgressing God's law? Then explain when a baby dies at birth how it transgressed God's laws and rejected Christ? According to that teaching the baby goes to hell right? How does a baby reject Christ? If rejecting Christ is the damning sin then a baby is born damned, so explain to me how that baby rejected Christ.

 

[annsni]

So we are born transgressing God's law? Then explain when a baby dies at birth how it transgressed God's laws and rejected Christ? According to that teaching the baby goes to hell right? How does a baby reject Christ? If rejecting Christ is the damning sin then a baby is born damned, so explain to me how that baby rejected Christ.

So do you believe that babies are born pure and right with God?

 

[Jedi Knight]

Mark 3 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can NEVER be forgiven, but is guilty "presentence" of ETERNAL SIN. It's the Holy Spirit that draws and convicts people. If you harden your heart and reject"as the Pharisees were" the Holy Spirits revealing truth your in danger of commiting an eternal sin! BTW for those who want to say Eternal life is NOT eternal "presentence".......Jesus said an Eternal Sin will NEVER be forgiven. The opposite is I give my sheep Eternal Life and shall NEVER perish! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[steaver]

It has been said by some that man is born unable to make a proper moral decision being born with original sin. Others seeking to distance themselves from the logical implications of that doctrine, try to inject the notion that all men are granted one and one ability, only. i.e., the ability to accept or reject Jesus Christ. For that choice and that choice alone is man said to be accountable to God. This resulting doctrine in both cases is the notion that the damning sin is nothing more or less than the rejection of Jesus Christ.

The question remains, is that a Scriptural position to take? Do the Scriptures teach that the damning sin is in fact the rejection of Jesus Christ?

Being born with the curse of original sin does not prevent proper moral decisions. Many lost people make right moral choices everyday. So that doctrine is bunk.

The second doctrine you mention about man having only one ability to accept or reject Christ is totally foreign to anything I ever read in scripture. So that is bunk as well.

As far as the question... "Do the Scriptures teach that the damning sin is in fact the rejection of Jesus Christ?". The scripture tells us that rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Without the Spirit one cannot be saved. Rejecting the Spirit is rejecting God and God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit testifies that Jesus is Lord, therefore, rejecting the Holy Spirit's testimony is rejecting Jesus Christ.

Jesus made the atonement for sin. The only thing that will send one to hell is to reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We are saved by faith alone and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

:jesus:

 

[steaver]

So we are born transgressing God's law? Then explain when a baby dies at birth how it transgressed God's laws and rejected Christ? According to that teaching the baby goes to hell right? How does a baby reject Christ? If rejecting Christ is the damning sin then a baby is born damned, so explain to me how that baby rejected Christ.

We can only teach what is written. We know that if one hears the truth and rejects Him they will not be saved. The scripture does not tell us what happens to those who never heard. We cannot say they all get saved and we cannot say they all get damned.

Scripture does say that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Some want to take this and declare that those who did not hear must be damned. I can't go that far with what has been written for us. I do trust that God is fair and just and I will let that area totally up to God.

God is just, I personally believe there will be people saved who have never heard the gospel in their earthly vessel, But that is just my opinion and it does not stop me from preaching the gospel as commanded.

Jesus did say that He would draw ALL men unto Himself. I have heard testimonies of people coming to faith in Christ without hearing the gospel from another human being. Angels appear to them or Jesus Himself. So God has not limited Himself to human preachers. Nevertheless, we must continue to follow the commandment for the Great Commission!

:jesus:

 

[billwald]

>He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God

NNE EVER notices the import of this verse. Namely, that the the state of being condemned must be a temporary condition.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Bill, can you elaborate on your comment? Thanks.

 

[JSM17]

So do you believe that babies are born pure and right with God?

You know I do.

Do you believe that babies that are born sinful that die go to hell? Thats the implication of that doctrine, yet nobody wants to admitt it.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

How about simply saying babies are born pure and innocent?

 

[annsni]

You know I do.

Do you believe that babies that are born sinful that die go to hell? Thats the implication of that doctrine, yet nobody wants to admitt it.

I believe what the Scriptures say about all having fallen short of the glory of God. I believe what it says about the fact that David was conceived in iniquity. I believe what the Scriptures say that the wicked go astray from the womb. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." Genesis 8:21 tells us "....for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth." Jonathon Edwards says in The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended, remarks that on this verse: "The word translated youth, signifies the whole of the former part of the age of man, which commences from the beginning of life. The word in its derivation, has reference to the birth or beginning of existence...so that the word here translated youth, comprehends not only what we in English most commonly call the time of youth, but also childhood and infancy."

Yes, babies are born sinful. However, since I believe that it is God who will turn hearts towards Him, I believe that He knows the hearts of these children and He can turn the hearts of even an unborn child towards him.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

How about simply saying babies are born pure and innocent?

Original sin. With that said, while we're on the topic of babies, Luther believed infants could have faith. Could this be accurate and be a means of salvation for those who die in infancy and do not have a chance to respond to the gospel as we can? Please note, I'm not saying this is accurate, I'm just asking.

 

[annsni]

Well, I guess there are a few choices:

1. Man is born sinless and without guilt or stain of sin. If a baby then dies before he can choose, he'll go to heaven. It isn't until he can know what sin is and deliberately sin that he becomes sinful.

2. Man is born sinful but God has a special dispensation for all babies who die.

3. Man is born sinful and he cannot go to heaven until he chooses God of his own free will. So if babies die, they go to hell.

4. Man is born sinful and he cannot go to heaven on his own but if he is one of the elect, he will be able to go to heaven. Those babies who die who are not elect will go to hell.

I'm sure I'm missing some others but these are the ones I could think of right now.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Annsni: Yes, babies are born sinful. However, since I believe that it is God who will turn hearts towards Him, I believe that He knows the hearts of these children and He can turn the hearts of even an unborn child towards him.

HP: Long on Augustinian theory and short on evidence from the Word of God and reason. Psalms 51 and 58 are as far from proof or evidence of original sin as the East is from the West.

What keeps the mind closed to the reality and acceptance of truth? In this case the voluntary adherence to the presupposition of original sin and the acceptance of the false notion of Augustine that sin lies in the constitution of the flesh and not in the will. It represents a most important failure to properly distinguish between the sensibilities and the will and as such a crucial mistake in the understanding of morality.