Problems I have with rejecting Original Sin:
1. Effects of Sin. Sin is the reason that humans now experience pain, suffering, hunger. Eating protein is now required because as the body dies, it need replenish of nutrients to prolong the inevitable-death.
Adam and Eve had to eat before they sinned.
Would any deny that a child is dying the minute it is born? But if there is no original sin, then the effects of sin should not follow until sin is imputed or the sin nature imputed to the child.
The tree of life provides healing. It appears that even in the New Jerusalem that this healing will be required.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Only the saved are allowed to eat of the tree of life, so obviously it is the saved that will require the healing.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
The effects of sin are apparent in a child which could not be possible unless the child was born with sin.
Adam and Eve were created without a sin nature, and sinned the first time they were tempted. All that is required to sin is a free will. Children are born into a sinful environment. They are exposed to sin and temptation the moment they are born. It is no wonder that all men soon sin.
2. Knowledge and Consciousness of Sin. A child lies and deceives from birth. A baby deceives it's parent by crying as if hungry, when the child really wants attention. I can remember when my son was 2 lying to my face about taking something from his sister. Not only did he lie about it, he had a guilty conscience. Like Adam, he tried to hide his sin.
Lying requires INTENT. A child simply wants it's parents attention, there is nothing sinful whatsoever about this. The only means a baby has of preservation is to cry, it is all they've got.
If a child was born without sin, how can a child possibly have a consciousness of sin? and a knowledge of what is right or wrong? Sin is not imputed when there is no law, and yet a child shows the "work of the law written on their hearts".
How did Satan sin? He was created perfect. How did Adam and Eve sin without a sin nature? How about all the fallen angels that were created perfect?
No, all that is required to sin is a free will.
Children do not at first know right from wrong, scripture shows this.
Deu 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children,
which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
God did not punish the children of the Jews who sinned in the wilderness, and allowed them to enter the Promised Land, a figure of heaven. Why? Because they had no knowledge between good and evil in that day.
Isa 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
This verse shows that it takes time before a child matures and can choose between good and evil. This verse shows we retain free will, and it also shows that man can refuse evil and choose good, refuting Total Inability.
3. Eternal Security. If a child is born without sin, then it's safe to argue that is a reason why the child goes to heaven. Sounds good, of course (although that obviously gives a Calvinist fits because that baby might have been elected to go to hell). However, the problem with this is that it conflicts with Eternal Security. If the child is born without sin, and would go to heaven at death, then that means a child is born saved which I believe not only conflicts with the contrast of physical and spiritual birth in John 3, but conflicts with assurance of salvation if this true.
No, the child is not SAVED. You have to be lost to be saved. This child was NEVER LOST. Is there such a thing? YES, Jesus himself speaks of those who have never sinned and need no repentance.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine
which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of
these little ones should perish.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Jesis spoke of 99 sheep which went not astray. He then identifies these persons as little children. Jesus had just told his disciples they must be converted and become as little children to enter heaven. No unclean thing ever enters heaven.
Jesus also spoke of the elder son who never transgressed his father's commandment at any time.
Luk 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him,
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:
for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
The elder son claimed never to have sinned against his father. Did his father call him a hypocrite or rebuke him? NO, the father confirmed that what the elder son said was true. He called him "Son", he said he was "ever with me" (never separated by sin). He also said that his brother (the prodigal) was DEAD and LOST, contrasting with the elder son who was never dead or lost.
And remember, it is Jesus himself who told us of these persons who never sinned and never went astray. There have literally been millions, if not billions of children who have died before they could sin. This would account for the 99 just persons who never went astray compared to the one sheep who became lost and repented.
If a child is born saved, but at a later time is then held accountable and can go to hell for eventually rejecting Christ, then that favors an argument that a person's salvation can be lost.
No, because when we are saved we are SEALED by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. We are not originally born with the Holy Spirit, but man's spirit. But it is not lost at first.
4. Age of Accountability. The arguments I've seen here rejecting the age of accountability (don't like that term) seem to have a problem. If there is no such thing as an age of accountability, then that would also defeat any argument for an age of imputability. At some point a child has to be accountable for sin. No matter which argument you chose, both sides have to agree that there is a particular age that the child is aware of and accountable for sin. I think the argument against age of accountability is a self-defeating rebuttal.
There is an age of accountability, Deu 1:39 shows it. Paul also said he was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and he died. When he matured and understood the law he became accountable. The law he thought would lead to life led to death. Sin took occasion by the law and convicted him as a sinner.
And that is the point, if OS is true, Paul could NEVER say he was once alive. And Jesus could not have said the prodigal was ALIVE AGAIN.
Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is
alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Original Sin is FALSE doctrine.