This has been bothering me as of late. In the Christian belief, Jesus died for our sins, correct?
If he did die for our sins, then wouldn’t original sin be absolved?
If that’s the case then, presuming someone lived a sin-free life, could they get into heaven?
Also, if original sin is not an issue, then should Genesis be taken out of the bible?
Many Christians would say that Jesus’ death only absolves those who believe in him:
IOW - the problems of original sin only applies to the rest of the world…
Grim
**Quite possibly; I’ve met Christians who have quite plausibly argued this point.
**If the above view is correct, then I suppose yes, but there’s the rub; living a sinless life (by legalistic standards) is not at all easy.
Don’t see why (in fact wouldn’t you have to take out the account of the crucifixion too, as this would be the balancing side of the transaction?)
I don’t think you’d have to take out the crucifixion, mainly because most people sin. I suppose, even though all sins have been forgiven, people should know that they’ve been forgiven…does that make sense?
I thought about that after I posted. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the bible also say somewhere that all sins are forgiven-without mentioning a belief in Jesus being necessary?
Even if it doesn’t, could Genesis be taken out? Also, what would the consequences of a removal of Genesis?
What I probably should have said is that, just because something might have been superseded, it isn’t necessarily a reason to delete reference to it.
I can’t think of any reference to all sins being forgiven - the references I can come up with all refer to some kind of action needing to take place before forgiveness - e.g. 1 John 1:8-10
and the action of confession of sins would seem to need some kind of belief in the ability (and willingness) of the one to whom you are confessing to forgive the sins confessed.
Orthodox Christian theology says that humans are fallen, sinful creatures who need to accept an act of grace (Jesus’ death on the cross) to become acceptable in God’s sight - removing Genesis from the Bible would remove the explanation of how we got into this mess in the first place.
Grim
“Sin” in “original sin” does not have its common meaning. It is not a sin in the way that murdering your granny (say) is a sin. It is not a personal fault, but a deprivation of original holiness, and an inclination to evil - a state or condition, rather than an action.
Here’s the article on original sin from the 1908 Caltholic Encyclopedia. It may answer some of your questions (at least from that viewpoint).
I thought Original Sin is absolved via baptism. At least that’s what I infer from the following:
[quote]
The fate of infants who die without baptism must be briefly considered here. The Catholic teaching is uncompromising on this point, that all who depart this life without baptism, be it of water, or blood, or desire, are perpetually excluded from the vision of God. This teaching is grounded, as we have seen, on Scripture and tradition, and the decrees of the Church. Moreover, that those who die in original sin, without ever having contracted any actual sin, are deprived of the happiness of heaven…
SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia: Baptism
[quote]
Perhaps it is considered that we are absolved of Original Sin before Jesus died…when he died on the cross he dealt with whatever sins are left.
Too simplistic?
And from a later RCC source, the relevant passage from the 1994 Catechism.