Sin

The fall and its reach: depravity without the inability the system requires.

5 questions answered. About this doctrine · All topics

• Whosoever WillDoes Romans 8:7-8 mean the carnal mind cannot believe?Read what it says it cannot do: it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Cannot submit to the law; cannot please God by it. Paul does not say cannot believe, and could not, having already set faith against law and works (Rom 3:27; 4:5). His own answer to the carnal mind is on the same page: the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom 1:16).
• With Chuck SmithIs complaining a sin?Chuck Smith, Answers for Today, chapter 16: What many people don’t realize is that complaining is a sin. The fiery serpents came into the camp and began to bite the people, and they began to die. The people of Israel recognized this was a judgment of God because of their complaining. So, they came to Moses and said, “We have sinned because we spoke against God and against you.” They recognized that their complaining was actually a sin and that God looked upon it as sin. The Word of God tells us to be thankful for everything. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Since God has ordered you to be thankful, for you to complain is a sin. Scripture, King James Version: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.". From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.
• Whosoever WillWhat does "dead in sin" mean? Does it mean unable to respond?"Dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1) means spiritually separated from God and under sentence, not a corpse unable to hear. The same word describes the prodigal, "dead, and is alive again" after he came to himself and walked home (Luke 15:24).
• With Chuck SmithWhat is original sin?Chuck Smith, The Gospel According to Grace, chapter 5: The word "have" is added in the King James Version; the original Greek reads, "...because all sinned." Paul is saying that when Adam sinned, he sinned for the whole human race. Just as Adam became a sinful creature, spiritually dead and separated from God, so did his children. Adam couldn't pass along any fellowship with God to his children, because he had lost it; and because he acted as our federal head, we came into this world separated from God. From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.
• Whosoever WillWhat is total depravity? Is man totally unable to believe?Rightly stated, sin has touched every part of man so no one seeks God on his own. It does not mean total inability to respond to the gospel. Depravity: yes. Inability: no.