SPELLING EDITED Cc-2. CALVINISM-TOTAL DEPRAVITY! PART 2 Exposing the errors of Calvinism in the LIGHT of the WHOLE WORD of God! This is part 2 of the study “CALVINISM-TRUE OR FALSE-PART 1?” If you have not read part one of this study it is an overview or introduction to what Calvinism and Reformed Theology teaches. I have added the Grace Alone Christians because many grace “ALONE” Christians believe SOME of the same things but they use different terminology. In section one of part 2 of this study on Calvinism in the light of the whole word of Almighty God, we will be focusing on the “T” in the acronym “T.U.L.I.P.” The “T” in T.U.L.I.P. in Calvinism is the DOCTRINE of TOTAL DEPRAVITY which basically teaches that every person is BORN with a sinful nature. But not just a sinful nature that can be controlled or resisted through the power of the Holy Spirit. But rather, according to Calvinism, every person is born with a human nature that is so depraved that a person can NOT understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ enough to be saved. And, according to the “U”, the “L”, and the “I” in T.U.L.I.P. in Calvinism, the so-called “ELECT” must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit FIRST before they can be saved. In other words, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology Christians, only the so-called “CHOSEN ONES” or the elect ones from before the foundation of the world can be saved and even the elect must be born-again or regenerated first by the Holy Spirit before they can understand the Gospel enough to be saved. But what does the Bible ITSELF teach us in SIMPLICITY? Let us begin section one of this study by reading a passage of Scripture that almost every Christian church denomination, including Calvinism, uses as the foundation of how to be saved. SECTION ONE Of Part 2 The Doctrine of TOTAL DEPRAVITY-True of False? According to Romans 10:8-17, The Bible itself teaches us that WHOSOEVER of any person in the entire world can be saved if they BELIEVE the “true” Gospel of Jesus Christ. We already covered this passage of Scripture in part 1 of this study called the introduction of Calvinism-True or False? But it bears repeating. Please read Romans 10:8-17. “But what says it? (Or what do the Scriptures say?) The word is nigh you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of FAITH, which we PREACH; 9. That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10. For (Or BECAUSE) with the heart man BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth, CONFESSION is made unto salvation. (These are the first THREE CONDITIONS of being saved. A person must first HEAR the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, then they must BELIEVE or have FAITH in the heart that Jesus died for THEIR sins and that God raised him from the dead after three days. And then you must CONFESS to God and to others in order to be saved. And by confession, the Bibles means to MAINTAIN our confession of faith unto the END of our life or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. For you see, IF a true born-again Christian becomes DECEIVED to change their confession of faith to DENY that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God then they will LOSE their salvation) 11. For the Scripture says, WHOSOEVER believes on him shall not be ashamed. (And NOT whosever of only the so-called ELECT who were supposedly chosen to be saved before the foundation of the world. One must read INTO the Scriptures that Calvinistic belief) 12. For (Or BECAUSE) there is NO DIFFERENCE between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over ALL is rich unto ALL that call upon him. 13. For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? 17. So then, FAITH COMES BY, and hearing by the word of God.” So just this one passage of Scripture proves that all five points of Calvinism and Reformed Theology are false teachings. But in part 2 of this study, I want to try to stay focused on just the first point of Calvinism which is the “T” in T.U.L.I.P. So then, does the Bible ITSELF teach us that every person is BORN with a sinful nature? And is every person so totally depraved with sin that not one single person can make a CHOICE to BELIEVE the preaching of the Gospel in order to be saved. And by the term “saved” I am talking about being BORN-AGAIN or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit AFTER a person BELIEVES, as opposed to the “Calvinistic” Christians teaching that a person must be born-again or regenerated by the Holy Spirit FIRST before they can BELIEVE the Gospel to be saved. What does the Bible ITSELF teach us? Please read Ephesians 1:3-14. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN Christ: 4. According, as He has CHOSEN us IN him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (So then, it is the WHAT that has been CHOSEN before the foundation of the world and not the WHO or the ELECT who were chosen before the foundation of the world. In other words, God chose that SALVATION is IN His Son Jesus before the foundation of the world. The LAMB was slain before the foundation of the world and NOT certain specific individual people were chosen to be saved before they were ever born) 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by (Or IN) Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted IN the beloved. 7. IN whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8. Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all [things] IN Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN him: 11. IN whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all [things] after the counsel of His own will: (I placed the word [things] in brackets because it is NOT in the original Greek text and the CONTEXT is speaking about the ALL of the WHOSOEVER who BELIEVE the Gospel to be IN Jesus to BECOME one of the ELECT after they first believed to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit) 12. That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted IN Christ. 13 IN whom you ALSO trusted, AFTER that you HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: IN whom also AFTER that you BELIEVED, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” So then, according to the Bible ITSELF, it is AFTER a person HEARS the Gospel of salvation that FAITH comes into their HEART to BELIEVE and CONFESS the true Gospel to be saved. We do NOT read anywhere in the entire context of this passage of Scripture that a person must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit FIRST before they can understand the Gospel enough to be saved. The word “regeneration” is found only two times in the Bible, once in Matthew 19:28 where Jesus is talking about the regeneration of our CHANGE from mortal to immoral AT his coming, and once in Titus 3:5 which is talking about the WASHING OF regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit. Please read Titus 3:5. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, BY the WASHING OF regeneration, and RENEWING OF the Holy Ghost;” So what does the phrase “BY the WASHING OF” regeneration of the Holy Spirit mean in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God? Well, according to E Sword the word “regeneration” means being “born-again” or rebirth. It means being reconciled to God by God FORGIVING all our past sins to become new creatures CREATED IN Jesus Christ when we first BELIEVE. G3824 παλιγγενεσία paliggenesia pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah From G3825 and G1078; (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), that is, (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specifically Messianic restoration: - regeneration. And, according to 1 Peter 1:18-25 and James 1:16;22 we are born-again BY the word of God that is PREACHED to us. Please read 1 Peter 1:18-25. “Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22. Seeing you have purified your souls IN OBEYING the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23. Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY the word of God, which lives and abides forever. 24. For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower thereof falls away: 25. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” So then, according to the Bible ITSELF, any person in the entire world can be saved BY the PREACHING of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And if they BELIEVE and receive the word of TRUTH to OBEY the TRUTH then AFTER they BELIEVE they will be regenerated by the Holy Spirit to become true BORN-AGAIN Christians and given the earnest of God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in them the very moment that they first BELIEVE the Gospel of salvation that was PREACHED to them. Now read James 1:18-22. “Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of His own will BEGAT He us WITH the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. 21. Wherefore (Or for this very reason that you believed the Gospel to be BORN of God or born-again to become new CREATURES IN Jesus) lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” So then. the teaching of Calvinism in the “T” in T.U.L.I.P. teaches that all of mankind, INCLUDING the ELECT, are so totally depraved from the moment that they are BORN. And, therefore, every single person in the entire world is rendered so totally depraved that they are UNABLE to understand the gospel enough to be saved UNTIL they are FIRST regenerated or born-again by the Holy Spirit, is NOT found to be true in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God? So where do Calvinist and Reformed Theology Christ get their teaching that everyone is BORN with a sinful nature? The doctrine of “total depravity” is based upon the teaching known as the doctrine of “ORIGINAL SIN” that is widely taught in not only Calvinism and in Reformed Theology, but by many other denominations of the mainstream church as well. In fact, there seems to be at least some form of this so-called original sin doctrine that is taught in nearly every mainstream church. This original sin doctrine is NOT taught in the Scriptures! But rather, it was the Roman Catholic Church that formed the original sin doctrine. And after Christians started QUESTIONING the original sin doctrine worrying about all the babies that die before they are old enough the understand the Gospel of salvation, the Roman Catholic Church had to create another man-made doctrine so that babies could be baptized to be SAVED by baptism as in infant. Basically, the doctrine of original sin states that ALL of mankind has INHERITED what is called a SINFUL NATURE from Adam. In other words, this doctrine teaches that BECAUSE of the ORIGINAL SIN of Adam and Eve then ALL of mankind from Adam to this present day have INHERITED this so-called SINFUL NATURE that causes them to sin. And then later on after the reformation, John Calvin taught there is NOTHING that anyone can do to STOP sinning because everyone is BORN with a sinful NATURE. And thus, it is human NATURE to sin. In other words, some church denominations such as Calvinism, Reformed Theology, and some Grace Alone Christians take or carry this Roman Catholic teaching of original sin that all of mankind are BORN with a SINFUL NATURE to the EXTREME. And they teach that mankind is, therefore, SO TOTALLY and COMPLETELY DEPRAVED that it is IMPOSSIBLE for any person to even think about SEEKING after God and turn away from sin. UNLESS of course, they happen to be ONE lucking few or one the ELECT that was lucky to be chosen to be saved. And even then, the elect must FIRST be REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit, so that, or in order that, they can UNDERSTAND the word of God enough in order to be saved. And as you have already seen from the Scriptures, anyone who hears the Gospel and BELIEVES to OBEY the Gospel can be saved AFTER they BELIEVE. So the Bible itself clearly teaches us that we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit AFTER we HEAR the gospel and RECEIVE the Gospel as being the truth. So Calvinism and Reformed Theology Christians have errored in their “interpretation of the Scriptures concerning how and when a person is truly saved. So what about their doctrine of “TOTAL DEPRAVITY”? Again, their doctrine of total depravity is proven to be false because the Bible ITSELF clearly teaches us that WHOSEVER who BELIEVES is SAVED or born-again the very moment that they BELIEVE the Gospel to OBEY the Gospel. So what about the Roman Catholic doctrine of original sin that every person INHERITS a sinful NATURE? Personally, I do not believe in the doctrine of original sin because the verses of Scripture that are used to try and support this DOCTRINE of ORIGINAL SIN are, in my opinion, taken OUT of CONTEXT. And, therefore, those verses of Scripture been MISUNDERSTOOD by those who teach this FALSE doctrine. And thus, the Roman Catholic Church has DECEIVED some of the Protestant church denominations that came out from the Roman Catholic Church during the reformation. For you see, some of the Protestant church denominations KEPT many of the FALSE teachings of the Roman Catholic Church not KNOWING that they are false teachings. Otherwise, they would have REFORMED those false teaches as well. In other words, the Scriptures have been twisted either intentionally or unintentionally and, therefore, certain Scriptures have been made to say something that the WHOLE word of Almighty God clearly does NOT teach. So then, let us begin this section of our study in God's word on the doctrine of TOTAL DEPRAVITY by looking at the passage of Scripture that is found in Romans chapter 5 which is probably the most widely recognized passage of Scripture that is used to teach that all of mankind has INHERITED a so-called SINFUL NATURE. And therefore, according to Calvinism, ALL of mankind are SO TOTALLY depraved that they are rendered COMPLETELY UNABLE to hear God's word and turn from their sin and seek God UNTIL they are FIRST REGENERATED or born again by the Holy Spirit so that they can, THEN, and ONLY THEN be made capable of understanding God's word enough in order to be SAVED. We will talk about WHY this necessity of REGENERATION BEFORE one can be saved a little later in this study. But for now, I want to focus on the passages of scripture that these doctrines of original sin and how that doctrine of total depravity is based upon the ASSUMPTION that the doctrine of original sin is sound Biblical teaching. SECTION TWO Of Part 2 The Doctrine of TOTAL DEPRAVITY-True of False? Please read Romans 5:8-21, which according to Calvinism, teaches us that because of Adam's sin that this is why ALL of mankind are BORN with this so-called SINFUL NATURE that makes ALL of mankind SO TOTALLY and COMPLETELY DEPRAVED that all of mankind is, therefore, render SO TOTALLY and COMPLETELY UNABLE to even believe God's word and be saved UNTIL they are FIRST born again or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit so that they can then UNDERSTAND God's word enough to be SAVED. Here is what Romans 5:8-21 actually says. “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, BEING NOW justified by his blood, we SHALL be saved from wrath through him. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were RECONCILED to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we SHALL be saved BY his life. (Clearly, this verse of Scripture is showing us a TWO part salvation plan of God. First of all, the death of God’s Son on the cross PROVIDED the WAY of reconciliation to God but not ALL people are automatically saved simply because salvation has been PROVIDE for all of mankind. God ALSO chose that salvation should come BY the foolishness of PREACHING so that WHOSEVER of any person in the entire world who BELIEVES and OBEYS the Gospel shall be saved. So the second step of BEING saved after a person has believed the gospel to be RECONCILED is to be saved BY the LIFE that Jesus lived as our EXAMPLE to FOLLOW) 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (When we are first born-again BY our faith in the Gospel we are forgiving and CLEANSED of all our PAST sins. I other words, all of our past sins were WASHED away by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit at the moment we first BELIEVED the Gospel of our salvation) 12. Wherefore, as by ONE man (Speaking of the one man Adam in the Garden of Eden) SIN entered into the WORLD, (And NOT that a so-called sinful NATER entered into every person when they are BORN) and DEATH BY sin; and so DEATH passed upon all men, (WHY? Why did DEATH pass upon ALL of mankind?) FOR (or BECAUSE) that all have SINNED: (And NOT because that all of mankind have INHERITED a so-called SINFUL NATURE. But rather, that all of mankind have SINNED at one time or another in their life. And therefore, the REASON that DEATH has passed upon ALL men is that all of mankind has SINNED at one time or another. The Bible does not say that the wage of sin is being BORN with the penalty of sin that was inherited from Adam’s original sin. NO! The Bible itself clearly teaches us that the wage of SIN is death and the gift of God is eternal life. And which SERVANT we are is the one we will OBEY. So those who live in a lifestyle of SIN are servants of Satan, the Devil because they are OBEYING the LIES of Satan. But the TRUE servants of God OBEY the commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant taught in the New Testament to RESIST the temptations of Satan to NOT sin, And if we do sin then we repent and confess our sin in order to be cleansed once again from ALL our sins) 13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, (Or in the same manner that Adam sinned, This means that AFTER the cross God CONCLUDED ALL of mankind to be under the penalty of sin so that God could SAVE the ALL of WHOSEVER BELIEVES to be save IN His Son, Jesus) who is the figure of him that was to come. 15. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be DEAD, (Remember that the ACTUAL WORD of TRUTH in verse 12 clearly teaches us that many are dead in their sins BECAUSE many have SINNED at one time or another in their life and NOT because many have been BORN with a so-called SINFUL NATURE that forces them to sin. And NOT because they INHERITED the GUILT of Adam's original sin and are therefore DEAD in the original sin of Adam. All of mankind is dead in their sins because they themselves have all SINNED at one time or another and are therefore DEAD because of their OWN sins which they themselves have committed) much more (Not just MORE but MUCH MORE) the grace of God, and the gift BY grace, which is BY ONE man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto MANY. (Speaking of ALL who are DEAD in their sins, which we know is EVERYONE in the WHOLE world, because ALL have SINNED. It says many because not all people will BELIEVE the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to RECEIVE the gift of FORGIVENESS of all their past sins to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit) 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to CONDEMNATION, but the free gift is of many offenses unto JUSTIFICATION. 17. For if by one man's offense DEATH reigned by one; much more they which RECEIVE abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall REIGN in life by one, Jesus Christ. 18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to CONDEMNATION; (Notice that the word of TRUTH says that because of Adam's ORIGINAL sin that the JUDGMENT to the CONDEMNATION came upon all men. And the REASON that condemnation came upon all men is that ALL men have SINNED at one time or another in their life. It is only man's INTERPRETATION that a so-called sinful NATURE was passed on to all of mankind) EVEN SO (Or in much the SAME WAY) BY the righteousness of ONE the free GIFT came upon ALL men unto justification of life. (In other words, the being set free from the being CONDEMNED to death came upon ALL of WHOSEVER BELIEVES to be saved unto the end. Now IF the INTERPRETATION of the man-made doctrine of original sin is true and that ALL men are BORN with a sinful nature and the GUILT of the ONE man Adam’s original sin is inherited by every person were true, then all babies and small children who die before being saved are LOST. In other words, IF ALL of mankind AUTOMATICALLY inherited this GUILT of SIN, then EVEN SO or in the SAME way ALL of mankind AUTOMATICALLY shall inherit this FREE GIFT of JUSTIFICATION by the ONE man Jesus Christ. And that would mean that every person will be saved. But we know that this is NOT the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God because the FREE GIFT of being reconciled to God is NOT automatically imparted to every human being even though the ATONEMENT for the sins of the WHOLE world is indeed provided for every human being. EVEN SO or in the same way that CONDEMNATION came upon ALL men because every man has SINNED at one time or another in their life and NOT because they are BORN with the GUILT of this ONE man's sin, EVEN SO, the FREE GIFT came upon ALL men) 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were MADE sinners, (In that, SIN or more precisely the INFLUENCE of sin, that is to say, SATAN entered into the world and was allowed to tempt and deceive all of mankind and therefore many were caused to BECOME sinners because all of mankind has been overcome by the enemy of God and SINNED by their own choice except for the Son of man, Jesus. Please read the study “UNDERSTANDING WHY?”) SO (Or even so, or in much the SAME WAY) by the obedience of one shall many be MADE RIGHTEOUS. (Now we know that many are not MADE righteous in that they are AUTOMATICALLY forced to become righteous and they have NO CHOICE in the matter. So WHY then do some Christians dogmatically and FALSELY teach that this GUILT of this one man Adam be automatically inherited by all of mankind the moment they are BORN?) 20. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21. That as sin (Or the INFLUENCE of Satan that tempts and deceives mankind to sin) has REIGNED UNTO death, even so (Or in much the SAME WAY) might grace REIGN through righteousness UNTO eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” So then, Satan draws mankind AWAY from God and God's GRACE has appeared to ALL men to draw men back to God. Now those that teach the doctrine of original sin that all of mankind has INHERITED a SINFUL NATURE usually take verse 12 OUT of CONTEXT and teach that because of this so-called ORIGINAL sin of Adam that not only a SINFUL NATURE but the very GUILT and just PUNISHMENT of SIN has entered into the HEART of EVERY human being who has ever been born the very moment that they are BORN. In other words, they take PART of verse 12 OUT of CONTEXT that says. Romans 5:12a. “Wherefore, as by ONE man (Again, speaking of the one man Adam in the Garden of Eden) SIN entered the WORLD…” And then they FALSELY INTERPRET this one part of this one verse taken OUT of CONTEXT and teach that this means that BECAUSE of this ONE man Adam's ORIGINAL SIN that a SINFUL NATURE has entered into every man's HEART the moment they are BORN. And not ONLY a SINFUL NATURE which CAUSES man to SIN, but also that every man, woman, and child is also BORN with the just PUNISHMENT and GUILT of Adam's original sin. So EVEN babies who have not had the chance to do anything either right or wrong are BORN GUILTY because of Adam's original sin and are, therefore, forever LOST, IF SO BE, that they die before they can be baptized. Consequently, this FALSE doctrine of ORIGINAL sin has led to another FALSE doctrine of INFANT baptism. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, how many different doctrines have to be created by man in order to accommodate for these FALSE doctrines of original sin and total depravity? In other words, this doctrine of original sin FALSELY teaches that each and every person who has been born, INCLUDING every innocent newborn baby, has not only been BORN with a NATURE that is SINFUL from the very moment that they are BORN, but also with the GUILT and just punishment of Adam's original sin. Therefore, they falsely conclude that ALL of mankind since Adam to this very day or until Jesus comes in his kingdom has been BORN not only with a NATURE that drives mankind to sin uncontrollably but also that ALL of mankind are BORN with this ORIGINAL SIN. And, therefore, every person is BORN GUILTY and worthy of DEATH at the very moment that they are BORN. To say this another way, the doctrine of original sin FALSELY teaches that EVEN a newborn baby is GUILTY before Almighty God BECAUSE they are literally BORN with this original sin that was committed by this ONE man Adam and is, therefore, WORTHY of death even though they have done NOTHING either good or evil. This is why MAN needed to make another FALSE DOCTRINE of baptizing newborn babies for the REMISSION of this so-called INHERITED ORIGINAL SIN because people could not serve a God who condemned INNOCENT babies to the lake of eternal fire just because they were BORN. However, this is NOT what the WHOLE word of God teaches. If we CLOSELY examine this entire passage of scripture in Romans 5:8-21 we will CLEARLY see that it teaches us something entirely different than these FALSE doctrines of original sin and total depravity. Romans 5:12 clearly and plainly states that because of this one man Adam that SIN entered the WORLD and NOT that a SINFUL NATURE entered into the HEART of every MAN, WOMAN, and CHILD. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that it is MAN'S INCORRECT INTERPRETATION of this verse that teaches these FALSE doctrines of original sin and total depravity and NOT the scriptures themselves. To ME, it is perfectly clear that this verse means that SIN or more precisely that the INFLUENCE of Satan to TEMPT and DECEIVE mankind to SIN was allowed to enter into the WORLD as a test to show to all the angels of God, both the good angels who remained faithful to God and fallen angels that rebelled against God that Almighty God had created them ALL perfect from the day that they were created. For a deeper understanding of what I mean by this please read the study entitled “UNDERSTANDING WHY?” which covers all the scriptures that led me to understand that Almighty God created mankind a little LOWER than the ANGELS in order to PROVE to his former creation the ANGELS that he did NOT create them with a NATURE to SIN and REBEL against him, but rather he created ALL his angels PERFECT in every way from the day that they were created. After you read this study of “UNDERSTANDING WHY?” you will know WHY Almighty God has ALLOWED many things that are EVIL to remain on the earth and why bad or evil things happen to good people. But for now, let us continue with a close examination of Romans 5:12 to see what this verse ACTUALLY teaches in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. Romans 5:12. “Wherefore, as by ONE man (Speaking of the one man Adam) SIN entered into the world, and DEATH BY sin; and so DEATH passed upon all men, (WHY? Why did DEATH pass upon ALL of mankind?) FOR (Or BECAUSE) that all have SINNED:” And NOT because that all of mankind have INHERITED a so-called SINFUL NATURE or the GUILT of Adam's original sin, but rather, that all of mankind have SINNED at one time or another in their life and therefore because they made their OWN choice to SIN, then DEATH was PASSED upon them because they themselves SINNED, and ALL men have SINNED at one time or another in their life. So then, it is SIN or rather the INFLUENCE of Satan that TEMPTS and DECEIVES mankind to SIN that had entered into the WORLD, which then produces or causes DEATH, BECAUSE at one time or another ALL are OVERCOME by the enemy and by their OWN choice and have SINNED, and NOT because a so-called SINFUL NATURE that has entered into the HEART of every man woman and child at BIRTH, because of this disobedience of Adam, that causes or even FORCES mankind to sin. To ME, this FALSE teaching of inheriting a sinful NATURE has led many to believe that they cannot help but SIN, because they falsely believe that it is their NATURE to SIN. Some even go as far as to say that it is NOT their fault that they are a SINNER because they were BORN that way. Homosexuals often use this EXCUSE, but the TRUTH of the matter is that they BECAME a homosexual by the CHOICES that they made because of the INFLUENCES that came to them in their life. Furthermore, absolutely NO homosexual nor ANY sinner needs to remain a sinner, because the GRACE of God has appeared to ALL of mankind to give us the FREE GIFT of being washed clean of all our past sins and be reconciled back to God by FAITH in the one man Jesus Christ. Let us continue this study in God's word and you will clearly see that God desires ALL of mankind to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved and that you are NOT BORN a SINNER. The next part of this verse CLEARLY and PLAINLY states that BECAUSE all of mankind has SINNED that DEATH or more precisely SPIRITUAL DEATH, which is the SEPARATION from God has PASSED upon all men, BECAUSE all men have made the choice to give in to the temptation of the Devil and SIN, and, therefore, the penalty of SIN, which is DEATH has PASSED upon ALL men, because the word of truth teaches us that the WAGES of sin is DEATH. Please read this second part of this verse in Romans 5:12 again. Romans 5:12b. “...and so DEATH passed upon all men, (Again, WHY? Why did DEATH, speaking of spiritual death which is the separation from Almighty God PASS upon ALL of mankind?) FOR (Or BECAUSE) that all have SINNED:” Again, NOT because that all of mankind have supposedly INHERITED a SINFUL NATURE, but rather, that all of mankind have SINNED at one time or other in their life by giving in to the temptation of Satan, the Devil and because each and every one of us has CHOSEN to SIN this is the REASON why DEATH has passed upon us. AND SO or so then, that is to say, therefore, it is for this very reason of our OWN SIN that the penalty of DEATH has PASSED upon ALL of mankind, each and every one of us. In other words, BECAUSE of THIS very reason that at one time or another ALL of mankind, meaning each and every one of us, has SINNED by their OWN free WILL, then DEATH has passed upon us as the penalty for the SINS which we ourselves have committed, and NOT because of the so-called INHERITED GUILT from Adam's original sin. Now when the Bible speaks of death it can mean a natural death and it can also mean a spiritual death, which is a separation from God because of SIN. In other words, because all men have SINNED at one time or another in their life, then BECAUSE of their own SIN which they themselves have committed by their OWN CHOICE to do that which is not right before God, they now have made THEMSELVES SPIRITUALLY SEPARATED from Almighty God. Please read Isaiah 59:1,2 which clearly teaches us that God is willing and able to hear our prayers, but because of the SIN which we ourselves have committed by our OWN CHOICES we have SEPARATED OURSELVES from God and therefore are WORTHY of DEATH, the WAGES or the just punishment for SINNING. Isaiah 59:1,2. “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2. BUT YOUR iniquities have SEPARATED between you and your God, and YOUR sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.” Please notice that the word of God does NOT say that because of the ORIGINAL SIN of that ONE man Adam that you are SEPARATED from God, but rather, the CLEAR word of God plainly states that because of YOU, YOUR sins, that you are separated from God. To ME, it is clearly NOT God's hand that is shortened that He cannot save you. Nor is it God's ear that is so dull that He is not capable of hearing your prayer. But rather it is the CHOICE that YOU YOURSELF make to WILLFULLY SIN that SEPARATES you from God. In other words, YOU can TURN from your sin at any time and call upon God and he will HEAR your prayer and SAVE you. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that Almighty God has ORDAINED it to be a CHOICE before all of mankind to CHOOSE for yourself WHOM you will serve and obey, whether it be you choosing to OBEY that voice of INFLUENCE and temptation from Satan to SIN and therefore bring the penalty of DEATH upon YOURSELF by your OWN doing to OBEY this lying and deceiving voice of Satan, OR whether it be that YOU YOURSELF make the CHOICE to OBEY God's voice and TURN from your sinning and trust in God's GRACE to overcome the temptation to sin in your life. For a deeper understanding of reigning in life and overcoming any and all sin please read the study entitled “HOW YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!” But for now, let us stay focused on God's word that clearly teaches us that God has ORDAINED that mankind have FREE WILL or the freedom to CHOOSE whom he will serve and obey. Please read Deuteronomy 30:19 which teaches us that Almighty God has ORDAINED or has set before us LIFE or DEATH, but it is up to us to CHOOSE either to life or death. Now of course Almighty God desires or WILLS for ALL of us to choose LIFE, but nonetheless, it is OUR OWN choice to make. Deuteronomy 30:19. “I (Almighty God) call heaven and earth to RECORD this day against you, that I (Almighty God) have SET before YOU life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, (Or for this reason the Yahweh is giving every person the freedom to CHOOSE of their own free will, God is pleading with every person to) CHOOSE life, that both you and your seed may live:” The context of this passage of Scripture is all about TURNING from SIN and OBEYING the commandments of Almighty God in order that we may LIVE and be BLESSED of God. You see, the word “live” here means that you will NOT be SEPARATED from God as long as you OBEY what he says in his word. But yet according to the FALSE doctrine of original sin and the FALSE doctrine of TOTAL DEPRAVITY all of mankind is SEPARATED from Almighty God the very moment that they are BORN, because they are supposedly BORN as SINNERS and with the GUILT of Adam's sin. And according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology at NO TIME from Adam to the resurrection of Jesus has ANY man been in RIGHT standing before God because NONE are RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE and NONE SEEK after God, NO, NOT ONE as a RESULT of this so-called ORIGINAL SIN. However, the WHOLE word of God clearly teaches us that the SINS of the father are NOT passed upon the sons and daughters. In other words, the original SIN of our forefather Adam is NOT PASSED upon us as many of us have been FALSELY taught, otherwise, the word of God CONTRADICTS itself. So then, since we know that the word of God does NOT ever contradict itself, it MUST then be that ONE of these verses of Scripture has been MISINTERPRETED to mean something that in TRUTH it is NOT meant to say. In other words, MAN by his MAN-made doctrines has caused this APPARENT contradiction in God's word. Please read Deuteronomy 24:16, which teaches us that each individual will receive the wages of DEATH for his or her OWN sin and that the SIN of the father is NOT passed upon the son or daughter. And then YOU decide WHICH of these two passages of scripture have been MISINTERPRETED by the teachings of MAN, Romans 5:12 that SUPPOSEDLY teaches that the SIN of our father Adam IS PASSED upon the children of men, or Deuteronomy 24:16, which to ME, CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches that the SINS of the father are NOT PASSED UPON the children. Deuteronomy 24:16. “The fathers shall NOT be put to DEATH for the children, NEITHER shall the children be put to death for the fathers: EVERY man shall be put to death for his OWN sin.” So then, how can anyone teach that ALL of mankind INHERITED this so-called ORIGINAL SIN from our forefather Adam in the LIGHT of this CLEAR and SIMPLE word of God, which needs NO interpretation whatsoever? NO! Many thousands of times NO! The SIN of Adam our father of all of mankind is NOT PASSED UPON the children of men, but rather it is DEATH that is PASSED upon all men BECAUSE all men have made their OWN CHOICE to listen to the INFLUENCE of the Devil and SIN. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that you did NOT INHERIT the original SIN of Adam your forefather, NOR did you INHERIT a SINFUL NATURE that makes you SIN. You sin because you make the CHOICE to continue to listen to the INFLUENCE or temptation of the Devil rather than RESITING the Devil and TRUSTING in God's word that the Devil will flee from you if you RESIST the temptation to sin. Please read Ezekiel 18:20,21, which again CLEARLY teaches us that EACH man and woman shall bear the penalty of death for their OWN sins which they themselves have committed and that NO man will INHERIT the penalty of death because of the SIN of the father that they themselves had no say so in the matter of this other person's sin. Ezekiel 18:20,21. “The soul that SINS, it shall die. The son shall NOT bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21. BUT if the wicked will TURN from all his sins that HE (Clearly meaning that he HIMSELF) has committed, (Because CLEARLY, the SIN of our father Adam shall NOT be passed upon us to bear the SIN that our father Adam committed) and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die,” Now some of you may be thinking, “Well what about where we read in God's word in the book of Exodus 20:5, which plainly states that God shall VISIT the INIQUITIES of the FATHER upon the CHILDREN to the second and third generations.” Exodus 20:5. “You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, VISITING the iniquity (Or SIN) of the fathers UPON the children unto the third and fourth generation OF THEM that HATE me;” Again, those who try and use verses of Scriptures such as this one have NOT considered the CONTEXT from which they are taken. Please notice that this verse PLAINLY states that God will visit the iniquity or sin of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of THEM or those children who HATE God. You see, if you keep this verse in the CONTEXT of where it is found and read the very next verse you will clearly see that those who use such verses are trying to make them say something that they are NOT truly saying. Please continue by reading the context found in Exodus 20:6. Exodus 20:6. “AND showing MERCY unto thousands of THEM that LOVE me, and keep my commandments.” In other words, IF and ONLY IF the children of the father who sinned against God do NOT consider the ways of their father. And, therefore, they continue to HATE God as their fathers did by SINNING against God, THEN and only then will Almighty God VISIT the iniquities of the father upon the CHILDREN. To say this another way, IF the children commit SIN then the children will be PUNISHED for their sins in the same way that their fathers were punished for their own sins. However, the word of God goes on to say that Almighty God with show MERCY to THOUSANDS of THEM, clearly speaking of the CHILDREN whose father had SINNED against God, but BECAUSE these particular children did NOT continue in HATE. But rather, they LOVED God by KEEPING His commandments by their OWN CHOICE, and then these children received the MERCY of God that was EXTENDED to ALL the children of the same fathers that sinned. This was just the first example of the ERRORS of interpretation of the Scriptures made by Calvinism, Reformed Theology, and SOME Grace Alone Christians. In section three of this study on total depravity, we wee be taking a CLOSER look at some of the many verses of Scripture that are used to try and prove that the doctrine of total depravity, also called total inability, is true. And the rest of the verses of Scripture that we do not cover in part two of this study on the “T” in T.U.L.I.P. we will cover in the study “CALVINISM-TOTAL DEPRAVITY! PART 3” SECTION THREE Of Part 2 The Doctrine of TOTAL DEPRAVITY-True of False? Now some Calvinistic Christians still want to argue that Romans 5:19 clearly says that by Adam's sin ALL of mankind were MADE SINNERS before God. Romans 5:19. “For as by ONE man's DISOBEDIENCE many were MADE sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Well, if one is to dogmatically DEMAND that this verse be INTERPRETED to mean that the GUILT of the SIN of this ONE man Adam is AUTOMATICALLY PASSED upon ALL of mankind by INHERITANCE and that no man has any say in the matter, but all humans are AUTOMATICALLY found to be GUILTY of Adam's sin at the moment of BIRTH, then one must be CONSISTENT in their INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures. So then, to be consistent, they must, without fail, ALSO dogmatically DEMAND that the second half of this very SAME verse of Scripture means that the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the ONE man Jesus Christ is AUTOMATICALLY PASSED upon ALL of mankind without any man having any say in the matter. In other words, IF all of mankind are BORN with a so-called sinful NATURE and the GUILT of one man's sin, THEN in the exact same way ALL of mankind are automatically made RIGHTEOUS by the righteousness of the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, according to these FALSE interpretations of Scripture, ALL of mankind shall be SAVED where NONE is lost. Please read the study called “IS UNIVERSALISM A SOUND BIBLICAL TEACHING?” For those of you who may not know what universalism is, the doctrine of universalism falsely teaches that ALL of mankind will eventually be saved. And some Universalist Christians believe that even Satan and the fallen angels will be saved. In other words, “Universalism” of course would mean that ALL of mankind will be saved which again the WHOLE word of Almighty God CLEARLY does NOT teach! Now for those of you that have never heard of this other FALSE teaching that teaches that ALL of mankind will be saved it is called “Universalism” which I will address in great detail in the other study that I linked above. But for now, I just want to make the point that we must be CONSISTENT when we INTERPRET what a particular scripture means to be sure and follow through with the SAME line of reasoning throughout the WHOLE word of God and NOT just pick and choose what part of God's word that can be INTERPRETED to FIT our OWN theology. Therefore, those who teach the doctrine of original sin and the doctrine of total depravity cannot rightly or correctly demand that the first half of this SAME verse must, without fail, mean that the original SIN of Adam is automatically INHERITED by ALL of mankind WITHOUT any man having done anything. And, therefore, ALL of mankind are MADE SINNERS because of this so-called INHERITED SIN of Adam. And then further wrongly conclude that man CONTINUES to sin because of a so-called SINFUL NATURE that MAKES us SO TOTALLY DEPRAVED that we cannot and will not seek God or make any attempt to turn from our sin UNTIL we are FIRST born-again or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that to FALSELY DEMAND that because of Adam's sin that all of mankind AUTOMATICALLY INHERITS the penalty of DEATH, as the doctrines of original sin and total depravity teach that ALL of mankind has INHERITED the sin of our forefather Adam, is to ALSO FALSELY DEMAND that ALL of mankind therefore AUTOMATICALLY INHERITS the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the ONE man Jesus Christ without doing anything which would then mean that ALL of mankind will eventually be saved and NOT just the so-called ELECT will be saved. NO! Many thousands of times NO! This is NOT what this verse is teaching us. Neither the first half NOR the second half. NO! Many thousands of times NO! There is NOT one single man who has AUTOMATICALLY been MADE or FORCED to be a SINNER. The TRUTH of the matter is that the WAGES of SIN, which is DEATH, and it is DEATH that has been PASSED upon ALL men, BECAUSE all of mankind at one time or another LISTENED and OBEYED the INFLUENCE of Satan's TEMPTATION and SINNED of their OWN free CHOICE. Well, some of you may still have doubts about this matter and maybe saying something like, “Well what about Psalm 51:5 which clearly says that we are BORN in SIN and that we are, therefore, SINNERS from the very moment we are BORN.” Psalm 51:5. “Behold, I was SHAPED in iniquity; and in SIN did my mother CONCEIVE me.” Now those that teach these FALSE doctrines of original sin and total depravity INTERPRET this verse to mean that David was teaching us that we are ALL formed in the WOMB with a SINFUL NATURE and that the moment we are BORN we are, therefore, considered by Almighty God to be SINNERS from birth. And, therefore, all people are BORN GUILTY of Adam's SIN and worthy of death. But is this TRULY what this verse is teaching us? To truly understand what the WHOLE word of God teaches and to properly INTERPRET the scriptures we must follow certain rules of interpretation. One of these rules of interpretation is to keep the verse in question in the CONTEXT of where it is found. Another rule of interpretation is that we must consider what type or style of writing the writer is using. For example, the book of Psalms is primarily written in a POETIC style of writing where not EVERY single word or phrase is to be taken LITERALLY. In other words, David is merely expressing his remorse to God for the SIN that he himself has committed against God and is expounding on his feeling that it is as IF he was sinning against God from the time that he was born. Let us read this verse in its context first to get a clearer picture of what is going on in David's life at this particular time. Please read Psalm 51:1-13, which clearly teaches us that NOT every single word and phrase can be INTERPRETED LITERALLY and that David was merely expressing his FEELINGS in a POETIC language, or in FIGURES of speech. Psalm 51:1-13. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving-kindness: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out MY transgressions (Or MY sins, PLURAL, that I MYSELF have committed against you O God) 2. Wash me thoroughly from MY iniquity, and cleanse me from MY sin. 3. For I acknowledge MY transgressions: and MY sin is ever before me. 4. Against you, you only, have I sinned, and (I MYSELF have) done this evil (Or I myself have committed these sins of my own free will) in your sight: (David then goes on to tell us WHY he himself takes full responsibility for his OWN sins which he HIMSELF committed against God) THAT (Or SO THAT) you (Almighty God) might be justified when you speak, and be CLEAR when you JUDGE. (You see, to ME, how can a JUST and merciful God JUDGE any man for something that he himself had NO chance to make a choice to do or not to do by his or her OWN choice in the matter? In other words, how can Almighty God be a JUST God, IF this NEXT verse is INTERPRETED to teach that ALL men are BORN SINNERS and, therefore, all humans are so TOTALLY unable to live upright before God UNTIL they are FIRST born-again or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit? Keep in mind that being born-again or regeneration by the Holy Spirit did NOT come into existence UNTIL Jesus came to establish the New Covenant) 5. Behold, I was SHAPED in iniquity; and in SIN did my mother CONCEIVE me. (Now to ME, it is clear that David is TAKING full RESPONSIBILITY for his OWN sin in verse 4 and, therefore, David is clearly NOT BLAMING God for SHAPING him in iniquity and in sin in verse 5 as some Christians FALSELY teach) 6. Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part, you shall make me to know wisdom. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the BONES which you have broken may REJOICE. (Now, if one INTERPRETS verse 5 LITERALLY are we not then to be CONSISTENT in our INTERPRETATION of Scripture and ALSO INTERPRET verse 8 LITERALLY as well and DEMAND that Almighty God LITERALLY BROKE the BONES of David and that BONES in and of themselves have the ability to REJOICE? NO, absolutely not! David is simple using POETIC language or FIGURES of speech and is EXPRESSING that it SEEMS as IF his bones have been broken. David is simple using poetic language to describe how he FEELS in this verse the SAME way that David is describing how he FEELS in verse 5 of this same Psalm where he is simply expressing in a FIGURE of speech that it feels AS IF he were sinning from the moment he was born) 9. Hide your face from MY sins, and blot out all MY iniquities. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and RENEW a right spirit within me. (How is it that David can possibly be RENEWED if he was supposedly a SINNER from BIRTH and could NOT turn from his sin UNTIL he is FIRST REGENERATED or born-again by the Holy Spirit when the new birth or regeneration of the Holy Spirit had NOT YET been given to mankind UNTIL the DEATH and resurrection of Jesus? It is impossible for David to be RENEWED if NONE are RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE from the moment that they are BORN and the NEW BIRTH or regeneration of the Holy Spirit did not come until the death and resurrection of Jesus! Therefore, we must go back and INTERPRET these verses in Romans in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God in order to CORRECTLY understand their true meaning) 11. Cast me not away from your presence, and take NOT your holy spirit from me. (Clearly, the whole word of God teaches us that the Holy Spirit will NOT be given to a SINNER. And since NONE are RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE means everyone, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology, then David could have never had the Holy Spirit of God. For you see, as some FALSELY teach, David was never RIGHTEOUS, according to THEIR INTERPRETATION of Romans chapter 3 where we are told that NONE are RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE. So again, WHICH verses have been INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED?) 12. RESTORE (Same line of rational reasoning as above. HOW can one be RESTORED if one were never RIGHTEOUS, but rather, all were BORN as sinners and totally depraved? How can one who has always been a sinner from BIRTH be RESTORED to a “SAVED” condition while wrongly believing that they are supposedly BORN with the GUILT of Adam's original sin and worthy of DEATH? The word “restore unto me the joy of your SALVATION makes no sense in Calvinism because, according to Calvinism, David would have been so totally depraved that he would have been totally UNABLE to seek God. However, the word of TRUTH says that David is crying out to God saying RESTORE) unto me the joy of your SALVATION; and uphold me with your free spirit. (One of the definitions of being saved is being brought back into the right relationship with God or RESTORED to God, REDEEMED, RECONCILED, JUSTIFIED, made RIGHTEOUS. David is crying out to be RESTORED to salvation, which would be impossible according to the teaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY, which falsely teaches that all men including David were BORN sinners and there is NOTHING that they can do UNTIL they are FIRST regeneration or born again by the Holy Spirit) 13. Then will I TEACH transgressors your ways; and SINNERS shall be CONVERTED unto you.” So then, clearly, this verse is teaching us that SINNERS shall be converted to righteousness simply by David TEACHING these sinners about God and NOT that a TOTALLY DEPRAVED sinner must be born again or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit FIRST before they can UNDERSTAND the word of God through TEACHING and PREACHING enough to be SAVED or RESTORED to the joy of their salvation. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, how these false teachings of Calvinism and Reformed Theology CONTRADICT the WHOLE word of God. Even in the SAME verse these INCORRECT interpretations and false teachings of Calvinism contradict themselves. Another method that is used to properly and CORRECTLY interpret the word of God is to compare Scripture with Scripture. So then, let us compare this particular time in David's life when he was expressing to God his deep remorse for he himself sinning against God and how it FELT or seemed to David AS IF he had been sinning against God from the time he was born to ANOTHER time in David's life where he is PRAISING Almighty God for how he is fearfully and WONDERFULLY made in his mother's WOMB. In other words, we have all experienced times of sadness as well as times of joy, and we EXPRESS ourselves differently in each of those times. Please read Psalm 139:13,14, which CLEARLY teaches us that David knew right well that Almighty God covered him in his mother's womb and that he was fearfully and WONDERFULLY made or formed in his mother's womb. Psalm 139:13,14. “For you have possessed my reins: you (Almighty God) have covered me in my mother's WOMB. 14. I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and THAT (Speaking of the FACT that David and ALL of mankind are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY MADE, and THAT) my soul KNOWS RIGHT WELL.” Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that these two verses were spoken by the SAME man, David, SEEM to be speaking directly OPPOSITE of each other particularly when one dogmatically DEMANDS that Psalm 51:5 be INTERPRETED as ALL of mankind being FORMED or made in the womb with a SINFUL NATURE. In other words, BOTH of these Scriptures cannot be CONTRADICTING each other. So, therefore, ONE of the INTERPRETATIONS has to be in ERROR. So again, WHICH verse has been INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED? Is it the Calvinism and Reformed Theology “interpretation” of Psalms 51:5 which the INTERPRETATION is said to dogmatically mean that ALL men are BORN EVIL? Or is it the interpretation of Psalm 139:13,14, which to ME, clearly teaches us that ALL of mankind are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made by Almighty God as he COVERED each and every individual in the WOMB? We can NOT have it BOTH ways. Either we ALL are GOOD when we are BORN or we ALL are EVIL when we are BORN. Now the question remains are YOU going to continue to place the BLAME of something other than YOURSELF for your OWN CHOICE to commit sin? Are you going to continue to BLAME Almighty God for creating you to be EVIL? For you see, Calvinism and Reformed Theology ALSO teach that everything happens does so because God ORDAINED it to happen. In other words, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology, God ORDAINED and predestined EVERY single act of EVIL to happen just as it happened. OR are you going to take the RESPONSIBILITY for your OWN sin and quite LYING to yourself that it is a SINFUL NATURE that has MADE you a SINNER from BIRTH and it was NOTHING that YOU YOURSELF have DONE or did NOT do? Just as a side note, no one is BORN as a homosexual. Please read the study “CAN A CHRISTIAN BE A HOMOSEXUAL?” Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that you have been DECEIVED by the doctrines of devils who they themselves want to BLAME God for their OWN REBELLION against him by FALSELY accusing God of CREATING them with a REBELLIOUS or SINFUL NATURE that MADE them REBEL against God? But God told Lucifer that he was created PERFECT in his ways from the day that he was created. In other words, God shifted the BLAME back where it should be, which is upon the one who CHOOSES to sin against God. Again please read the study called “UNDERSTANDING WHY?” which explains that God created mankind a little lower or inferior to the angels in order to prove to the angels that he created them PERFECT in all their ways. And that Almighty God is CLEARING the false accusation against Him that He created Lucifer and the fallen angels EVIL and that is the reason why they rebelled against Him. But for now, let us continue this study in God's word to expose the errors of interpretation that are made by Calvinism and Reformed Theology. Another verse of Scripture that is used by those that teach this FALSE DOCTRINE of TOTAL DEPRAVITY or TOTAL INABILITY is Psalm 58:3 which SEEMS to say that all of mankind are SINNERS from the moment they are BORN. Psalm 58:3. “The wicked are estranged (Or the wicked are separated) from the WOMB: (Or as SOON as the WICKED are separated from the womb or as soon as the WICKED are BORN) THEY (Speaking of those babies who are born to WICKED parents as soon as they are BORN) GO ASTRAY as soon as they (Again, speaking of those born to WICKED parents as soon as they) are BORN, (They are) speaking lies.” Those that teach the doctrines of original sin and the doctrine of total depravity INTERPRET this verse as saying that as SOON as every person, meaning ALL of mankind, as SOON as a person is BORN they start SINNING. For you see, this verse, to THEM, clearly teaches that as soon as a person is BORN they SPEAK LIES and LYING is a SIN. Therefore, they wrongly conclude that every human being is born with a sinful NATURE. And thus, to them, they cannot STOP sinning because they see themselves as having a depraved sinful NATURE. But that is NOT what this verse of Scripture is teaching us. First of all, what this verse is actually saying is that those babies and children who are born of WICKED parents are INFLUENCED by their surroundings and therefore LEARN to speak lies at a very young age. Nowhere does this verse even remotely imply ALL of mankind. Secondly, we again need to take under consideration that this is a POETIC language or a FIGURE of speech and it only SEEMS as IF the WICKED begins sinning as soon as they are born. For you see, a newborn baby cannot speak as soon as they are born. It is certain that the pronoun “THEY” in this verse is speaking of those children born to WICKED parents who as SOON as they are BORN that they SEEM to speak lies. However, BABIES cannot speak LIES as soon as they are born because BABIES cannot SPEAK any words as soon as they are BORN. Babies cannot speak either TRUTH or LIES as soon as they are born. So then, CLEARLY the writer is using FIGURATIVE language and, therefore, these words are NOT to be taken word for word LITERALLY. Also, I want you to notice that this verse specifically says that the WICKED go astray, which to ME, teaches us that this verse is speaking of the children of the wicked who LEARN to mimic their parents at a very young age. And seeing that the “wicked” parents LIE, then the children at a very young age will be more likely to also GO ASTRAY to BECOME liars. And that brings us to the third point that I want to make which is the phrase “THEY GO ASTRAY”. This phrase emphatically states and teaches us that in order to GO ASTRAY, then one must FIRST be in RIGHTEOUSNESS or in right standing with Almighty God BEFORE that person could ever possibly GO ASTRAY or go away from being righteous. This clearly teaches us that ALL babies are BORN INNOCENT before Almighty God, EVEN the babies of WICKED parents are born pure and innocent before God, and THEN they GO ASTRAY after they become INFLUENCED by the evil around them that they grow up in. So then, CLEARLY, ALL of mankind must, without fail, be BORN in a righteous and innocent state before God and NOT with a so-called SINFUL NATURE that is so totally depraved that they are totally unable to do good as some Christians have FALSELY taught. You will clearly see that many were indeed RIGHTEOUS from Adam to Jesus BEFORE the regeneration of the Holy Spirit was ever given under the New Covenant established by Jesus AFTER the cross as you continue this study of EXAMINING Calvinism in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. Even Jesus himself was born-again and endued with the power of the Holy Spirit at his baptism. So BEFORE the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was WITH the prophets but the Holy Spirit did not REMAIN with and never leave the prophets in the Old Testament. Another point that is made by those who teach the doctrines of original sin and total depravity is that they claim that the Bible teaches that all of mankind is completely wicked CONTINUALLY by, again, MISINTERPRETING and trying to use such verses of Scripture as Genesis 6:5 to try and support their FALSE teachings. Genesis 6:5. “And GOD saw that the WICKEDNESS of man was GREAT in the earth and that EVERY imagination of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY.” Again, this verse is taken OUT of CONTEXT and it is incorrectly being applied to ALL of mankind throughout every generation. However, the context of this verse CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that God was speaking of the DAYS of NOAH. For you see, at that period of time in history, mankind had corrupted themselves so much that it repented God that He ever made man on the earth. And, therefore, God decided to destroy man and beast from the earth. Let us take a CLOSER look at this verse of Scripture being left in its context to learn ist TRUE sound Biblical meaning in the light of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Now, first of all, IF it were true that ALL of mankind were BORN wicked, then how is it that most of the ANIMALS were destroyed by the flood? Did the ANIMALS also supposedly INHERIT the SIN of Adam and, therefore, the animals deserved to be destroyed? Just something to think about. Or did Satan PERVERT their true NATURE? Secondly, IF it were true that ALL of mankind are BORN with the SIN of Adam and a so-called SINFUL NATURE that has MADE us ALL SINNERS from the moment that we are BORN, and, therefore, ALL humans are SO TOTALLY depraved that NONE are RIGHTEOUS NO, NOT ONE until we are REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit, then HOW is it that Noah was a RIGHTEOUS person before God, who found grace in the eyes of God because of his RIGHTEOUSNESS? And thirdly, HOW is it even possible for mankind to CORRUPT themselves IF it is true that ALL of mankind were BORN in a SINFUL and WICKED state? For you see, the WICKED are supposedly BORN wicked, and thus, according to Calvinism. Would have been CORRUPT ALREADY from birth or from the very moment that they were born. And, therefore, no man was EVER in the right standing before God, according to Calvinism? You see, in order for something or someone to be CORRUPTED, then that something or someone MUST, without fail, had to be in an UNCORRUPTED state BEFORE it or they BECAME CORRUPTED. The very meaning of this word “corrupt or corrupted” demands that mankind was FIRST in an UNCORRUPTED or PERFECT state BEFORE they BECAME in this UNNATURAL state of being CORRUPTED. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that to be BORN with this so-called SINFUL NATURE would therefore mean that it would be against the NATURE in which God created us to be. Almighty God did NOT create mankind to be SINNERS and therefore CORRUPT according to the NATURE in which God created us. Please read Genesis 5:1-8 which clearly teaches us that NOT all of mankind BECAME CORRUPTED before God because Noah was found to be PERFECT in his generations and therefore or for this very REASON of being PERFECT before God that he found GRACE in the eyes of God. Genesis 5:1-8. “And it came to pass, WHEN men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, (In other words, earlier, BEFORE man began to be great in number, mankind did not commit such sins but WHEN men BEGAN to MULTIPLY or become many that is WHEN) 2. That the sons of God (Speaking of the fallen angels) saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they CHOSE. (And this implies that these women also had a CHOICE in the matter to NOT have sex with the fallen angels or else WHY would God say the following) 3. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with MAN, (Seemingly placing at least some of the blame on MAN for ALLOWING his woman to be taken by these sons of God as their wives. Please read the study called “WHO ARE THE SONS OF GOD in Genesis 6:1-4?” for a deeper understanding of this subject. But for now, Yahweh is warning mankind that His Spirit will NOT always STRIVE will man. The Hebrew word translated as strive also means to PLEAD the CAUSE for man, as in, to defend mankind) for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. 4. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5. And GOD SAW that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, (In other words, BEFORE this TIME God did not SEE that the wickedness was so great in the earth that it REPENTED and GRIEVED God to the point that he was moved to DESTROY man and beast from the earth) and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repents me that I have made them. 8. But Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the LORD. 9. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a JUST man and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah WALKED WITH God.” You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, IF it were true that ALL of mankind was BORN WICKED, then this would consequently mean that NOAH was ALSO born WICKED and could in no way be a JUST and PERFECT MAN in his generations and a man that WALKED WITH God. For you see, Calvinism and Reformed Theology ALSO teach that ALL of mankind, including Noah, cannot be righteous UNTIL they are FIRST regenerated by the Holy Spirit, which was not yet PROVIDED for ALL humans who BELIEVE in Jesus until AFTER the death and resurrection of Jesus. So then, either the Calvinism and Reformed Theology INTERPRETATION of those Scriptures that are used by those that teach these FALSE doctrines of original sin and total depravity are INCORRECT, or these other Scriptures and the CONTEXT that CONTRADICT these FALSE teachings are being viewed incorrectly. Now, to me, it is so obviously clear that the interpretation of the Scriptures used by Calvinism and Reformed Theology Christians are INCORRECTLY interpreted to form the man-made doctrines of Calvinism and Reformed Theology. So I implore you to think these MAN-made doctrines through for YOURSELF because BOTH interpretations cannot be correct, seeing that they are OPPOSITE and they CONTRADICT one another. David could NOT have been BORN in sin to mean that David was born as a wicked sinner AND also that David was fearfully and wonderfully made in the WOMB. Obviously, the Calvinistic “interpretation” of Psalm 51:5 is in ERROR and the true meaning is that David was born in the sin OF his mother. It says “IN sin did MY mother CONCEIVE me”. Or in the sin of “adultery”, my mother did conceive me. The TRUTH of the matter is that NOT ALL of mankind had CORRUPTED themselves because the SIMPLE PLAIN word of God CLEARLY teaches us that NOAH was a RIGHTEOUS before God. Noah was a JUST and a PERFECT MAN before God who found GRACE in the eyes of God and was SAVED alive from the JUDGMENT of those that BECAME CORRUPT and evil before God. And as we well know that those who corrupted THEMSELVES were NOT always CONTINUALLY EVIL before God BEFORE man began to multiply and become many in number. In other words, there were OTHER righteous men that walked with God before Noah. You see, in Genesis 6:12 we read where mankind had CORRUPTED HIS WAY upon the earth which clearly teaches us that it was by man's OWN CHOICE. It was each individual person that made their own choice of their own free will for themselves that caused them to BECOME CORRUPT in the eyes of God, and NOT that all of mankind is BORN corrupt or evil because of the ONE man Adam's sin. Genesis 6:12. “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had CORRUPTED HIS WAY upon the earth.” Clearly, man, as in, each and every man is responsible for his or her OWN WAY whether he or she remained righteous by WALKING with God as Noah did, or whether he or she made the CHOICE to BECOME CORRUPT by doing that which they knew was NOT pleasing to God. For you see, even their very conscience taught them that it is EVIL for their wife to commit adultery and then allow their wife to become the wife of a fallen angel. This is WHAT the word EVIL means. EVIL is simply NOT doing or saying that which God DESIRES or WILLS to be done or said. Remember God told Israel to GO and POSSESS the land? Remember what they did? They sent out spies in order to SEE IF it was POSSIBLE to do that which God told them to go and do. And some of the spies came back with an EVIL report saying there are GIANTS in the land and we are like grasshoppers in their sight. In other words, they were saying we CANNOT do what God wants us to do which is just the OPPOSITE of what God WILLED for them to DO. Plain and simple, they did NOT BELIEVE God and God called their disobedience and unbelief EVIL. However, two spies came back with a GOOD report which AGREED with what God WILLED for them to do. In other words, these two were NOT evil, but rather, they were RIGHTEOUS before God and, therefore, they did not die in the wilderness as all the evil of their generation died. And thus, they were the only two people of their generation that were allowed to go into the promised land along with the CHILDREN born of that generation. For you see, in the eyes of God, all the children to age 20 were innocent before God. Please read the study “THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY!” Another point that I would like to make is that because mankind had become so wicked in the days of Noah that God decided that he would destroy man and beast from the earth except for Noah and his family and the animals that God instructed Noah to take on the ark. Now IF it were true that ALL of mankind were BORN with a SINFUL NATURE and were SO TOTALLY DEPRAVED that it was impossible for man to seek after God, and it REPENTED and GRIEVED God for even making man upon the earth, then WHY would Almighty God even try to start over with mankind SUPPOSEDLY knowing that Noah and his family all had an EVIL SINFUL NATURE and could in no way do that which is right before God, which some FALSELY teach. The TRUTH of the matter is that Noah did NOT have an EVIL heart CONTINUALLY before Almighty God, because the word of TRUTH clearly teaches us that Noah was a JUST man that WALKED WITH God and who was PERFECT in his generations and therefore found GRACE in the eyes of God because of his righteousness. Therefore ALL of mankind is NOT BORN with a SINFUL NATURE that has supposedly MADE or FORCED us to be SINNERS from the moment we are BORN and we had no say so in the matter whatsoever. Remember, and keep in mind, that the doctrines of original sin and total depravity teach that ALL of mankind from Adam to this very day are ALL BORN with a wicked and SINFUL NATURE. And, according to the doctrine of total depravity, men are SO TOTALLY DEPRAVED that NO man could possibly do that which is right in the eyes of God UNTIL they are FIRST REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit and thereby enabled to understand the gospel enough to be SAVED. In other words, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology, ALL of mankind from Adam to this very day are SINNERS from the moment that they are BORN and will REMAIN, sinners, UNLESS they are one of the LUCKY CHOSEN FEW who were UNCONDITIONALLY CHOSEN from BEFORE the foundation of the world to be saved. And even then these so-called ELECT are BORN so totally depraved that even they being the very elect of God cannot understand the word of God enough to be saved UNTIL they are FIRST REGENERATED or born again by the Holy Spirit. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that these doctrines are FALSE teachings because they do NOT agree with what the WHOLE word of Almighty God teaches us? Can you not see that IF these doctrines were true, then there would be absolutely not even ONE RIGHTEOUS person from Adam to Jesus because EVERY person would have been BORN with this so-called “WICKED and SINFUL NATURE” that supposedly caused them to SIN CONTINUALLY before God without them having any choice in the matter UNTIL they FIRST are REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit, that was NOT YET given or provided for all humans in the days before Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world and was resurrected from the dead. The TRUTH of the matter is that the word of TRUTH, the WHOLE word of God, teaches us that there were in fact RIGHTEOUS men that walked with God from Adam to Jesus. The Holy Bible teaches us that ABEL was a RIGHTEOUS man before God. Please read Matthew 23:35, where Jesus HIMSELF clearly and plainly teaches us that there were many RIGHTEOUS men from ABEL in the days of Adam to ZACHARIAS in the days of Jesus. Matthew 23:35. “That upon you may come all the RIGHTEOUS blood shed upon the earth, FROM the blood of RIGHTEOUS Abel UNTO the blood of (RIGHTEOUS) Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you SLEW between the temple and the altar.” We also read the names of some of the righteous people in Hebrews chapter 11. In other words, not only do we see Abel as being named or proclaimed as being RIGHTEOUS before God and how his RIGHTEOUS BLOOD was SHED like that of Zacharias but ALSO we read about many other RIGHTEOUS men. Righteous men such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and many others. But for now, I want to focus upon Cain and Abel where one brother made the CHOICE to obey God and do that which was right or RIGHTEOUS before God and the other brother made the CHOICE NOT to OBEY God. And thus, the one who kept on listening to the WRONG voice of influence was, therefore, OVERCOME by the enemy's INFLUENCE where he was TEMPTED to murder his brother. First. we will read Hebrews 11:4, then we will go back to Genesis chapter 3. Hebrews 11:4. “By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he (Abel) OBTAINED witness that he was RIGHTEOUS, God testifying of his gifts: and by it, he being dead yet speaks.” So then, here in this verse of Scripture, we can plainly see that BY the WORKS that Abel DID was the very reason why he obtained the witness that he was RIGHTEOUS before God. Whereas in Genesis 4:3-8, we see that Cain did NOT DO that righteous WORK of OBEYING God that his brother Abel did do. And, therefore, God was NOT pleased with Cain’s WORK or deed of sacrifice that he made but God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice. So, to me, both Cain and Abel were taught what and how to sacrifice to God but Cain did not CHOOSE to obey God’s instructions. Genesis 4:3-8. “And in process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstling of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not, respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why are you wroth? And why is your countenance fallen? 7. IF you DO WELL, (In other words, if you DO that which is RIGHT as your brother Abel has done) shall you not be ACCEPTED? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and (Or BUT) YOU SHALL RULE OVER him. (In other words, Almighty God EXPECTED Cain to RULE OVER this TEMPTATION to KILL his brother Abel out of jealousy. But, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology, it is not possible for ANY human to do WELL or to do that which is right in the eyes of God. And yet, according to the Bible ITSELF, Abel was RIGHTEOUS before God. And God was teaching Cain to NOT ALLOW the influence or the temptation to overcome him and that he must RULE OVER him that is tempting him to sin) 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and SLEW him.” This passage of Scripture alone should prove beyond any shadow of a doubt for those seeking the TRUTH that mankind is NOT BORN with a SINFUL NATURE and, therefore, are SO TOTALLY DEPRAVED that they are thus rendered TOTALLY UNABLE to do that which is RIGHT or RIGHTEOUS before Almighty God UNTIL they are FIRST born again or REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit as Calvinism and Reformed Theology FALSELY teaches. The WHOLE word of God clearly teaches us that Abel made the CHOICE to do that which is RIGHT before God and Cain made the CHOICE NOT to do that which is RIGHT before God. And, therefore, the one wrong choice made by Cain caused Cain to be brought under FURTHER TEMPTATION. And it was during that temptation to hate and murder is brother Abel that Almighty God spoke to Cain warning him that he must RULE OVER that INFLUENCE or TEMPTATION to SIN even further against God by killing his brother. To ME, this leaves no doubt that mankind has always been given the CHOICE to WHOM we are going to serve, whether we be OBEDIENT to God unto RIGHTEOUSNESS, or whether we make the CHOICE to LISTEN to Satan's INFLUENCE to DISOBEY God and serve SIN unto death. I want you to read Genesis 4:7 from several different translations so that you get the full impact of what Almighty God is teaching us in his word of TRUTH. Here is this verse from the New International Version (N.I.V.). Genesis 4:7 from the New International Version. “If YOU DO what is RIGHT, will you not be ACCEPTED? But if you DO NOT what is RIGHT, sin is crouching at your door; it (Speaking of SIN or more precisely SATAN who has ENTERED into the world who INFLUENCES us to commit sin. So the pronoun “IT” is speaking of Satan who) desires to have you, but YOU must MASTER it.” In other words, YOU YOURSELF must be MASTER over SIN and Satan and NOT ALLOW Satan's temptation or INFLUENCE be master over you or overcome you. Again, it is perfectly clear, to ME, that Almighty God is WARNING Cain, and warning us as well, that we have a CHOICE in the matter and IF we make the CHOICE to DO that which is RIGHT, then we will be ACCEPTED of God, and if we make the CHOICE to simply LET the INFLUENCE or TEMPTATION of Satan RULE over us, then we will be OVERCOME by this INFLUENCE of Satan and give in to the temptation of the devil and SIN and thus do that which is NOT right before God by our OWN CHOICE in the matter. Can you not see that SIN or the INFLUENCE of Satan which tempts us to sin is what ENTERED into the world, and then DEATH was PASSED upon men BY the result of each individual man making the CHOICE to obey the INFLUENCE of Satan and do that which is NOT right before God, and NOT that ALL of mankind automatically INHERITED a so-called SINFUL NATURE that made it impossible for any man to do that which is RIGHT before God from Adam to this very day UNTIL they are FIRST regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, IF these doctrines of original sin and total depravity were true, then this would consequently mean that ALL BABIES who have died before they were baptized by the MAN-made doctrine of INFANT BAPTISM would automatically be destroyed in the lake of fire. The TRUTH of the matter is that the CLEAR word of God teaches us that it is DEATH that was PASSED upon all men BECAUSE all men at one time or another made a CHOICE to GIVE INTO the INFLUENCE of Satan's TEMPTATION and SINNED of their OWN free WILL, and NOT that a sinful NATURE was PASSED upon all of mankind. Please read Romans 5:12 one more time. “Wherefore, as by one man SIN entered into the WORLD, (Or the INFLUENCE of SATAN was allowed to remain in the world to tempt all of mankind and accuse man before God that they are ALL SINNERS just as he, speaking of SATAN, is a sinner because God was being FALSELY ACCUSED that he MADE Lucifer and us this EVIL) and death BY sin; and so DEATH passed upon all men, (WHY? Why does DEATH or SEPARATION from God come or pass upon all men?) FOR (Or BECAUSE) that ALL have SINNED:” And NOT because ALL have INHERITED the SIN of Adam, as in, all humans inherited the GUILT of Adam's sin. And NOT that we inherited a so-called sinful NATURE that causes us to sin. For you see, the WHOLE word of God clearly teaches us that the children shall NOT be punished for the SINS of their fathers. The REASON that death or spiritual separation from God is passed upon ALL men is that every single human being EXCEPT for Jesus, the human anointed Son of Almighty God, has made the CHOICE to give into the INFLUENCE of Satan's temptation and has SINNED of their OWN FREE WILL at one time or another in their life. The Bible teaches us that Jesus was TEMPTED in ALL points just like we are TEMPTED, but yet, Jesus never once gave in to any of the temptations and sinned. In other words, Jesus is the only man who ever lived his life after his baptism without giving in to the temptation of the Devil to commit SIN against God. But this does not mean that after we become Christians to be endued with power from on high through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that we cannot live our lives without sin. In other words, the teaching that Jesus was the ONLY one who ever lived without sin is causing some Christians to WRONGLY believe that they will never be able to live without sin. For a deeper understanding that you cannot live without sin until you first BELIEVE that it is possible for YOU to live without sin, please read the study called. “HOW YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!” Nowhere in the Bible do I myself find that ALL of mankind has INHERITED a so-called SINFUL NATURE that causes us to SIN. NOR do I find anywhere in the Bible that ALL of mankind INHERITS the actual GUILT of the original sin of Adam and, therefore, that one sin of Adam makes us all guilty before God the moment we are conceived in the womb. And, therefore, every human is MADE a sinner at BIRTH and even babies are worthy of DEATH. In other words, if a baby dies, then according to the FALSE doctrine of ORIGINAL SIN, even babies are condemned to the lake of fire. Again, this is WHY yet even another FALSE doctrine needed to be made by man. For you see, people could not handle the idea of an INNOCENT little baby who died being cast into the lake of fire having done nothing themselves to deserve such a drastic punishment. Hence, the FALSE doctrine of INFANT baptism came into existence so that babies could be SAVED by baptizing them with the sprinkling of the so-called holy water. None of this is taught anywhere in the word of God. So then, IF the doctrine of infant baptism were true, then ACCORDING to Calvinism and Reformed Theology once a person is SAVED by BAPTISM in water as a baby, then they are ALWAYS SAVED and they can never lose their salvation. In other words, would this not also mean that as soon as any baby is BAPTIZED and therefore spared from the judgment of the lake of fire, according to the Roman Catholic doctrine of infant baptism, then that BAPTIZED baby is GUARANTEED to never lose their salvation no matter what? NO! Of course not! For you see, neither the Roman Catholic doctrine of “original sis” nor the Roman Catholic doctrine of “infant” baptism is true. Both of those Roman Catholic doctrines are man-made teachings that CONTRADICT what the Bible ITSELF actually teaches. Now IF “infant baptism” were true, then WHY even preach the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, which Almighty God Himself CHOSE as the means by which people are to BELIEVE in His SON Jesus to be SAVED? Why not rather just BAPTIZE every baby that is BORN and then EVERYone would be SAVED, if so be that they were BAPTIZED as a baby, according to the Roman Catholic doctrine of infant baptism. Can you not see, how just ONE MISINTERPRETATION of a Scripture can lead to so many FALSE ideas and FALSE teachings? I do not mean to sound over critical but those who teach Calvinism and Reformed Theology mock others who teach against their false teachings. I have heard some Calvinist Christians say in a mocking tone, that IF all babies are INNOCENT before God, then we should KILL all babies so that they would be guaranteed to be saved. This is such a childish rebuttal to the truth of God's word that is not at all Biblical. I mean MURDER innocent babies so that they will be saved. Break one of the ten commandments to try and prove that what you teach is Biblical. Besides, according to your own doctrine, once a person is saved then they can never lose their salvation so why would you kill babies that are saved? The TRUTH of the matter is that what causes us to sin is the INFLUENCE and DECEPTION of Satan. In other words, it is UNNATURAL for man to SIN. It is AGAINST the very NATURE of man to SIN. Man does NOT have any NATURE to SIN. It is NOT NATURAL for man to SIN. Therefore, mankind is NOT BORN with a SINFUL NATURE. But rather all humans LEARN to sin from the father of lies, aka, Satan. Let me PROVE this to you once and for all time. Please read Romans 1:18-32 which PLAINLY and CLEARLY teaches us that it is AGAINST our NATURE to SIN. Therefore, PROVING that we are NOT BORN with a SINFUL NATURE as some FALSELY teach. For you see, IF it were true that we are BORN with a sinful NATURE, then to sin would be NATURAL to us. And thus, committing sin would be our very NATURE. And, therefore, SINNING would NOT be AGAINST our true God-given NATURE. But this is NOT what the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE word of God teaches us in Romans 1:18-32. Romans 1:18-32. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven AGAINST all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (WHY?) 19. Because that which may be KNOWN of God is manifest (Or made KNOWN) IN THEM; for God has shown it unto them. (In other words, God shows us that which is right from wrong through the CONSCIENCE which we INHERITED because of Adam's original sin. And Adam and Eve KNEW that they were naked and the very moment that they sinned and they tried to cover themselves and hide from God AFTER they disobeyed God and ate of the tree of KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. Thus a CONSCIENCE to KNOW right from wrong was now given to mankind from that day forward) 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE: 21. Because that, when they KNEW God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but BECAME VAIN in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Or the heart BECAME darkened) 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they BECAME FOOLS, 23. And CHANGED the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24. Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, (Which they themselves CHOSE to have darkened by listen to and obey the influence of Satan) to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25. Who CHANGED the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature MORE than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (It was by each individual person making their own CHOICE to obey the INFLUENCE of Satan rather than obeying the word of God) 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did CHANGE the NATURAL use into that which is against NATURE: 27. And likewise also the men, leaving the NATURAL use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. (But, according to Calvinism and Reformed Theology, homosexuals are BORN with the NATURE to commit the SIN of homosexuality, men having sex with men, and women having sex with women. However, that is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us in SIMPLICITY. Even the very testimonies of former homosexuals prove the Bible to be the TRUTH. For you see, those who were WRONGLY taught that they were BORN as a homosexual but AFTER they RECEIVED the TRUTH that they were NOT born with a homosexual NATURE they STOPPED being a homosexual. And some of those former homosexuals became Christians AFTER they stopped being homosexual) 28. And even as they did not LIKE to RETAIN God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (In other words, they loved their sin of homosexuality MORE than they loved God and His word. And some homosexuals have written their OWN homosexual Bible that has CHANGED the TRUTH of God into a LIE) 29. Being FILLED with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (And NOT being BORN will all unrighteousness, But rather, over years of learning the pleasures of sin each person by their OWN CHOICE gradually became FILLED with all unrighteousness while OTHERS made the CHOICE to NOT become filled with all unrighteousness. So then, those who made the wrong choice to be filled with all unrighteousness are the ones) 31. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, implacable, unmerciful: (In other words, it is NOT NATURAL to be UNRIGHTEOUS because, according to the Bible, those filled with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS are WITHOUT NATURAL affection) 32. Who KNOWING the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.” In other words, ALL these SINS mention here are the result of being WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION and doing that which is AGAINST our very NATURE to do. To ME, this passage of scripture PROVES without a doubt that SIN is AGAINST the very NATURE in which Almighty God created us and therefore proves that we are NOT BORN with a SINFUL NATURE as some FALSELY teach. Now some of you may say that I am trying to twist the Scriptures to include all sin as an UNNATURAL act of mankind and that it is ONLY the SIN of HOMOSEXUALITY that is AGAINST the NATURE of mankind to commit. Well to ME, even if ONE sin is AGAINST the NATURE of mankind to commit, then this would prove that mankind is not BORN will this so-called SINFUL NATURE, because God's word CLEARLY states that it is UNNATURAL or against the very NATURE of man to lie with another man and a woman to lie with another woman. Therefore, there would be NO such SIN as homosexuality IF the ALL of mankind were BORN with a SINFUL NATURE as some FALSELY teach, because this passage of scripture teaches us that it is AGAINST the NATURE in which God created us for man to have sex with another man. In other words, IF it were true that ALL of mankind were BORN with the NATURE to be a homosexual, then there would be absolutely NO homosexuals, because it would be our NATURE and NOT AGAINST our nature for man to have sex with another man. However, the Bible clearly teaches us that HOMOSEXUALITY IS for a fact a SIN and that it is AGAINST our very NATURE to commit such a SIN. Also if we break just ONE point of the law, then the WHOLE law is transgressed. The question still needs to be asked, if Paul was ONLY speaking about the ONE SIN of HOMOSEXUALITY being AGAINST our very NATURE, then WHY did Paul bother to LIST all these others SINS and say that those who do such things are WITHOUT NATURAL affection? The Bible also teaches that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses to let everything be established. So then, let us take a close look at Romans 2:5-15 which teaches us that the GENTILES, who were considered SINNERS by the Jews, KEPT the law of God by their NATURE with which they were BORN. Romans 2:5-15. “But AFTER your hardness and impenitent heart, you treasure up unto YOURSELF wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6. Who will render to EVERY man according to HIS deeds: 7. To THEM who BY patient CONTINUANCE in WELL DOING seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 8. But unto THEM that are CONTENTIOUS, and do NOT OBEY the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (Or obey the INFLUENCE of Satan and make the CHOICE to give in to his temptation and SIN) indignation and wrath, 9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10. But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11. For there is NO RESPECT of persons with God. (This means that God does NOT pick and chose certain specific individuals to be saved while at the same time ordaining or predestinating all other people to destruction in the lake of fire and there is NOT that anyone can do to change their so-called predestined destiny) 12. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have NOT the law, DO BY NATURE the things contained in the law, THESE, [Speaking of ALL of mankind, but more particularly here as being GENTILES, who are BORN with a NATURE to do that which is RIGHT, because we ALL have a CONSCIENCE that bears witness to us of right and wrong, THESE] having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their CONSCIENCE also bearing witness, and their THOUGHTS the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” You see, even though we ALL are BORN with a CONSCIENCE that bears witness to our hearts to that which is right or wrong, we do not all make the right choice to OBEY our conscience. Again, it is our CONSCIENCE that we all INHERITED because of Adam's original sin. And we also have been given the freedom to CHOOSE which INFLUENCE we are going to OBEY. And, therefore, we all at times make EXCUSES and try to REASON away the INFLUENCE which we decide to follow or not follow. Our THOUGHTS try and make excuses to justify the wrong that we chose to do of our own free will. But the NATURE of our CONSCIENCE that we all are BORN with is to do GOOD. It is only AFTER a person hardens their own conscience BY all the wrong CHOICES that they themselves made or their own free will to make EXCUSES for their sins that they BECOME filled will all unrighteousness. My point is this, SOME of these UNSAVED GENTILES, who BY their NATURE, made the CHOICE to OBEY the LAW of Almighty God even though they did not know the written law on paper. But rather, they only responded to the voice of their CONSCIENCE which is part of their NATURE that they were BORN with to do that which was RIGHT before God. Again, without ever having been given the WRITTEN COMMANDMENT of God which they could read, they yet OBEYED the law of God BECAUSE they and we are ALL BORN with the NATURE to know what is right and what is wrong. And it is our NATURE at first to follow that which is RIGHT. However, because SIN or more precisely because the INFLUENCE of Satan, who TEMPTS us and DECEIVES us to SIN has ENTERED into the world or was ALLOWED to remain in the world, then ALL of mankind at one time or another has either been DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin or has simply GIVEN INTO the INFLUENCE of Satan and has SINNED. In other words, the THOUGHTS that come to us go AGAINST our NATURE to do that which is right before God. That is to say, the CONSCIENCE that we INHERITED because of one man's ORIGINAL sin, urges us to that which is right, but we reason between these THOUGHTS to go AGAINST what our INHERITED NATURE is telling us and sometimes we give in and SIN against God AND our NATURE. Therefore DEATH has PASSED upon ALL of mankind, BECAUSE ALL men have SINNED by their OWN FREE WILL at one time or another, and NOT that the actual SIN of Adam, or GUILT of sin, nor a SINFUL NATURE has been passed upon all mankind as some FALSELY teach. SIMPLY put, NO man or woman has ever been BORN with a SINFUL NATURE! Now some of you who are Calvinistic and Reformed Theology Christians may still not be convinced of this Biblical TRUTH. And thus, you dogmatically DEMAND that the Bible clearly teaches that there is NOT ONE person who is RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE simply because Paul quoted different verses of Scripture from the Old Testament and put them all together in Romans 3:9-18! Those who believe and teach these man-made doctrines of ORIGINAL SIN and TOTAL DEPRAVITY are quick to quote Romans 3:9-18 as their PROOF that ALL of mankind from Adam to this present day have been BORN with a SINFUL NATURE. And, therefore, to them, there is NOT EVEN ONE RIGHTEOUS person, NO, NOT ONE from Adam to Jesus and to even this very day based upon the INTERPRETATION of this one passage of Scripture! To continue part three is this study to expose the errors of interpretation made by Calvinism and Reformed Theology please click on the link “CALVINISM-TOTAL DEPRAVITY-PART 3!” In part three we will take a CLOSER look at Romans 3:9-18 along with other verses of Scripture that are used to try and support the teaching that every human being is BORN with a sinful NATURE. And if you want to read part one of this study, please click on the link “CALVINISM-TRUE OF FALSE?-PART 1” Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT |