Original Sin in Two Bible Quotes

Ah yes, Sin! It is tempting to believe we talk about sin too much. Perhaps, there is truth to that. But the reason I wish to talk about sin is to speak all the more clearly about the mercy and generosity of God. A simple definition of sin is “Not God” or more specifically our thoughts words and/or deeds that goes against God’s Truth Goodness and Beauty. It is important to know that humanity is responsible for their sins and God does not wish anyone to sin but to live life abundantly. But is it possible to inherit sin from our ancestors?

Original sin is our inheritance from the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. It can be confusing why would the sin of the original humans affect us in the present? We didn’t eat the apple, then why do we have to be punished for it? The notion that we are punished for sin is slightly off base and a correct understanding can be helpful in clearing up the confusion. We are not punished for our sins (even though our sins deserved punishment) its that our sins take us away from God who is Life and Love and Goodness. The action of sin is its own punishment. God wants to give us forgiveness and mercy, but we need to ask for it.

How can we inherit Original Sin?

Baptism is meant to wash away Original Sin and it does. However, we must still contend with the taint of Original Sin that must be resisted on a daily basis which is our cross to bear as Christians. If Original Sin is the first time human kind turned away from God, then carrying our cross is our constant effort to turn back towards God. Original Sin is inherited because we have all ate the forbidden fruit of sin in our own life. Just as it says in the 1st letter of John, “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)

So, we can’t escape the taint of original sin, does that mean we are all going to Hell? Nope, well maybe, depends on our willingness to turn towards God during our life on this side of Heaven. One of the beliefs that the Catholic Church has is that we can lose our salvation in Heaven. We can be in right relationship with God and we can be in the wrong relationship with God, but that relationship is subject to change while we are alive. There are sins that are deadly to our relationship with God and we must be on our guard against it. (1 John 5:16)

What Original Sin does is explain why good people do sinful things. We are all prone to weakness, ignorance, and even malice. We fail to follow God’s will even if we know what is right/wrong and even if we want to do what is right, but for some reason, God only knows, we insist on sinning and turning against God. That is Original sin.

Now, the two bible verses that explain original sin: Romans 7:19 & Galatians 6:9

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

The Romans quote has already been referenced. We have all felt that internal battle of wills. Our angel and devil sitting on our shoulders. Our conscience speaking to us both as a whisper and a piercing shout. Too often do we give into that devil on our shoulder or fail to listen to our conscience. It is truly revealing that we as Catholics can call ourselves “Bad Catholics”. We have the precepts of the church and lives of the Saints to give reference to our own lives and we are very well aware that we are not living up to our Baptismal promises.

We already know what is sinful. Ignorance is rarely our problem. It is our hardened heart where the knowledge of sin fails to motivate us to heroic virtue. Original Sin is a stony heart that does not yield to God’s loving commandments. Please, do not spiral into despair and anguish because you are guilty of the same sin. If you actually want to sin and go against God’s will, then rest easy knowing that is the taint of original sin within you. Because you yourself are meant for Goodness, Truth, and Beauty.

The devil wants us to think that we are totally depraved and beyond redemption. The Gospel Truth is that we are able to turn towards God every second of every day. No, you are not a failure as a Catholic for sinning, but you have been tainted by Original Sin. Repent and renounce your attachment to sin and turn back to God. If you don’t want to do that, then pray for the desire to want to renounce the sin. If you die attached to sin, to “Not God”, then your next life will be attached to “Not God” a.k.a. Hell. But why is it so difficult to pick up our cross and turn back towards God?

Original Sin. The Galatians quote is Saint Paul imploring his readers to not grow weary of doing Good. Think about that. It is exhausting to be good. We are made in the image and likeness of God who is Goodness Itself. Why does doing good exhaust us? It is because we are tainted with Original Sin. We may know what is good, how to do the good, when to do the good, and who to do the good to, but we still refuse to do the good. What wicked and lazy servants are we to refuse to follow the good commandments of our Creator? Why forgive others if it leads to us exposed to hurt? Why feed the hungry if they will just be hungry tomorrow? Why ask for forgiveness if I will sin again? Why pray if I see no change in my situation? Why write another blog article if it ultimately doesn’t change people lives for the better?

Maybe I’m just an average Catholic but I struggle following God’s will nearly every day. It is difficult to follow my prayer routine. It is difficult to not be discourage by the same temptations. It is difficult to visit non-believers who are apathetic to the faith. It is difficult to trust that God’s will truly is the best. It is difficult to not rely on myself or on sinful coping mechanisms. “Do not grow weary of doing good.” Boy! Have a felt weary of doing good in the past. That is the taint of Original Sin stopping me from being in communion with God even though it is my inheritance through the adoption of Baptism.

We see an example of Original Sin in action in the Gospel. The story of the rich man in Mark 10:17-31. The rich man enthusiastically asks Jesus what does he need to do to inherit eternal life. Is that not our own prayer when we ask, “what do I need to do to get to heaven?” The rich man had the luxury of actually receiving an answer! Jesus tells him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21) Then, the rich man went and did that very thing and enjoyed eternal life. WRONG! The rich man went away “GRIEVING!” He failed to comply with Jesus’s command. Why? Original Sin.

As you can see, Original Sin is helpful in understanding our own brokenness and the brokenness in others. The doctrine of Original Sin is not meant to be a guilt trip or a constant reminder that you are a failure. Far from it. It is meant to remind you that God wants to forgive you and He sent His only Son, while you were a SINNNER, as an act of love. So what if you sin? God loves you. So what if change is hard? God loves you. So what if you did the same sin for the 1000th time? God loves you.

You are not meant to be perfect on this side of heaven. We are all sick patients in the hospital of God’s love and mercy. We are all recovering from Original Sin. To continue the hospital metaphor, Baptism is our surgical procedure. We have been cured of our illness, but we must go into rehab. We must learn how to love and forgive just as God loved and forgave us. Our rehab exercises are difficult but we must follow all of the doctor’s orders and do them every day. Otherwise, we will never be ready to leave the hospital. Perhaps, our recovery doesn’t go smoothly and our stitches open up or we get an infection. Then, go to confession and be healed of those mortal sins. Otherwise, you will walk away from God grieving because you failed to pick up your cross and turn back to God.

You know what to do: Love God and Love your neighbor. Now, go do it! Go do good! and DO NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD!