Let’s define original sin. I don’t have any intention, however, of discussing all the definitions that different writers have adopted. I’m only going to talk about the one which I think is closest to the truth. Original sin, then, is the hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature. It extends to all parts of the soul. It makes us first exposed to the wrath of God and produces in us the “works of the flesh” as defined by Scripture (Galatians 5:19). The works of the flesh (such as adultery, sexual immorality, theft, hatred, and murder) are both the fruit of sin and also classified as sins in and of themselves in other Scripture passages.

We can learn two things from this discussion of original sin. First, because we are corrupted in all parts of our nature, we are rightly condemned by God merely on account of our corruption. The only thing accept to God is righteousness, innocence and purity. Original sin does not mean that we are liable for the fault of someone else. The sin of Adam has exposed us to the justice of God. Our exposure to God’s justice by Adam’s sin does not mean that we are innocent and blameless in ourselves but bear Adam’s guilt. Instead, we are all placed under the curse by his transgression. He brought us under the obligation of God’s law.

Through Adam, not only is punishment given out to us, but corruption of our nature is given to us, for which punishment is justly due. This is why Augustine, although he often called original sin “another’s sin” (so that he can clearly show that it is passed down to us), asserts that original sin is also each individual’s own sin. The apostle Paul distinctly testified that “death passed to all men because all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). All people are involved in original sin and are polluted by its stain. Even infants are condemned from their mother’s womb. They suffer, not because of another’s sin, but because of their own defect. Although they have not yet produced the fruit of their own unrighteousness, they have the seed of sin implanted in them. Their whole nature is a seed-bed of sin! They cannot, therefore, be but odious and abominable to God. Therefore, original sin is sinful in the sight of God, because there could be no condemnation without guilt.

Second, the perversity of sin never stops. Sin constantly produces new, awful fruits, just like a fountain shoots out water without ceasing. The never-ending production of sin is why those who define original sin as the lack of the original righteousness we ought to have fail to do justice to the power and energy of sin. Our nature is not only utterly devoid of goodness but so prolific in all kinds of evil that it can never be idle. The term concupiscence is a fine theological term to use about original sin provided that it speaks to the fact that everything in people from intellect to will, from the soul to the body, is defiled and pervaded with this concupiscence. To put it simply: the whole person is in himself or herself nothing other than concupiscence, that is, original sin.

“Blogging the Institutes” is my on-going attempt to paraphrase John Calvin’s work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. You can find out more about the series in the Introduction. For all the posts in this series, check out the Master List.