What is original sin and what are its consequences

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Original sin in Orthodoxy is one of those provisions that is not clear to a person who is just starting to get acquainted with Christian doctrine. You can learn about what it is, what its consequences for all of us are, and what interpretations of original sin exist in different branches of Orthodoxy from this article.

What is original sin?

At first glance, this looks absurd: in the Christian tradition, it is believed that a child is born into the world with already damaged human nature. How can this happen if he has not yet had time to commit sins, if only because he has not yet entered a conscious age? In fact, the problem is different: the essence of original sin lies in the fact that each person is born into the world initially damaged (primarily in the spiritual sense, but not only) due to the act of the first ancestor Adam. It was through him, as you know, that a spiritual disease entered the world, which all his descendants will inherit.

Many domistake in trying to explain what original sin is. We should not assume that in this case we are responsible for the fact that Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Everything is not so literal, and if you read the holy fathers, this will become clear. Adam's sin is no longer our sin, the fact is that for us it consists in human mortality. As follows from the Bible, the Lord God told Adam that he would die if he ate the forbidden fruit, and the serpent that he and Eve would become equal to God. The serpent-tempter did not deceive the first people, but together with the knowledge of the world they became mortal - this is the main consequence of original sin. Thus, this sin was not passed on to other people, but had disastrous results for them.

Consequences of the sin of Adam and Eve

Theologians believe that the results were so hard and painful precisely because God's original commandment was easy to follow. If Adam and Eve really wanted to fulfill it, they could easily refuse the offer of the tempter and remain in paradise forever - pure, holy, sinless and, of course, immortal. What is original sin? Like any sin, it is disobedience to the Creator. In fact, Adam created death with his own hands, moving away from God and subsequently mired in it.

His act not only brought death into his life, but also clouded the initially crystal clear human nature. She became distorted, more prone to other sins, love for the Creator was replaced by fear of him and his punishment. John Chrysostom pointed out thatthe beasts used to bow before Adam and saw him as their master, but after being expelled from paradise, they no longer recognized him.

Thus, a man from the highest creation of God, pure and beautiful, himself turned himself into dust and dust, which his body will become after inevitable death. But, as follows from the Bible, after the first ancestors ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge, they hid from the Lord, not only because they began to fear his wrath, but also because they felt guilty before him.

Before original sin

Before the fall, Adam and Eve had a very close relationship with the Lord. In a sense, they were one with him, their souls were so deeply connected with God. Even the saints do not have such a connection, especially other Christians who are not so sinless. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for us to understand it. However, this does not mean that this union should not be sought.

Man was a reflection of God's image, and his heart was blameless. The original sin of the first ancestors is called because before it they did not know other sins and were absolutely pure.

How to escape the consequences

Baptism from original sin does not deliver, as is commonly believed. It only gives a person the opportunity to become a different, true Christian. After baptism, a person remains mortal, enclosed in a mortal body shell, and at the same time has an immortal soul. It is important not to destroy it, because, according to the Orthodox tradition, at the end of time the Last Judgment will come, at which it will become clear whichthe fate of every soul.

Thus, baptism helps to restore the lost connection with God, albeit not fully. In any case, original sin made the essence of man more inclined to evil than to good, as it was originally, and therefore it is extremely difficult to reunite with the Creator in this world. However, judging by the examples of the saints, apparently it is possible.

In essence, this is why baptism is mandatory for those who consider themselves Christians - only in this way, and nothing else, can they be together with God and be saved from the death of their souls.

Original sin in Protestantism

It is worth understanding what original sin is in the understanding of Protestants, namely Calvinists. They, unlike the Orthodox, believe that the consequences of Adam's sin are not only the death of all his descendants, but also their inevitable bearing of guilt for the sin of their ancestor. For this, every person, in their opinion, deserves punishment. Human nature in Calvinism is thoroughly corrupted and saturated with sinfulness.

This view is most faithful to the Bible, although it is puzzling.

Original sin in Catholicism

Catholics believe that the sin of the firstborn is disobedience and weak trust in the Creator. This event led to a large number of different consequences: Adam and Eve lost the favor of God, as a result, the relationship between the two of them was broken. Previously pure and sinless, they have become lustful and tense. It echoed in other peoplemoral and physical damage. However, Catholics believe in the possibility of his correction and redemption.