Original Sin
Inheriting Sin or Inheriting Lies?
Introduction
Original Sin — A Doctrine Not Found in Torah
The story we’ve been told begins not with wonder, but with a wound. For many, the doctrine of “original sin” casts a long shadow over the human story—declaring that every soul is born guilty, stained by the rebellion of Adam, hopeless without inherited redemption. It teaches that sin is our nature, our inheritance, our identity. But is this what the Hebrew Scriptures actually teach?
The Torah tells a different tale.
In the garden of Eden, we see choice. In Cain and Abel, responsibility. In Noah, righteousness in a corrupt generation. Time and again, YHWH meets mankind not with condemnation for another’s sin, but with personal accountability and the open door of return. The Hebrew word for sin—חַטָּאת (chatat)—is not a birthmark, but a missed mark. And the path back is always nearby.
This study does not aim to dismiss the seriousness of sin. Rather, it seeks to untangle the inherited doctrine of total depravity from the plain testimony of the Scriptures. It asks:
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Were we truly born guilty?
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Or were we born capable—of falling, yes, but also of choosing good?
The weight of truth is heavy—but it is not crushing. YHWH does not place upon us the sins of another. He says, “The soul that sins, it shall die.” Not the father for the son. Not the son for the father. (Ezekiel 18)
Let us walk humbly into the Word, peeling back the layers of doctrine to see what the ancient path truly says. For in doing so, we do not lose the Gospel—we find the original goodness of the One who breathed life into man.
Two Voices—One Ancient, One Adopted
The doctrine of original sin traces its roots to the church fathers…
But the Torah speaks from the mountain.
What if we’ve inherited a story the Scriptures never told?
Church Teachings
•All humans are born guilty of Adam’s sin
• Sin is inherited through the bloodline
• Mankind is totally depraved and incapable of choosing good
• Man lost the image of God at the Fall
• Salvation requires removal of inherited guilt
• The Fall permanently corrupted all of creation
• Infants are born sinful
• Only blood atonement can cover inherited sin
• Adam’s sin transferred legal guilt to all humanity
• Jesus must undo Adam’s fall for humanity to be saved
Torah Teachings
• Each person is accountable for their own sin—not Adam’s (Ezek. 18:20)
• YHWH says He does not punish children for their parents’ sins (Deut. 24:16)
• “Choose life, that you may live”—free will is affirmed (Deut. 30:19)
• Mankind still bears the image of Elohiym after the fall (Gen. 9:6)
• Repentance and return are the remedy—not inherited guilt
• Creation is wounded, not cursed forever—it awaits redemption (Isa. 11:6–9)
• Children are described as innocent and without guilt (Deut. 1:39; Rom. 9:11)
• Forgiveness is granted through repentance, not blood alone (Ps. 32: 2;
I Chron. 7:14)
• Sin brings consequence—but not inherited legal guilt (Ex. 20:5–6 is generational impact, not guilt)
• Restoration comes by returning to YHWH and His ways—not undoing Adam’s choice
