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NASB | Psalm 51:5 ¶ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 51:5 ¶ I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful]. [John 3:6; Rom 5:12; Eph 2:3] |
Subject: inherit the sin of Adam |
Bible Note: Thanks for the feedback! Hope the wedding went well and God bless your son and his new wife. Starting in verse 4 and going through verse 20 we see each person is responsible to God for their own sins and that no one is held responsible for the sins of others. You stated, "the doctrinal truth we may properly derive from this passage are that individuals are responsible for their own actions before the face of God." I believe we have to go farther then that and it would not be proper exegesis to stop here and not take into account the rest of the scriptures. In verses 21-32 it does speak of repentance as you say. But proper context would not exclude these verses from verses 4-20. As a matter of fact, the life and death spoken of in verses 4, 9, 13, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are also speaking of eternal life and the second death. Are they not? Now, I think we agree that verses 4-20 are teaching us that we are responsible for our own sins. I think where I might be seeing this differently is the rest of the scriptures and the context issue. I think verses 21-32 are also pointing to this same truth. To say they are speaking of repentance is correct, but to stop there and not consider verses 4-20 is not proper context. Notice in verse 21 it speaks of HIS sins that he hath committed... and in verse 22 all of HIS transgressions... verse 24 But when the righteous turneth away from HIS righteousness, Verse 26 When a righteous man turneth away from HIS righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for HIS iniquity that HE hath done shall HE die... Verse 27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from HIS wickedness that HE hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, HE shall save his soul alive... Verse 28 Because HE considereth, and turneth away from all HIS transgressions that HE hath committed, HE shall surely live, HE shall not die. Verse 29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the LORD is not equal. O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, ARE NOT MY WAYS EQUAL? are not your ways unequal?... Verse 30 Therefore I will judge YOU, O house of Israel, EVERY ONE according to HIS ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all YOUR transgressions; so iniquity shall not be YOUR ruin... Verse 31 Cast away from you all YOUR transgressions, whereby YE have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? All the verses listed above are speaking to the individual (HE, HIS, YOUR, etc...). So, in my understanding, proper context would point to the fact we are responsible to God for our own sins and our eternal life or death is not based on the sins of others. Our God is a just God. These truths are revealed in verses 4-32. I fail to see how pointing to verse 2 changes the truths revealed in verses 4-32. I'm not saying verse 2 is not important. But to point to verse 2 as if that changes in anyway the truths in the rest of the chapter appears one would have to believe these scriptures only apply to the Jews in captivity. And even if that were true and they did only apply to the Jews in captivity, where does the sins of Adam condemn the captive Jews to eternal damnation? This of course leads me to a couple of more questions. We know the scriptures do not contradict themselves as some would try to claim. So, for a biblical doctrine to stand, can we also say that biblical doctrines do not conflict with each other? If this is true, then is it not also true that any other biblical doctrine would have to compliment each other and not change it? I guess where I am having a problem with all this is the other verses you pointed out (e.g., Rom 5:12-19; 1 Cor 15:21-22, 45, 49; Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4; Eph 2:3; Heb 2:14, 15; 1 Thes 1:10). Maybe the forum can discuss these verses and what they mean and how it relates to what we are taught in Ezekiel 18 if anyone is interested. I for one am trying to understand this, not teach it. So, if anyone has any input on this I would love to see it. |