What Do Mormons Believe in Romans 5:12-21? Original Sin?

[GNews4BadTimes]

Romans 5:12-21

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but as is not imputed when there is no blow.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by a one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through a righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

What does this mean in light of the above passage?

The Articles Of Faith

2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

Thanks!

[Maxel]

Romans 5:12-21

What does this mean in light of the above passage?

Thanks!

Mormons don't believe in original sin. What Paul is explaining in this passage is that it only took one man, Adam, to bring sin and death into the world (by eating of the forbidden fruit). It also only took one man- Christ- to bring eternal life (spiritually and physically) into the world as well.

The Atonement of Christ has fulfilled the law under which we are condemned. Through Christ, we are no longer slaves to the mistakes of our progenitors, but we are free to work out our own salvation.

[gabelpa]

Adam's transgression brought physical death into this world. It also brought Spiritual death, sin into the world. As a result,we are here. We are not responsible for Adam's actions. We will be judged by our actions, that is what that Article of Faith states. It is not in conflict with what you quoted from Romans.

[Connie]

The below is from this resource put out by the Church: LDS.org - Family Table of Contents - True to the Faith

“Original Sin,” True to the Faith, (2004),110–11

Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, all people live in a fallen condition, separated from God and subject to physical death. However, we are not condemned by what many call the “original sin.” In other words, we are not accountable for Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (Articles of Faith 1:2).

Through the Atonement, the Savior paid the price for the transgression in the Garden of Eden (see Moses 6:53). He has given us the assurance of resurrection and the promise that, based on our faithfulness, we can return to dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father forever.

I would also recommend reading these chapters in the Book of Mormon: Alma 42, 2 Nephi 2

Edited March 14, 2009 by Connie

[Book_of_Mormon_Warrior]

We were "made sinners" because through the fall we were able to be born into mortality and have freedom to choose whether to follow God or to follow the evil one. But "original sin", the concept that we are judged and condemned according to Adam's actions, is false doctrine and denies the justice and mercy of God and sets aside the agency we have been given as individuals to "work out <our> own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord."

[AnthonyB]

Is this a fair summation of the LDS position?

"We are corrputed by sin but still responsive to God and responsible before God for that response."

RO 7:7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

[Dale]

I am not LDS but rather a member of the Community of Christ (formerly the longer named Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). While i was LDS at one point i can only speak as to what i think about original sin as a member of my faith. I used to say think i did not believe in original sin, but i felt a need to say something different about the matter. Rather than say i do not believe in original sin i prefer to now say instead i believe in atoned for original sin in the case of infants for example.

But without Jesus saving infants from spiritual and physical death original sin would make them guilty like adults. I also believe that those who die without law can be saved from the lake of fire also by having original sin atoned for them also.

I accept the idea of different inhabited places in the afterlife just not heaven and hell as the only two places. And even though those in the lower kingdom are not in the top abode of God they are living with God the Holy Spirit. So i think myself that all who are saved will return to live with Deity even if not in the Celestial kingdom with Jesus. So i am not certain if i understand the popular LDS view right as saying those saved who do not live in the presence of the Father are separated from God.

To me any original sin not atoned for will leave persons condemned in the Final hell in an unsaved condition.

[Faded]

Romans 5:12-21

What does this mean in light of the above passage?

Thanks!

I think it might be more useful if you were to begin by explaining how you can read the quoted passage in Romans and conclude that God intends to punish every human being that ever lived for what Adam did (unless they repent and are reconciled with God of course.) I am unable to see where Paul is saying anything like that.

It's clear enough that the Fall of Adam caused this world to become a lost and fallen world. It is clear that it placed Earth at a greater distance from the presence of God. Separation from God is often termed "Spiritual Death" because it places us in a state opposite to happiness. Because we are imperfect, just by living in this lost and fallen world, we will all eventually sin. That much is the consequence of the transgression of one man, Adam. But the passage doesn't say that the moment a baby is born into this world, they are already guilty before God and deserving of an eternity in Hell. That is what I would refer to as "reading too much into it."

The Atonement of Jesus Christ redeems us from the Fall and guarantees that we will be raised from the dead and live forever. Christ does overcome the Fall, just like Paul says it does.

[Koizito]

Mormons don't believe in original sin. What Paul is explaining in this passage is that it only took one man, Adam, to bring sin and death into the world (by eating of the forbidden fruit). It also only took one man- Christ- to bring eternal life (spiritually and physically) into the world as well.

The Atonement of Christ has fulfilled the law under which we are condemned. Through Christ, we are no longer slaves to the mistakes of our progenitors, but we are free to work out our own salvation.

Are you sure about that?

[the Ogre]

Are you sure about that?

Absolutely.

[Koizito]

Absolutely.

Physical eternal life?

[the Ogre]

Physical eternal life?

Do Latter-day Saints believe in a Physical Eternal Life? Yes we do. We believe J-sus Chr-st was resurrected and has a perfected body (and all the aspects of identity that come with it: race, gender, age, injury, experience, passion, emotion, intellect, and opinion). We believe H- blazed a path so that we can follow. We believe that there will be a time when every person will be resurrected and that each of us that has, has had, and will have a body will be resurrected in to a perfected body that still reflects who we are and gives us limitless prospects in the eternities. Edited May 25, 2009 by the Ogre

[Koizito]

Ok just checking...