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"My Baby Is A Sinner?"
It would be the rarest of mothers that could look into the face of her newborn infant and honestly believe that this new life was born “the blackest of sinners.” But, whether she could or not does not prove that babies are born sinners. Calvin, following Augustine’s theology, believed babies to be sinners, because they, supposedly, inherited the sin of Adam. Others have affirmed that babies are sinners because they have sinned personally -- either in a netherworld of pre-existence before being born into the world, or because they sin from the moment of birth. Neither postulation fits the scriptures’ teachings.
Since Paul said that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23), some say that “all” necessarily includes babies. However, 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of law.” When examining everything the scripture says about sin and sinners, one understands that all are sinners who are capable of transgressing law. The word “sinned” of Romans 3:23, involves action, and this action is that of transgressing. Babies are not capable of such action, therefore, are not sinners.
But do babies inherit sin? Romans 5:15-19, has been misused in efforts to prove that babies inherit sin. However, Paul, in this context, is making a comparison between the sin of Adam and the free gift of Christ. If one takes the position that all men are sinners, unconditionally, because they inherited the guilt of one man’s sin (Adam), then he must also accept the conclusion that all men are saved, unconditionally, by the one gift (Christ’s sacrifice). That argument would mean that men would be saved by Christ whether they want salvation or not – atheists, unrepentant men and, in fact, everyone. The truth is that a man becomes a sinner when he is capable of sin and chooses to transgress God’s law and a man is saved from sin when he chooses to obey Christ and accept the gift God provides through him (Cf. 1 Peter 1:22-25; Romans 6:17-18; Hebrews 5:8-9).
What about Psalms 51:5? – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Careful examination shows that this passage says nothing about David being a sinner, or having sin, but would rather refer to the condition of the parent. David’s affirmation would not necessitate an adulterous relationship on the part of his parents, because all have sinned, therefore, the same statement could be made by all who are born. As human beings our parents sinned; hence, we are conceived in sin. But David doesn’t say that he was born sinning or that he inherited the guilt of his parents sin.
God’s answer through Ezekiel – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him,” (18:20). The consequences of sin can be visited upon following generations, but the guilt of sin cannot be transferred from father to son or from son to father. The scripture teaches that a person is a sinner when he sins and not because of someone else’s actions. Babies have not sinned and cannot inherit the sins of their fathers, therefore, are not sinners. And, yes, every mother can look into the innocent face of her infant and know that there is a new life, totally free from the taint of sin, because God says so. – Jim R. Everett
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