⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Why “Born Innocent” Is a Dangerous Lie, Recovering the Doctrine of Sin
Host: Dave JenkinsTopic: Original Sin, Human Nature, Gospel ClarityShow Summary
According to the 2025 State of Theology, many evangelicals say people are born innocent and only “sin a little.” In this Weekly Watch episode, Dave Jenkins explains why denying original sin is not a small error, it undermines the gospel itself. Scripture teaches we are sinners by nature and by choice, and the good news of grace only makes sense when we understand the bad news of sin.Audio Player
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Episode Notes
Key Scriptures
- Psalm 51:5
- Romans 3:10–12
- Ephesians 2:1–3
- Jeremiah 17:9
- Romans 5:12
- Jude 3
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
- John 14:15
Why “Born Innocent” Undermines the Gospel
- If we’re born good, the cross becomes unnecessary.
- If we’re born innocent, judgment is treated as unjust.
- If we’re naturally good, salvation becomes optional and self-improvement replaces repentance.
- If sin is minimized, sanctification becomes therapy and worship becomes man-centered.
What We Must Recover
- Preaching that confronts sin before offering grace.
- Teaching that we bear God’s image yet are corrupted by sin.
- Discipleship rooted in the truth about the human heart.
- Evangelism that calls sinners to repent and believe in Christ alone.
- Worship that exalts Christ, not self.
Call to Action
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
