Are people born innocent in the eyes of God?

No, Scripture teaches that we are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam. We sin because we are sinners by nature, and we also sin by choice, which is why we need saving grace in Christ alone.

Why does denying original sin distort the gospel?

If people are basically good, the cross becomes unnecessary and salvation becomes optional. Denying original sin minimizes our true need and replaces repentance and faith with moral improvement or self-help.

What Bible passages teach that we are sinful by nature?

Key passages include Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10–12, Ephesians 2:1–3, Jeremiah 17:9, and Romans 5:12. Together they teach that our problem is not merely environment, but the heart.

Does the doctrine of sin remove human dignity and worth?

No, humans are made in God’s image and therefore have real dignity and worth. But being image-bearers does not mean we are innocent, we are corrupted by sin and in need of rescue through Christ.

Why is the doctrine of sin actually hopeful?

Because if our condition is truly helpless, then salvation is truly by grace. The bad news about sin makes the good news of Christ’s finished work shine brighter, and it frees us to confess, repent, and rest in the sufficiency of the cross.

What should churches recover if they want to preach the gospel faithfully?

Churches must recover preaching that confronts sin and calls for repentance and faith, discipleship built on a biblical view of the heart, evangelism that urges sinners to turn to Christ, and worship that exalts the Savior rather than self.

Why “Born Innocent” Is a Dangerous Lie, Recovering the Doctrine of Sin

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read

Contending for the Word PodcastSeries: The Weekly Watch

Why “Born Innocent” Is a Dangerous Lie, Recovering the Doctrine of Sin

Host: Dave JenkinsTopic: Original Sin, Human Nature, Gospel Clarity

Show 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.

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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

If this episode helped you, please subscribe and share it with a friend. New Weekly Watch episodes each Saturday help you stand anchored in God’s Word and contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.Stand firm. Stay anchored. Keep contending.For more from Contending for the Word please visit our page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.

Dave Jenkins( Executive Director )

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.

Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.

He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).

You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.

When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.

Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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