Thinking Theology Thinking Thoughts

Baax na. I realized after I delved into the issue of "do Muslims and Christians worship the same God" last night, that I miss discussing theology. My pastor and I loved having these conversations on a weekly basis, and before that became regular, my IV staff worker Josh went to the tough spots with me and encouraged theological thinking.

I didn't even start thinking theologically until college really, and that's when I learned that my next subject was even an issue. Original sin. Today in Islam Babaccar (our prof) mentioned casually that a very young child didn't have sin yet. So I clarified and asked, "So Islam doesn't have a doctrine of original sin?", and confirmed my thought - this doctrine does not exist. This got me thinking, because before I ever read Piper, Stott, MacArthur, Augustine, Sturgeon, Edwards, Keller, Chesterton, Studd, and the likes, I read Romans. Specifically, Romans 5:12-21

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I have never been able to understand the argument against original sin (if someone wants to try and lay it out for me, that would be great). This passage lays things out pretty clearly: we are born of Adam, Adam sinned, thus we are all sinners. I also think that fact is what makes the other point here so great. Adam brought us death; his one sin brought sin abounding into our lives. But Jesus, in His righteousness, made us righteous in Him. He has brought life, and grace,in abundance (2 Corinthians 9:8, John 10:10). If we understand our depravity in the line of Adam, only then are we able to fully understand the good news that is the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

On a lighter note...I saw a beautiful full moon in the sky tonight, and teared up at the display of the majesty of Dieu, creator and ultimate artist.

"Sometimes only mentioning the name of Christ or an attribute of God will cause my heart to burn within me...Suddenly God appears glorious to me. When I enjoy this sweetness it seems to carry me outside of myself. I cannot bring myself even to take my eye from this Glorious Object" Jonathan Edwards.

"When the moon climbs high before each kiss goodnight, You are good"

Might have choreographed my own lyrical dance to this song on the roof of our school today.