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The Bible says that God created the first people, Adam and Eve. They were real, intelligent people (not apes) created to live forever. They had the image of God. This means they knew God personally, were perfect in thoughts and actions, and had complete knowledge and wisÂdom about the world (Gen. 1:26-28,31; 2:7, 18-25).
Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil, disobeyed God and sinned (Genesis 3). This affected all of their children so that we have lost their original knowledge, righteousnÂess, and holiness.
Instead, we are all sinners at birth, inclined to do evil, and subject to God's punishment (Psalm 51:1-5). This is Original Sin.
To show us that we are sinners, God gave us his Law (for example, the Ten Commandments) (Galatians 3:19-24). We have not kept the Law perfectly as he commands, so we know we are sinners (Romans 3:10-20, 23). This is Actual Sin. |