We cannot say to God that Adam misrepresented us.

That's the basic assumption that we make when we try to escape the transfer of guilt.

We're trying to think and flatter ourselves saying,

well, if I would have been there in the garden and would have been confronted by the temptation of the serpent,

I would have been smart enough or good enough to say no to the temptation.

So why do I have to suffer the consequences of what Adam did?

Well, because Adam represented you and he represented you flawlessly and perfectly because he was God's selected representative.

You and I were not in the garden of Eden with Adam when he committed that first sin.

So why is it that the Apostle Paul in Romans 5 says that that one sin, that one trespass led to the condemnation of all?

Hi, I'm Nathan W. Bingham and thank you for joining us for this Saturday edition of Renewing Your Mind.

Today, our C-Sproul continues his overview of theology, what Christians believe as Christians.

And today, he's not only going to consider our relationship to Adam in the garden,

but also our new relationship as Christians with Jesus, his Dr. Sproul.

Anytime the subject of original sin comes up and we discuss the fallen nature of human beings,

it's inevitable that somebody asks the question, well, wait a minute, if we're born sinners,

how can God hold us accountable for sinning when all we're doing is doing what comes naturally?

That is if sin is basic to our nature, how can God ever judge us for sinning since we cannot do anything but sin?

Well, that's certainly a legitimate question and one that would obviously be raised in light of the doctrine of original sin.

And so therefore, we need to spend some time looking at how this sin nature is transmitted or transferred from Adam to his posterity.

And the first thing we have to say with respect to this is that the Bible does make it abundantly clear that there is a connection there.

Now, we'll explore the different possible ways in which that connection is to be understood.

But let's look first at the fifth chapter of Paul's Letter to the Romans beginning in verse 12,

...