Contemporary Protestants, particularly those of the "Bible Church" variety pastored by graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary, hardly ever use the term "original sin"; but they often speak of a Protestant invention which they call by the name "sin nature".
The Protestant mistakenly attributes to this imagined "sin nature" the fact that "in Adam all die". And the Protestant supposes that the "sin nature" was created within Adam in consequence of his original sin, and subsequently is transmitted genetically to the progeny of Adam. Moreover, the Protestant supposes that the mechanism by which the "sin nature" is transmitted is the male gamete, and that the need to interrupt this transmission explains the necessity that the incarnate Christ be born of a virgin. These seem to be unaware that it is the Curse upon Coniah which necessitates the Virgin Birth. Fearful of blasphemy, the Protestant, dares not assert that the "sin nature" is the creation of God, despite the fact that no entity less than the Creator of man could alter the genetic system of man. And, unwilling to ascribe to "the Devil" the capability of creation, the Protestant, as is his habit, resorts to mysticism; he argues simply and without further explanation that the "sin nature" and the attendant modification of the genetic system of Adam came into existence.
But the tale of a genetically-transmitted "sin nature" is nonsense and mysticism. The Magic Wand would be a fitting symbol of the Protestant Faith.
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The Scripture has in view four categories of sin:
(1) SIN AS A JUDICIAL IMPUTATION. By a judicial imputation, the sin of Adam is attributed to the progeny of Adam. This imputation of sin corresponds to the judicial imputation in which the righteousness of Christ Jesus is attributed to certain of the progeny of Adam.
(2) SIN AS A PROPENSITY OF THE FLESH. This category of sin is motivated by instincts which, for proper function of the Natural Realm, the Creator has designed and built into creatures of the Realm.
(3) SIN AS AN ACT TRIGGERED BY INSTINCT. This category of sin occurs when (a) unrestrained instinctive action would violate either of the "prime directives" of (i) love toward God and (ii) love toward one's neighbour, AND (b) such action is not restrained.
(4) SIN AS AN ACT PREMEDITATED. This category of sin occurs as a consequence of determined rebellion against the Law of God, apart from instinct. Men given to the commission of sin of this category of sin are of the category "wicked".
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The Creator has given man cognition, volition, and conscience, whereby man may, as necessary, restrain his instinctive responses in order to avoid sin.
RLH
