While scrolling through the religious channels on television one can often find "infant baptism services." There are so many denominations who teach that an infant needs to be baptized because they are born in sin. This idea is often referred to as "Total Inherited Depravity." It is the very first tenant of Calvinism, a doctrine that affects almost every denomination in some form or another. The doctrine of "Total Inherited Depravity" put simply states that the sins of Adam are passed from generation to generation. It states that a child is born a sinner apart from any actions of his own.

This idea was systemized by the followers of a man named John Calvin. He rose up in 1536 in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, being disgusted by "salvation by works". The concept that children are born in sin, however, is much older than John Calvin. It was an idea that was even prominent among the children of Israel! God comes to Ezekiel and says, "What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge?" (Ezek. 18:2). The Lord continues by saying, "As I live, says the Lord God, you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel." (verse 3). It is already evident that God was displeased with the children of Israel for going along with this idea.

In the remainder of Ezekiel 18, the Lord expounds upon why this proverb is false and should not be uttered. The Lord said, "... the soul that sins shall die. But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right... if he has walked in My statutes and kept My judgments faithfully--He is just; he shall surely live!" (verses 4,5,9). God sets forth here that one stands condemned to die not because of his physical birth, but rather due to his disobedience to His will. In verses 10-14, the Lord says that if the righteous father has a son who goes against His will, then the son "shall surely die, his blood shall be upon him." Next, God says that if that wicked son has a son who "has executed My judgments, and walked in My statutes--He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live!" (verse 17). A child is not responsible for the sins of his father, nor is a father responsible for the sins of his son. Each one is responsible for his own actions.

If children are born in sin, then why would the scriptures use children to symbolize Christians so often? It seems like the scriptures would do the opposite! What is found throughout the New Testament is the idea that Christians are like "little children." 1 John 5:2 says, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." This description of Christians is used repeatedly in God's word. Jesus even used it Himself when he said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Mark 10:14-15). Little children are not born in sin, but rather are innocent and pure before God.

How then is the spiritual death that was brought into this world by Adam passed upon all men? Paul makes the answer to this clear by saying, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..." (Romans 5:12). Spiritual death does not pass upon men through birth, but is rather passed upon men through sin. Man does not stand condemned before God because of Adam's sins but because of his own sins.

The Lord sums it all up by saying, "The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (Ex. 18:20). How much plainer could the Lord say that a child is not born in sin?