Sin nature inherited; personal guilt only for one's own sins
Churches of Christ reject the Augustinian doctrine of inherited guilt — the teaching that all humans are held legally guilty for Adam's sin before they personally sin. Rather, each person is responsible for their own moral choices; infants are not guilty and do not need baptism for salvation. Humans do inherit a weakened, corrupted nature that makes sin natural and virtually universal, but guilt is incurred only through one's own acts of transgression.
This rejection of inherited guilt is the scriptural basis for Churches of Christ's rejection of infant baptism. Children are innocent until they reach an age of accountability. The universal human experience of sin is explained by the inherited weakness of nature combined with the influence of a sinful environment, not by Adamic guilt imputed to individuals.
Key Distinctions
- Doctrine type:
- no inherited guilt — children born pure; each person sins for himself
- Free will effect:
- will capable of responding to the gospel; no total depravity
- Infant guilt:
- infants are innocent; no infant baptism practiced
Scripture References
Sources
- Alexander Campbell, The Christian System (1839)
- David Lipscomb, Salvation from Sin (1913)