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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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elect." Thus he developed his doctrine of<br />

predestination. This again was a distortion of truth<br />

but was complementary to his idea of "original<br />

sin."<br />

Pelagius opposed Augustine. But as happens so<br />

often, he apparently went to another extreme,<br />

giving an unacceptable alternative. He is<br />

understood to have said that Adam's descendants<br />

inherit neither guilt nor weakness from him, but<br />

that every child starts off on an equal footing with<br />

the sinless Adam. This of course is not true, "for in<br />

Adam all die."<br />

Neither Augustine or (it seems) Pelagius<br />

correctly understood the relationship of Christ "the<br />

second Adam" to our genetic inheritance from our<br />

first father. Everyone, including every baby,<br />

desperately needs a Saviour and none can live apart<br />

from sin, without Him. A miraculous new birth is<br />

needed by everyone. But through faith in Him<br />

"every man" may overcome "even as [Christ]<br />

overcame" (Revelation 3:21). Thus "we need not<br />

retain one sinful propensity" (7BC 943).<br />

136

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