The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
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