The Need for Salvation
The Fall of Man
Sin Entered Through Adam
Description
The doctrine of salvation begins with understanding why salvation is necessary. In Adam, all humanity fell from original righteousness into sin and misery. By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. The fall was not merely a bad example but a federal headship—Adam represented all his posterity, and when he sinned, we sinned in him. The result is total depravity: not that humans are as bad as possible, but that every faculty—mind, will, emotions, body—is corrupted by sin. We are by nature children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins, unable to save ourselves or even desire salvation apart from grace.
Key Verses
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world... and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.