RE: The wrong horse in evolution education

Thanks Peter for your response. I won't comment much on your comments, but
will continue to give them some thought.

I will just say that I fully agree with you that "sin" can't be inherited
(i.e. the actual guilt or condition of sinfulness itself). For instance, I
don't believe that a baby who dies without baptism is going to hell because
of "Adam's sin." We are sinners because we consciously commit sin. But I
believe the Bible would have us understand that the consequences of Adam's
sin (including death) and the nature of it (sinful nature) WAS inherited
from Adam down to all present mankind.

[1 Cor 15:22] For as in Adam **all** die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive.
[Rom 5:14] Nevertheless, **death reigned from Adam** to Moses, even over
them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who
is the figure of him that was to come.
-->I don't believe that this can be taken to say that there were those
before Adam who were guilty of sin, because two verses before it says:
[Rom 5:12] 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;
--> and later verses state:
[Rom 5:16] ...it was by one that sinned...
[Rom 5:17] For if by one man's offense death reigned by one...
[Rom 5:18] Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation...
[Rom 5:19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners...
--> If the "one man" isn't Adam, I don't know who it was. Paul seems
clearly to be making that assertion here.
--> And the "law" referred to in Rom 5:13,20, to me clearly refers to the
Law of Moses not some law at or before Adam's time, since Moses is
referenced in vs. 14, and "the Law" was referencing the 1st century "hot
topic" of law versus grace.

Also just a comment on the tree of life: I guess this is a view I hold that
perhaps not many others do. Genesis says there were two special trees
created in the midst of the garden, but God commanded them not to eat of one
(tree of knowledge of good and evil). I realize it's an inference to say
that they therefore DID eat of the tree of life, but why not? God said they
could eat of *every* tree except that other one. Just something to think
about.

Jon Tandy
 

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Peter Ruest
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 9:33 AM
To: Jon Tandy
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: RE: The wrong horse in evolution education

Hi Jon,

in my answers to Dick Fischer and Jack Syme, I have dealt with most of the
problems you address below. So I'll just intersperse a few more comments:
Received on Tue Apr 4 01:04:21 2006