The doctrine known as “original sin” is an historic Christian doctrine affirming that Adam’s guilt is imputed to all of his posterity. That is to say, man is born under present condemnation, not for his future transgressions but for the imputed sin of his head, Adam. This doctrine is affirmed by several historic Baptist confessions of faith (see chart below). The first edition of the Baptist Faith & Message (1925) also affirms the doctrine:
He was created in a state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
The revision of the 1925 BF&M in 1963 deviates from its preceding document and subsequently denies the historic Baptist doctrine known as original sin. The 1963 BF&M states:
Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under condemnation.
The revision to the 1963 BF&M, the 2000 BF&M, maintains the denial of the doctrine of original sin by stating that man is only under condemnation after becoming capable of moral action and becoming actual transgressors.
I have created a chart of the historic Baptist confessions that affirm original sin and the eventual denial by the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message.
