Objection: “Judaism does not believe in original sin.”
Dr. Michael L. Brown is founder and president of ICN Ministries, devoted to taking the message of repentance and revival to Israel, the Church, and the Nations. He has preached throughout the United States and in numerous foreign countries, emphasizing radical discipleship, holy living, and the visitation of the Spirit. His books, articles, and messages have been translated into more than a dozen languages. In 1996, he became part of the ministry of the Brownsville Revival, holding weekly sessions for leaders and heading up the revival’s intensive two-year School of Ministry. Dr. Brown is now President of the FIRE School of Ministry located in Charlotte, NC.
As a Jewish believer in Jesus, Dr. Brown is active in Jewish evangelism and has debated rabbis on radio, TV, and college campuses. He is also a published Old Testament and Semitic scholar, holding a Ph.D in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University. In 1997, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Jewish Apologetics at Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission and has been affiliated with Regent University Divinity School as an Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Jewish Studies.
Objection: “Judaism does not believe in original sin.”
Depending on one’s definition of original sin, one may say that Judaism does or does not believe in this teaching. Psalm 51:5, which states, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me,” clearly teaches the inherent sinfulness of man. And, according to some Jewish traditions, all human souls were in Adam when he sinned. Thus, when Adam sinned, the entire human race fell with him.
There can be no question, however, that the Hebrew Bible teaches the universality of sin. Genesis 8:21 says that “every inclination [Hebrew, yetzer] of [man’s] heart is evil from childhood.” And Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” Proverbs 20:9 asks, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?'” And Isaiah 53:6 states that “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” The sinfulness of man is clearly taught throughout the entire Hebrew Bible.
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.