Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
Oh that. Original sin is not about free will. It is being born with the absence of God in one's life. It's like being born without the capacity for flight. I'd like to fly and should be able to, if only God would make me so. So he is withholding his love from me for something I never did -- my ancestors failed to breed for flight.
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The Bible teaches that Adam represented us as a Federal Head (see Romans 5:12-19). Similarly, Jesus is also a Federal Head. The sin of one is imputed to all, just as the sinless perfection of the other is imputed to those who believe on Him.
Folks generally don't like Federal Headship when you talk about Adam, but they'll take Federal Headship from Christ!
Your analogy about flight is good, as far as it can go. There is a difference between free will and ability. The flight analogy points this out very well. We often confuse the two when discussing this subject.
Were it fails is in the assumption that those who are without God in their life (in a saving way) really want to be submitted to Him, but simply can't. I would contend that those who are at enmity with God may want the things He can give them, but they are not really interested in following Christ or being conformed into His image. The Bible teaches clearly that in our natural, fallen state, none of us truly wants God. It takes a gracious, undeserved act from God to wake us up to the desire for Him. This is consistent with Calvinist teaching. God acts first, then we respond after we've been enabled.
In anticipation of the obvious question - why doesn't God just save everyone then? - I suggest Romans 9.
My $0.02