The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum New here...God's Sovereignty

Zoe,

I'm afraid your exegesis of this passage must be found wanting at best. Paul was speaking of the "creation", i.e., the non-human part of the creation which was apart from Adam. For "it" was made subject to vanity due to the transgression of Adam, who was held responsible for not only the fall of all mankind, but of the entire created world.

What is troubling with your supposition is that the Scriptures speak of Christ as the "second Adam" Who accomplished the restoration of what the first Adam brought into ruin. If Adam was not responsible, then Christ likewise is not responsible for redemption through His voluntary act of atonement. Throw out Adam's responsibility and accountability and you of necessity destroy the entire plan of salvation. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Eeeeeek.gif" alt="" />

Lastly, a similar criticism could be made against your erroneous use of the term, "soulish and flesh". There is nothing in the phrase that could be construed as meaning, "without responsibility".

The biblical teaching is BOTH, God's immutable and indisputable sovereignty AND man's full responsibility. The common error is to either diminish or even deny God's sovereignty in both power and especially authority. But you are erring to the other extreme and denying man's responsibility, from which people could indeed be justified in accusing you of making God the author of sin. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nono.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,