Are All Humans Sinful?
The Concept of Imputed Sin
All men are sinners because of imputed sin. The meaning of imputation is “to ascribe to” or “reckon over.” It is similar to a charge that is added to a credit card account when it is used. When we speak of imputed sin, we are talking about the sin of Adam being charged to our account. Adam was the seminal and the federal head. We were all in Adam when he sinned.
We Carry the Debt from Adam
God is justified in imputing the sin of Adam to our account. By imputation of sin we mean not the arbitrary charging to a man the sin for which he is not naturally responsible, but reckoning to a man the guilt which he deserves and which belongs to him.
Imputation of sin is charged to all because they are connected with the race. Adam was more than our representative. Since we were in Adam, we sinned when he sinned. As a result it was charged against our account. “As by one man sin entered into the world… for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Because of imputation, “Death passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12).
Physical Death
Imputed sin results in physical death. Again Paul restated the truth concerning this penalty: “By one man’s offense death reigned” (Rom. 5:17). The fact that all will die is evidence enough that all have been included in Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12).
Some may argue that this appears unjust of God to judge men for sins committed when they were not personally conscious. This charge may be due to a misunderstanding of imputation. First, Adam’s sin in the garden was a personal sin. Second, it resulted in passing on to all children a depraved sin nature. And third, the penalty of Adam was imputed to everyone.
Christ’s Righteousness Can Be Imputed
God not only imputes the sin of Adam to the race, he offers to do the same with the righteousness of Christ. “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ, our Lord” (Rom. 5:21).
When God imputes the righteousness of Christ to our account, he makes our record as good (or as perfect) as Jesus Christ’s. Imputed righteousness is the only remedy for man’s imputed sin. Therefore we see that for every expression of sin, God has provided a remedy that perfectly satisfies the penalty.
