We are a Christian Fellowship meeting in North London with a strong interest in teaching the Bible and understanding our time in
the light of Bible prophecy
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Original Sin or Yetser hara?
Asher Norman in his book ‘26 Reasons why Jews don’t believe in Jesus’ page 4 says:
· God has given mankind a dual inclination towards good (yetser hatov) and towards evil (yetser hara) and free will to choose between them.
· The solution for the yetser hara is the Torah, a detailed instruction manual towards an ethical and holy life.
· The Christian Bible teaches the non Jewish doctrine of Original Sin.
· This asserts that we are doomed from birth to do wrong and thus be cut off from God.
· Christian theology states that Satan, a fallen angel, has free will, is God’s adversary, promotes evil in the world and has set up a cosmic battle between good and evil.
· Jewish Bible teaches that angels are God’s messengers and have no free will, therefore Satan cannot be God’s adversary.
· God is the source of good and evil in the sense that He allows humans free will meaning they are free to choose evil.
What are the Hebrew words for sin?
· Hebrew has several words for sin, each with its own specific meaning.
· Pesha, or "trespass", means a sin done out of rebelliousness.
· Aveira means "transgression".
· Avone, or "iniquity", means a sin done out of moral failing.
· Chet, the most common word, literally means "to go astray or to miss the mark."
What do we mean by Original Sin?
· Original Sin means that sin had its origin in the events of Genesis 3 – temptation and disobedience to God. Adam and Eve’s transgression has affected the whole human race that has descended from them (the Fall).
· Consequence of this is that the human race does not live in complete harmony / fellowship with God and with creation, that we do not live in a perfect world and that we die. The ‘Seed’ of the woman is promised who will redeem and restore what has been lost in the Fall.
Is Original Sin a non Jewish doctrine?
· Genesis 3 teaches that Adam and Eve fell from being in a condition of fellowship with God in a perfect world (the Garden of Eden) to being driven out of the Garden of Eden.
· The cause was sin / disobedience to God’s command, obedience to the voice of the serpent. Eating the forbidden fruit brought the knowledge of good and evil.
· The result was the curse upon the woman (pain in childbirth) and on the man (hard work in a fallen creation) and death.
· This would affect all their descendants.
· The curse on the serpent (crawling on his belly) also contained a promise of the seed of the woman crushing his head. 1st Messianic prophecy in the Bible.
· Genesis is the book of origins (Bereshit – in the beginning). It tells us the origin of the created universe, the human race, sin, the nations of the world, the chosen people / children of Israel.
Does the Tenach teach the universality of sin?
· If they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin) … 1 Kings 8.46.
· There is none that does good, no not one. Psalm 53.3
· Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Proverbs 20.9
· For there is not a just man on the earth who does good and does not sin. Ecclesiastes 7.20
· All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53.6
· But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64.6.
Does the New Testament teach the universality of sin?
· According to NT, Sin is the universal condition of mankind - Matthew 15.19-20 / Jeremiah 17.9, Romans 3.9-29 - verses used to illustrate this are all taken from the Tenach (OT).
· Messiah came into the world to save sinners (Matthew 1.21, 1 Corinthians 15.3, 1 Timothy 1.15)
The idea of the Tzadik in Judaism.
· Tzadik (Hebrew: tzadik, "righteous one;" pl. tzadikim) is a title which is generally given to those who are considered to be righteous such as a spiritual master or rebbe.
· According to Maimonides 1135-1204 (based on Tractate Yevamot of the Babylonian Talmud, 49b-50a): "One whose merit surpasses his iniquity is a tzadik." On this definition anyone can become a tzadik.
· According to the Tanya (basis of Chabad Philosophy) the true title of tzadik can only be applied to one who not only never sins, but also has eradicated any inclination to do so. On this definition only a tiny number of people can become a tzadik.
· The Talmud states: "A tzadik decrees and the Holy One (blessed be He) fulfills." This is line with the talmudic dictum: Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Judah haNasi used to say: "Make His Will your own will, that He make your will as His Will."
· According to the Baal Shem Tov (Founder of Hassidic Judaism 1698-1760), this ability is attainable for every Jew. It is told that he stated that every Jew has the power to cross a river atop a handkerchief, through connecting with their soul (which is divine in origin).
· According to the Talmud there are 36 just persons alive at any time because of whom the world is not destroyed (lamed vav)
Is this idea biblical?
· The heroes of faith in the Bible all had their moments of failure – some big, some small – but none is completely righteous.
· Abraham – lied concerning Sarah to Pharaoh and Abimelech – Gen 12.10-20.
· Moses - disobeyed the Lord at the waters of Meribah and so did not enter the Promised Land – Numbers 20.7-13.
· David – committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah her husband killed – 2 Samuel 11, Psalm 51.
· The idea of ‘holy men’ with a special connection to God is found in all religions – Catholic saints, Hindu gurus etc.
· The idea of a ‘divine soul’ within is a concept of eastern religions and New Age and is not biblical.
· Those who attain to the status of being a tzadik are considered to become mediators to God which contradicts scripture.
· They are also likely to be filled with pride, the original sin of Satan.
The Bible teaches there is one who is without sin – Yeshua the Messiah who has borne our sins.
· All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53.6.
· Messiah died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried and He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15.3-4.
· For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5.21.
· For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2.8-9.
