Original Sin

Summary

Ultimately with R.C. Sproul

Episode: “Original Sin” – May 20, 2026

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Ultimately with R.C. Sproul delves into the doctrine of original sin—its biblical foundation, theological significance, and universal acceptance across Christian denominations. R.C. Sproul unpacks what original sin means, why it affects every human being, and clarifies common misunderstandings about its nature and implications.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Universality of Sin

• Sproul introduces the episode by posing foundational questions:
  • "Why is everybody a sinner? Do we sin because we are sinners or are we sinners because we sin?" [00:00]
• He underscores that death, as a universal human experience, is evidence of humanity’s “taint” by sin:
  • "Death is the result of sin. And the reason why everybody dies is because everybody's tainted by sin." [00:12]

2. The State of Infants and Inherited Sin

• Sproul and the interviewer address the challenging question of infant mortality:
  • Interviewer: "What about babies that die within six weeks after they're born or within six hours? Are they killed for their sins? No, they're not killed for committing actual sin." [00:25]
• Sproul clarifies:
  • "But that child is born in sin. He's born infected and blemished with the fallenness of the race from which he has been brought. The Bible teaches that—we may not like it." [00:34]
• Sproul reemphasizes the universal reality of sin:
  • "We have to account for the fact that everybody in the world sins." [00:57]

3. The Nature and Sequence of Sin

• Sproul revisits a philosophical question:
  • "Do we sin because we are sinners or are we sinners because we sin? ... We sin because we are sinners. Which is to say that every human being has a sin nature, a nature that has fallen. And out of this sin nature flows sins." [01:13 - 01:27]
• Interviewer uses a memorable phrasing:
  • "I am a sinner with a capital S. That's why I am a sinner with a little S." [01:41]

4. The Widespread Belief in Original Sin

• The doctrine of original sin, though under attack today, is broadly affirmed:
  • Sproul: "The idea of some notion of original sin is part of the heritage of every single church in the World Council of Churches." [01:58]
• The interviewer lists main Christian traditions—Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist—that all uphold some doctrine of original sin, albeit with debate over its extent and man's natural powers. [02:10 - 02:31]
• Sproul affirms:
  • "Everyone recognizes that man has fallen." [02:34]

5. What Original Sin Really Means

• The conversation clarifies a common misconception:
  • "When we talk about original sin, we do not mean the first sin." [02:40]
  • "Original sin is not the first sin that was ever committed." [02:49]
  • "Original sin refers to the result of the first sin. ... This fallen sin nature is part of the punishment for the first sin." [02:56]
• Adam and Eve acted as representatives:
  • "When Adam and Eve acted against God, they didn't act as private individuals." [03:10]
  • Their names themselves, Adam ("man") and Eve ("woman, mother of the living"), underscore their representative roles for all humanity. [03:20 - 03:25]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• R.C. Sproul [00:00]:
  "Why is everybody a sinner? Do we sin because we are sinners or are we sinners because we sin? Death is the result of sin. And the reason why everybody dies is because everybody's tainted by sin."

• R.C. Sproul [00:34]:
  "But that child is born in sin. He's born infected and blemished with the fallenness of the race from which he has been brought. The Bible teaches that—we may not like it."

• R.C. Sproul [01:27]:
  "We sin because we are sinners. Which is to say that every human being has a sin nature, a nature that has fallen. And out of this sin nature flows sins."

• Interviewer [01:41]:
  "I am a sinner with a capital S. That's why I am a sinner with a little S."

• R.C. Sproul [01:58]:
  "The idea of some notion of original sin is part of the heritage of every single church in the World Council of Churches."

• R.C. Sproul [02:56]:
  "Original sin refers to the result of the first sin. What original sin refers to is this fallen sin nature that is part of the punishment for the first sin."

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:00] – Opening questions: The root of human sin
• [00:25] – Questioning infant sinfulness and mortality
• [00:57] – Observing the universality of human sin
• [01:13] – Explaining why we sin (nature vs. action)
• [01:41] – “Capital S” and “little s” sinner analogy
• [01:58 - 02:31] – Discussion of original sin across denominations
• [02:40 - 02:56] – Clarifying the definition of original sin
• [03:10 - 03:25] – Adam and Eve as representatives of humanity

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Conclusion

Sproul’s teaching in this episode offers a foundational understanding of original sin—its biblical basis, universality, and theological clarity. By emphasizing the inherited nature of sin and salvation’s necessity, he invites listeners to grapple with essential Christian doctrine, using direct language, accessible analogies, and references to the shared beliefs of major Christian denominations. This episode serves as a succinct yet rich primer on why original sin matters—ultimately.

Transcript

[R.C. Sproul]

Why is everybody a sinner? Do we sin because we are sinners or are we sinners because we sin? Death is the result of sin. And the reason why everybody dies is because everybody's tainted by sin.

[Interviewer]

You say, wait a minute. What about babies that die within six weeks after they're born or within six hours after they're born? Are they killed for their sins? No, they're not killed for committing actual sin.

[R.C. Sproul]

But that child is born in sin. He's born infected and blemished with the fallenness of the race from which he has been brought. The Bible teaches that we may not like it.

[Interviewer]

And some of the natural historians and philosophers say, well, all this is is nothing but a myth or a fable or parable.

[R.C. Sproul]

But again, we have to account for the fact that everybody in the world sins. Why is it that everybody sins? Why is everybody a sinner? Do we sin because we are sinners or are we sinners because we sin? We sin because we are sinners. Which is to say that every human being has a sin nature, A nature that has fallen. And out of this sin nature flows sins.

[Interviewer]

I am a sinner with a capital S. That's why I am a sinner with a little S.

[R.C. Sproul]

Now, where people

[Interviewer]

get confused is that people will ask me often, do you believe in original sin? Well, of course I believe in original sin. And I just might add, even though that concept is under much attack today,

[R.C. Sproul]

the idea of some notion of original sin is part of the heritage of every single church in the World Council of Churches.

[Interviewer]

Roman Catholic Church has a doctrine of original sin. The Lutheran Church has a doctrine of original sin. The Presbyterian churches have a doctrine of original sin. Episcopalian Church has a doctrine of original sin. Methodist Church, Baptist Church, you name it, they all have some doctrine of original sin. Now, they may debate about the extent

[R.C. Sproul]

of man's fallenness and what remains in

[Interviewer]

terms of man's natural powers, but everyone

[R.C. Sproul]

recognizes that man has fallen.

[Interviewer]

Now, when we talk about original sin,

[R.C. Sproul]

we do not mean the first sin.

[Interviewer]

That's where people get confused.

[R.C. Sproul]

Original sin is not the original sin

[Interviewer]

or the first sin that was ever committed.

[R.C. Sproul]

Original sin refers to the result of the first sin. What original sin refers to is this fallen sin nature that is part of the punishment for the first sin. When Adam and Eve acted against God, they didn't act as private individuals.

[Interviewer]

Adam's very name, Adam, means what

[R.C. Sproul]

Man, Eve, woman, the mother of the living. These two stood as our supreme representatives before Almighty God.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you for listening. Ultimately, with RC Sproul, is just one of many podcasts produced by Ligonier Ministries. Check the show notes to find others you might enjoy, or search for Ligonier Ministries in your favorite podcast.

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Apparently SA.