Is every person born sinful? Psalm 51:5 is a popular verse in support of the doctrine of original sin. This video brings context to Psalm 51, drawing from the history of David’s family tree and the circumstances of his conception.
In like manner, God expects us to heed all of what His Word says rather than picking and choosing. To illustrate, this is why we make a mistake if we think that we are saved only by believing in Jesus. This is because while the Bible says that those who believe in Jesus are saved (John 3:16), it also says that those who confess their faith (Romans 10:9-10), repent of their sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Luke 13:3), are baptized (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21) and live obediently (2 Peter 1:5-11) are saved. One must take into account all of what God’s Word says.
This rule also applies to properly understanding what David was talking about in Psalm 51:5. Elsewhere in Scripture God specifically says that we are not born in a sinful state and do not inherit the sins of our ancestors. Ezekiel taught this truth with several illustrations before ending by expressly stating, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:1-20). He later told the king of Tyre, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:15), something which would not have been true if the king had inherited the sins of his ancestors when he was created.
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That’s why David was likely using poetic hyperbole to express the deep anguish over his sin with Bathsheba. He wasn’t saying he was born in original sin because the Bible clearly and specifically teaches the opposite.
Remember, always take everything the Bible says about something to find the whole truth.
Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, briefly discusses a listener submitted question about the spiritual condition of infants…are we born guilty of sin?