Reformed theology or Calvinism states “non-elect” little children and even babies end up burning in hell for eternity because of the doctrine of Original Sin. This false doctrine as explained by Reformed theology creates a cruel God who declares all unborn babies as sinners and demands justice before they even took the first breath. We previously refuted Original Sin in another post, but this post will focus on other doctrines that fall apart and how the entire reformed theology built upon it will crumble.
Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin alone. (Deuteronomy 24:16)
Below is a tabulation of how Calvinism collapses without the foundation of Original Sin.
| Doctrine | Dependency on Previous Doctrine | Refuting Verses |
|---|---|---|
| Imputed Guilt | Depends on Original Sin & Covenant of Works as the legal basis for imputation. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) | Ezekiel 18:4–20; Deuteronomy 24:16 (emphasize individual responsibility) |
| Total Depravity | Depends on Imputed Guilt & Original Sin to ground pervasive corruption. As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (Ephesians 2:1) | Deuteronomy 30:19 (God sets life/choice before people; appeals to human responsibility). |
| Bondage of the Will | Depends on Total Depravity to show moral inability. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8) | Revelation 3:20 (Christ knocks; “if anyone… opens the door” used to argue for genuine human response). |
| Unconditional Election | Depends on Bondage of the Will & Moral Inability to justify God’s sovereign choice. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:4-5) (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” (Romans 9:11-12) | Deuteronomy 30:19; Ezekiel 18 (texts appealed to for human responsibility and choice). |
| Moral Inability | Depends on Total Depravity & Imputed Guilt to show spiritual deadness. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14) | Revelation 3:20; Deuteronomy 30:19 (invitation + choice language). |
| Effectual Calling | Depends on Unconditional Election & Moral Inability for necessity. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:30) | Acts 7:51; Revelation 3:20 (calls to repent and the possibility of resisting). |
| Irresistible Grace | Depends on Effectual Calling & Bondage of the Will to explain why grace must be effectual. 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) | Acts 7:51; Hebrews 6:4–6 (texts used in debates about human response and warnings). |
| Monergistic Regeneration | Depends on Total Depravity & Irresistible Grace to make regeneration God’s sole act. not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5) | Revelation 3:20; Deuteronomy 30:19 (appeals to human opening/choice). |
| Justification by Faith Alone | Depends on Monergistic Regeneration / Imputed Righteousness to explain forensic acquittal. knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16) | Ezekiel 18; Deuteronomy 30 (texts appealed to for personal responsibility and covenant obedience). |
| Adoption | Depends on Justification and Regeneration (God’s act that makes sinners children). For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:15-17) | Revelation 3:20; Ezekiel 18 (calls to personal repentance and relationship). |
| Perseverance of the Saints | Depends on Irresistible Grace & Monergistic Regeneration for divine preservation. being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (Philippians 1:6) | Hebrews 6:4–6; Acts 7:51 (warning passages and human resistance used in debates). |
| Glorification | Depends on Perseverance & Sanctification as the culmination of God’s saving work. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:30) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52) | Ezekiel 18; Deuteronomy 30 (emphasis on individual turning and covenantal life). |
Foundational Doctrines for Original Sin
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalms 51:5)
While above verses refers to David’s mother Tamar and how he is the 10th generation for which he cannot even enter the assembly of God – Which is often misquoted, the foundation of Original Sin in Calvinism is not based on a few verses but other foundational doctrines in Calvinism.
| Doctrine | Explanation | Verse References |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Headship | Adam acted as the covenant representative of all humanity. His disobedience in the Garden of Eden is legally counted as the sin of all his descendants, making them guilty before God. | Romans 5:12–21; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 |
| Imputation of Adam’s Guilt | God legally credits Adam’s sin to every individual, resulting in universal guilt and condemnation. This is a judicial act, not merely inherited corruption. | Romans 5:12–19 |
| Covenant Theology (Covenant of Works) | God established a covenant with Adam in the Garden of Eden, where perfect obedience would result in eternal life, but disobedience (sin) brought death and curse upon all humanity. | Romans 5:12–21; Galatians 3:10–12 |
As we can see in the above tabulation, all the foundational doctrines of Calvinism are just based on Paul’s letters, primarily the book of Romans.
The General Protestant Reformation View on Scripture is Truthful in its Purpose. The Bible is entirely trustworthy and will not fail in its purpose of revealing the Gospel and guiding the church. There is nothing wrong with this statement during reformation which makes Scripture’s authority to be above popes, church councils, and human traditions.
Calvinism or Reformed Theology, went after strict infallibility and inerrant not just in matters of faith but on everything. This made Paul’s letters in the Bible elevated to be infallibility and inerrant and have absolute authority, so that their doctrine will stand by trampling even the teachings of Jesus Christ by creating a cruel God who will burn “non-elect” babies in hell for eternity.
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)
If we strictly follow Christ and His teachings or remove the false doctrine of Original Sin, the entire Calvinism or Reformed Theology is a house of cards.
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Conclusion
The doctrine of Original Sin is the load-bearing pillar of Calvinism; without it, the entire Reformed theological framework inevitably collapses. Stripping away this false premise exposes the system as a “house of cards” that maligns God’s character by condemning innocent infants to eternal fire. This rigid theology elevates Paul’s letters even above the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to create their doctrinal framework. We must remember that Jesus explicitly declared the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children, directly contradicting the Calvinist view of total depravity. It is time to let this unscriptural structure fall so we can fully embrace the true, just, and loving Father revealed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
