Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 161
? argue 154 The Christians that man inherited sin from Adam, but that Jesus had no father and, therefore, did not inherit Adam's sin. Our contention is that a heritage is transmitted from both the parents. If, for instance, the mother is syphilitic, the child is liable to carry the germs of the malady; or if, for instance, the mother is consumptive, the child may be affected by T. B. germs. Many a consumptive mother has been the source of the incidence of T. B. among her offspring. A study of conditions in the world shows that defects, whether moral, or physical or spiritual, existing in the parents, are liable to be transmitted to the children through heredity. It never happens that something may be transmitted through the father but not through the mother. Both the parents are concerned in heredity. When we examine the point from this stand, the conclusion is irresistible that Jesus, even though he had no father, did inherit Adam's sin through his mother. Jesus can be declared free from hereditary sin, if it can be established that he was neither of the generation of Adam nor of Eve. If he was without both a father and a mother, we can certainly concede that he was not tainted with hereditary sin, or, when it is proved that Eve did not sin, Jesus may be deemed to be free from hereditary sin, as, it can then be argued that he was born of Eve who was sinless and not begotten of Adam who was sinful. But the truth is that even so, Jesus has no escape from sin. For, even if it is supposed that