Of Original Sin and the Misery of Man---Don Benedetto

The Holy Scripture says that God created man in His own likeness (Genesis 1:26-27), making man’s body free of suffering or pain, and his soul righteous, true, godly, merciful, and holy. But man, being overcome with a desire for knowledge of good and evil, ate of the fruit that God had forbidden him. As a result, he lost that image and likeness of God and became like unto beasts and the devil that had deceived him (Genesis 3). Therefore, his body became subject unto a thousand evils and infirmities, not only being like the most brute beasts, but also inferior to them, and his soul became unrighteous, deceitful, cruel, ungodly, and the enemy of God. If our first parents had obeyed God, they would have left us an inheritance of righteousness and holiness. But now, because they were disobedient to Him, they have left us an inheritance of unrighteousness, ungodliness, and hatred towards God, making it impossible by our own strength to love God and conform ourselves unto His will.