Original sin means that sinfulness marks everyone from birth in the form of a heart inclined towards sin. Prior to any actual sins, this inner sinfulness is the root and source of all actual sinning. It is transmitted to us from Adam, our first representative before God. The doctrine of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners! No part of us is untouched by sin. No action of ours is as good as it should be. We cannot earn God's favor no matter what we do. And unless God's grace saves us, we remain lost.