Chapter 6, Paragraph 1: Summary
This paragraph teaches that humanity was originally created in a state of innocence, free from sin, and fully able to obey God’s commands. Adam and Eve were made upright and in God’s image, endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. They had fellowship with God and the ability to live in perfect obedience to His will.
However, this paragraph acknowledges that this original state of innocence was not immutable (unchangeable). Humanity had the freedom to choose, and this freedom made them capable of falling into sin, which eventually happened through the disobedience of Adam and Eve.
Historical Context
This teaching reflects the biblical account of creation and humanity’s original state before the fall (Genesis 1-3). It was also framed in opposition to Pelagianism, which denied the impact of Adam’s fall on humanity and suggested that people could choose righteousness without divine grace. The Reformers emphasized the goodness of humanity’s original state and the tragic consequences of the fall, which brought sin and corruption to all people.
Key Biblical References
- Genesis 1:26-27: Humanity was created in God’s image, reflecting His holiness and righteousness.
- Ecclesiastes 7:29: God made humanity upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
- Genesis 2:16-17: God gave Adam a command with the possibility of disobedience, demonstrating humanity’s free will.
- Genesis 3:6-7: The account of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, leading to the fall.
- Romans 5:12: Sin entered the world through one man, resulting in death for all.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 1 teaches that humanity was originally created in a state of innocence, with knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Adam and Eve had the freedom to obey or disobey God, and their original state was capable of being lost. This doctrine highlights the goodness of God’s creation and the tragic potential for disobedience, setting the stage for understanding the fall and its consequences.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 2: Summary
This paragraph explains the fall of humanity into sin. It teaches that Adam and Eve, the first humans, sinned by disobeying God’s command in the Garden of Eden. This act of rebellion, instigated by Satan’s temptation, caused them to lose their original righteousness and fellowship with God. Their sin resulted in separation from God, spiritual death, and the corruption of their nature.
The paragraph emphasizes that this fall was not forced upon them by God but was a result of their own free choice. Adam and Eve’s disobedience was the willful act that brought sin into the world.
Historical Context
This doctrine counters views like Pelagianism, which denied the seriousness of the fall and its effects on humanity. The Reformers emphasized the catastrophic consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, affirming the biblical teaching that their sin introduced death and corruption into the world. This understanding of the fall is foundational to the doctrines of sin, grace, and salvation, which are central to Reformed theology.
Key Biblical References
- Genesis 3:1-6: The account of Adam and Eve’s temptation and disobedience, leading to the fall.
- Romans 5:12: Sin entered the world through one man, and death spread to all because all sinned.
- Ecclesiastes 7:29: God made humanity upright, but they pursued their own schemes.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3: Paul references the serpent’s deception of Eve, highlighting the origin of sin.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 2 teaches that Adam and Eve, through their free choice, disobeyed God and fell into sin. This act of rebellion brought corruption, spiritual death, and separation from God into the world. The fall, though instigated by Satan’s temptation, was ultimately the result of humanity’s own decision to turn away from God. This doctrine underscores the severity of the fall and its foundational place in understanding the need for redemption.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 3: Summary
This paragraph teaches that the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin were not limited to themselves but affected all humanity. Adam acted as the representative of the human race, so his guilt and corrupted nature were passed on to all his descendants. This is known as the doctrine of original sin. As a result, every human being is born in a state of sin, lacking the original righteousness Adam and Eve had before the fall.
This inherited corruption affects the whole person—mind, will, and emotions—making humans naturally inclined toward sin and unable to please God on their own. The paragraph emphasizes that this sinful nature is universal, leaving no one exempt from the effects of the fall.
Historical Context
The doctrine of original sin was central to the Reformation, countering Pelagianism, which denied that Adam’s sin was passed on to his descendants. The Reformers, following Augustine and Paul’s teachings, emphasized that humanity’s fallen state makes divine grace necessary for salvation. This doctrine highlights the depth of human sinfulness and the need for God’s redeeming work in Christ.
Key Biblical References
- Romans 5:12-19: Through one man’s sin, death came to all, but through one man’s righteousness (Christ), grace abounds to many.
- Psalm 51:5: David acknowledges that he was sinful from birth, reflecting the universality of original sin.
- Ephesians 2:1-3: Humans are born spiritually dead in sin and are by nature children of wrath.
- Genesis 6:5: The thoughts and inclinations of the human heart are described as continually evil.
- 1 Corinthians 15:21-22: In Adam all die, but in Christ all will be made alive.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 3 teaches that Adam’s sin and its consequences—guilt and a corrupt nature—were passed on to all his descendants. This inherited corruption, known as original sin, makes all humans naturally inclined toward sin and unable to please God. The doctrine underscores the universality of human sinfulness and the necessity of divine grace for salvation, reflecting the Reformers’ biblical understanding of humanity’s fallen condition.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 4: Summary
This paragraph explains the depth of human corruption resulting from the fall. It teaches that, due to original sin, humanity is entirely defiled in every part—mind, will, emotions, and body. This total corruption means that every aspect of human nature is tainted by sin, rendering people naturally opposed to God and His law. As a result, humans are incapable of doing anything truly good in God’s sight or of saving themselves.
This state of total depravity does not mean that humans are as sinful as they could possibly be but that sin affects every part of their being, leaving them spiritually dead and unable to seek God apart from His grace.
Historical Context
This teaching reflects the Reformation’s emphasis on the doctrine of total depravity, countering Pelagian and semi-Pelagian views that suggested human nature retained the ability to choose righteousness apart from divine grace. The Reformers, influenced by Augustine, affirmed that sin so thoroughly corrupts humanity that salvation must be entirely the work of God’s grace.
Key Biblical References
- Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
- Romans 3:10-18: No one is righteous or seeks God; all have turned away and become worthless.
- Ephesians 2:1-3: Humans are dead in their trespasses and sins, following the desires of the flesh.
- Genesis 6:5: Every intention of the human heart was only evil continually.
- Isaiah 64:6: Even righteous acts are like filthy rags in God’s sight.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 4 teaches that humanity is entirely corrupted by sin, with every part of their nature—mind, will, emotions, and body—affected. This total depravity makes people naturally opposed to God and incapable of doing good or saving themselves. This doctrine underscores the necessity of divine grace for salvation, reflecting the Reformers’ biblical understanding of humanity’s fallen condition and total dependence on God’s mercy.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 5: Summary
This paragraph teaches that the corruption of humanity resulting from the fall leads to the production of actual sins. It explains that the sinful nature inherited from Adam inclines people to commit sinful acts, both in thought and deed. These sins arise from the corrupted heart and are violations of God’s holy law, bringing further guilt and condemnation upon the sinner.
The paragraph highlights the connection between humanity’s sinful nature (original sin) and the individual acts of sin that flow from it (actual sins). This explains why all people, even apart from external influences, naturally choose sin, revealing the depth of their fallen condition.
Historical Context
This teaching was developed to affirm the universality of sin in both nature and action. During the Reformation, the Reformers rejected ideas that minimized human sinfulness, such as Pelagianism, which argued that individuals could live sinless lives through their own effort. This paragraph builds on the biblical understanding that sinful actions are not external impositions but arise from humanity’s inner corruption.
Key Biblical References
- Matthew 15:19: Jesus teaches that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and other sins come from the heart.
- Romans 3:23: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- James 1:14-15: Each person is tempted by their own desire, which gives birth to sin and leads to death.
- Galatians 5:19-21: The works of the flesh include various sinful actions stemming from human nature.
- Genesis 6:5: Every inclination of the human heart is only evil continually.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 5 teaches that the corrupt nature inherited from Adam leads to actual sins in thought, word, and deed. These sinful acts flow naturally from humanity’s fallen condition, revealing the depth of human depravity and increasing guilt before God. This doctrine affirms the universality of sin in both nature and action, emphasizing the need for divine grace to address not only humanity’s sinful acts but also its corrupt heart.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 6: Summary
This paragraph teaches that the guilt and corruption resulting from Adam’s sin remain in every person after birth, making all humanity deserving of God’s wrath and condemnation. Even after conversion, the sinful nature (original corruption) remains in believers, though it is weakened and subdued by God’s grace. This ongoing struggle with sin explains why even Christians continue to commit sins during their lives.
However, the paragraph assures believers that God’s grace in Christ provides forgiveness for their sins and ultimately overcomes their sinful nature. While the remnants of sin persist, they no longer reign over the believer, and the work of sanctification continues until sin is completely eradicated in glory.
Historical Context
This teaching builds on the Reformers’ doctrine of total depravity and highlights the ongoing effects of sin, even in the lives of believers. It counters perfectionist views, which claim that Christians can achieve complete freedom from sin in this life, and emphasizes the reality of the believer’s struggle with sin. The Reformers taught that sanctification is a gradual process, with victory over sin assured through God’s grace.
Key Biblical References
- Romans 7:18-25: Paul describes the struggle between the sinful nature and the desire to do good, affirming the believer’s ongoing battle with sin.
- 1 John 1:8-10: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves; confession brings forgiveness.
- Galatians 5:17: The desires of the flesh are opposed to the Spirit, describing the ongoing conflict in believers.
- Romans 6:12-14: Sin no longer reigns over believers, though it remains a reality in their lives.
- Philippians 1:6: God, who began a good work in believers, will bring it to completion in the day of Christ.
Summary
Chapter 6, paragraph 6 teaches that humanity’s guilt and corruption remain in everyone after the fall, making all deserving of God’s judgment. Even believers continue to struggle with the remnants of their sinful nature after conversion. However, God’s grace in Christ ensures forgiveness and sanctification, ultimately leading to victory over sin. This doctrine acknowledges the ongoing reality of sin in the Christian life while offering the hope of complete deliverance through God’s work of grace.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 