Monday

Day 17: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment thereof, part 1

Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment thereof, part 1

Shorter Catechism Q. 14. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.[b]

[b] 1 John 3:4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Larger Catechism Q. 24. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.[v]

[v] 1 John 3:4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Galatians 3:10, 12.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. ver.12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Shorter Catechism Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.[a]

[a] Genesis 3:6-8, 13. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. ver.7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ver.8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. ver.13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Ecclesiastes 7:29
Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.[c]

[c] Genesis 3:6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. . ver.12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.



Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter VI
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the Punishment thereof
I. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptations of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit.[a] This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.[b]

[a] Genesis 3:13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

[b] Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.



Shorter Catechism Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.[d]

[d] Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ver.17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Larger Catechism Q. 22. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation,[r] sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression.[s]

[r] Acts 17:26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

[s] Genesis 2:16-17. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Compared with Romans 5:12-20.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ver.15 For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, ver.16 for the judgment was by one to condemnation, ver.17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more -- ver.18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so -- ver.19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience --
And with 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ver.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.



Shorter Catechism Q. 17: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery [e]

[e] Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Larger Catechism Q. 23. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.[t]

[t] Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Romans 3:23.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.



End Lesson, Day 17



For Further Study:

CHAP. VI. - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof - Gordon Clark, commentary on the Confession (audio)

Resources from Matthew Henry, John Flavel, Thomas Watson, and other Puritans on the following questions:

Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 14: What is Sin?

WSC Question 15: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

Question 16: Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

Question 17: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?



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