1689 6.3

6.3. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof

They being the root, and by Gods appointment, standing in the room, and stead of all mankind; the guilt of the Sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in Sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of Sin, the subjects of death and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.

Proof texts

• Romans 5:12-19 — [12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned — [13] for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. [14] Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. [15] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
• 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49 — [21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. [45] Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. [49] Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
• Psalms 51:5 — [5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• Job 14:4 — [4] Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
• Ephesians 2:3 — [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
• Romans 6:20 — [20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
• Romans 5:12 — [12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned —
• Hebrews 2:14, 15 — [14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:10 — [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Romans 5:12-19 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 9 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q13 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q21 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q13 · WLC Q21 · WCF 6.1 · HC Q3 · BC 4.1 · BC 4.2 · SD 6.1