1689 6.5

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

The corruption of nature, during this Life, doth remain in those that are regenerated: and although it be through Christ pardoned, and mortified, yet both it self, and the first motions thereof, are truely and properly Sin.

Proof texts

• Romans 7:18, 23 — [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
• Ecclesiastes 7:20 — [20] Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
• 1 John 1:8 — [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• Romans 7:23-25 — [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
• Galatians 5:17 — [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Romans 7:18, 23 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 5 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