CD 3.19

3.19. Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine, Rejection of Errors 2

That the spiritual gifts or the good qualities and virtues, such as goodness, holiness, righteousness, could not belong to the will of man when he was first created, and that these, therefore, could not have been separated therefrom in the fall. For such is contrary to the description of the image of God which the apostle gives in Ephesians 4:24, where he declares that it consists in righteousness and holiness, which undoubtedly belong to the will.

Proof texts

• Eph. 4:24 — [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Eph. 4:24 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
3. WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WCF 9.1 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · 1689 9.1 · 1689 9.2 · 1689 9.3 · 1689 9.4 · 1689 9.5 · 1689 10.1 · 1689 10.2 · 1689 10.3 · 1689 10.4