WCF 6.5

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

This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, through Christ, pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin.

Proof texts

• 1 John 1:8, 10 — [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
• Rom. 7:14, 17, 18, 23 — [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [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.
• James 3:2 — [2] For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
• Prov. 20:9 — [9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
• Eccles. 7:20
• Rom. 7:5, 7, 8, 25 — [5] For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. [7] What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” [8] But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. [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.
• Gal. 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 1 John 1:8, 10 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 7 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. WSC Q17 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q13 · WSC Q17 · WSC Q19 · WLC Q21 · WLC Q27 · HC Q3 · BC 4.1 · BC 4.2 · 1689 6.1 · 1689 6.2 · 1689 6.3 · 1689 6.4 · 1689 6.5 · SC60 2.2 · IAR 4.5 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4 · SD 6.1