Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.5
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.
This section teaches us, that corruption of nature remains in those that are regenerated, and is commensurate with this life. This condemns the tenet of jChristian ■perfection ; and it is supported by the plainest declarations of Scripture. " If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." — 1 John i. 8. Paul himself says, "Sin dwelleth in me," and affirms, that "when he would do good, evil is present with him." — Rom. vii. 17-21. It has, indeed, been disputed, whether Paul, in that chapter, describes his own feelings, or personates another. We have no doubt that Paul speaks of himself as regenerated, and describes his own state, and consequently the state of every regenerated person; but we do not rest the doctrine upon this single passage, for the confiiet there described is represented in othei places in language which, by common consent, can only be applied to true Christians. We shall only refer to Gal. -v. 17 : "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
* Chahners" Lectures on the Romans, vol. ii,, pp. 22, 23. t Ibid., vol. i., p. 422.
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82 CONFESSION OF FAITH. []CHAP. VT.
This section also a-ffirms tliat, even in the regenerated, this corruption, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin. The guilt of it is, no doubt, removed by the blood of Christ, and the power of it subdued by his Spirit and grace; but, in itself, it retains the character of sin. This is affirmed in opposition to a tenet of the Church of Rome. That universal propensity to sin, which we call the corruption of nature, Roman Catholic writers denominate concupiscence ; and this, they maintain, is no part of original sin, and is not in itself sinful. As they believe that original sin is taken away by baptism, and nevertheless find that this corrupt disposition remains in the regenerated, they conclude that it is no part of original sin, but that it is the natural state in which Adam was made at first ; only, that in us it is without the restraint of supernatural assistance which was given to him, and which, in consequence of his transgression, was withdrawn from him and his posterity. In answer to this, it is argued that lust or concupiscence is, in several places of the New Testament, spoken of as sin; particularly in Rom. vii. 7, Paul declares that "he had not known mi but by the law;" he then gives an instance of this, — "he had not known hist, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Here he expressly asserts that lust is sin.*
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Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
The fall, original sin, and the punishment of sin
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.1
Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.2
By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.3
They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.4
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.5
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.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Section 6.6
Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner; whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.
these Sections teach as to the moral state of man by nature?
47. What are the several points involved in their teaching.
48. Prove that the doctrine here taught agrees with the universal experience of men.
49. State and prove the several points taught in Scripture as to the nature, extent and time of commencement of human depravity.
60. What subjects are treated of in the fifth and sixth Sections?
51. What is taught as to the continuance and character of corruption in the regenerate ?
52. Prove that the innate and permanent tendency of the soul to sin is as truly a violation of God's law as actual transgression.
53. Prove that this "tendency to sin" and actual transgression are alike worthy of punishment.
54. What temporal miseries are inflicted because of sin ?
55. What relation do temporal afflictions sustain to the justified believer ?
66. What spiritual miseries are inflicted because of sin ?
67. What eternal miseries are inflicted on the same account ?