Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Original sin

Calvin's Institutes

Book Two - The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ

Chapter 1 - By the Fall of Adam the whole human race was delivered to the curse, and degenerated from its original condition; the doctrine of original sin

Sections 8-11 - Original sin as depravity of nature deserving punishment, but not created by nature
Section 8 - The nature of original sin
A corruption of our nature in all parts of us which God justly may punish, even before this nature brings forth sin - Gal 5:19-21.
We are not guilty for Adam's sin: the offense is our own - Rom 5:12.
This nature is "fertile and fruitful of every evil" and "cannot be idle."

Section 9 - Sin overturns the whole man
Not only our flesh, but our minds are overwhelmed with sin.
Rom 3:1-20; Eph 4:23; Rom 12:2; Rom 8:6-7.

Section 10 - Sin is not our nature, but its derangement
If it were in our nature we could accuse God for making us this way.
Ecc 7:29 - "God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices."

Section 11 - Natural corruption of the nature created by God
It isn't part of our essential being, which God made good.
Yet we are by nature children of wrath - Eph 2:3.
God naturally abhors us in this "natural" state.

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