WCF 6- The Fall, Its Effects, Punishment and A Glorious Amazing Work of Grace

WCF 6- The Fall, Its Effects, Punishment and A Glorious Amazing Work of Grace

Chapter 6:
Of the Fall of Man,
of Sin, and
of the Punishment Thereof

6:1 Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit (Gen_3:13; 2Co_11:3). This their sin God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory (Rom_11:32).

6:2 By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God (Gen_3:6-8; Ecc_7:29; Rom_3:23), and so became dead in sin (Gen_2:17; Eph_2:1), and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body (Gen_6:5; Jer_17:9; Rom_3:10-19; Tit_1:15).

6:3 They being the root of all mankind (Gen_1:27, Gen_1:28; Gen_2:16, Gen_2:17; Act_17:26; Rom_5:12, Rom_5:15-19; 1Co_15:21, 1Co_15:22, 1Co_15:45, 1Co_15:49), 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 (Gen_5:3; Job_14:4; Job_15:14; Psa_51:5).

6:4 From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good (Rom_5:6; Rom_7:18; Rom_8:7; Col_1:21), and wholly inclined to all evil (Gen_6:5; Gen_8:21; Rom_3:10-12), do proceed all actual transgressions (Mat_15:19; Eph_2:2, Eph_2:3; Jam_1:14, Jam_1:15).

6:5 This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated (Pro_20:9; Ecc_7:20; Rom_7:14, Rom_7:17, Rom_7:18, Rom_7:23; Jam_3:2; 1Jo_1:8, 1Jo_1:10); and although it be, through Christ, pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin (Rom_7:5, Rom_7:7, Rom_7:8, Rom_7:25; Gal_5:17).

6:6 Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto (1Jo_3:4), doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner (Rom_2:15; Rom_3:9, Rom_3:19); whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God (Eph_2:3), and curse of the law (Gal_3:10), and so made subject to death (Rom_6:23), with all miseries spiritual (Eph_4:18), temporal (Lam_3:39; Rom_8:20), and eternal (Mat_25:41; 2Th_1:9).

Summary statements we are taught:

A. The Human Race Stems From 2 People. (WCF 6.1)

B. The Record Of Genesis 3 Is Historical And Not Symbolical Nor Mythological. (WCF 6.1)

C. The First Sin Was Forordained. (WCF 6.1)

D. Because Of The Sin Of Our First Parents:

1. Mankind Lost Communion With God (WCF 6.2)

2. Mankind Came Under The Wrath And Curse Of God (WCF 6.2)

3. Mankind Became Totally Depraved (WCF 6.2)

E. We Are Told Why We Are Totally Depraved (WCF 6.3)

F. We Are Instructed How Actual Transgressions Are The Effect Of This Condition (WCF 6.3)

G. The Depravity Of Mankind Remain In Them For Life (WCF 6.4)

H. Depravity And Sin Is Pardoned By Christ (WCF 6.4)

I. The Corrupt Nature Of Man As Well As His Actual Sins Bring Men Under The Wrath And Curse Of God Until And Unless Redeemed And Released By Christ (WCF 6.6)