Lord's day 3
A study of the Heidelberg catechism • Sermon • Submitted
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· 25 viewsWe are fallen in Adam into sin and misery.
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Q6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
Q6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism Question 6. Did God Then Create Man so Wicked and Perverse?
Answer. By no means; but God created man good, and after his own image, in righteousness and true holiness, that he might rightly know God, his Creator heartily love him, and live with him in eternal happiness, to glorify him and praise him.
Answer: By no means; but God created man good, and after his own image, in righteousness and true holiness, that he might rightly know God, his Creator, heartily love him, and live with him in eternal happiness, to glorify him and praise him.
We know that in the beginning God created man good and after His own image. For what purpose did God create man?
a. To glorify God. (, )
b. To enjoy Him forever.
b. To enjoy Him forever. (
b. To enjoy Him forever.
This is how the Westminster confession describes the original state of man:
Before the fall God “created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image, having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change. Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.” Westminster confession of faith, 4.2.
Knowing both our past and present states, what is the benefit of contrasting the fallen state of man to his original state of perfection?
As we’ve said before, we need to know how bad our situation is before we can appreciate and understand the amazing grace and mercy of God.
The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism Question 6. Did God Then Create Man so Wicked and Perverse?
It is also proper that we should here contrast the misery of man with his original excellence: first, that the cause and origin of our misery being known, we may not impute it unto God; and secondly, that the greatness of our misery may be the more clearly seen. In proportion as this is done, will the original excellency of man become apparent; just as the benefit of deliverance becomes the more precious in the same proportion in which we are brought to apprehend the magnitude of the evil from which we have been rescued.
As we’ve said before, we need to know how bad our situation is before we can appreciate and understand the amazing grace and mercy of God.
Dr. Zacharias Ursinus says this in his commentary:
“It is also proper that we should here contrast the misery of man with his original excellence: first, that the cause and origin of our misery being known, we may not impute it unto God; and secondly, that the greatness of our misery may be the more clearly seen. In proportion as this is done, will the original excellency of man become apparent; just as the benefit of deliverance becomes the more precious in the same proportion in which we are brought to apprehend the magnitude of the evil from which we have been rescued.”
To display His goodness, mercy, and grace in saving us through Christ, and to display His holiness, justice, and power in punishing the wicked.
(Hint, look at Romans 9:22-23)
Q7. Whence then comes this depraved nature of man?
Q7. Whence then comes this depraved nature of man?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Q. Whence then comes this depraved nature of man?
Q. Whence then comes this depraved nature of man?
The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism Question 7. Whence, Then, Proceeds This Depravity of Human Nature?
Answer. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise; hence our nature is become so corrupt, that we are all conceived and born in sin.
Answer: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise; hence our nature is become so corrupt, that we are all conceived and born in sin.
What is the term commonly used to describe our fallen nature? Original sin.
In what state does this fallen nature place us?
Ursinus, Z., & Williard, G. W. (1888). The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (p. 33). Cincinnati, OH: Elm Street Printing Company.
In what condition does this original sin place us?
Answer: The first sin is the cause of original sin, and it is original sin (our sin nature) that is the source of all of our actual sins. We are born dead in trespasses and sins, born with a sin nature even before we are aware what sin is. We are born alienated from God and under His wrath.
What better place to look to than the Canons of Dordt to learn more about original sin? It’s from this document that the doctrine of Total Depravity (and the other four points of Calvinism) originated.
ARTICLE 2
Man after the fall begat children in his own likeness. A corrupt stock produced a corrupt offspring. Hence all the posterity of Adam, Christ only excepted, have derived corruption from their original parent, not by imitation, as the Pelagians of old asserted, but by the propagation of a vicious nature, in consequence of the just judgment of God.
ARTICLE 3
Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto; and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, or to dispose themselves to reformation.
If as the Scriptures teach, God is not the author of evil, why did He allow sin to enter the human race?
To display His goodness, mercy, and grace in saving us through Christ, and to display His holiness, justice, and power in punishing the wicked.
To display His goodness, mercy, and grace in saving us through Christ, and to display His holiness, justice, and power in punishing the wicked.
(Hint, look at )
Q8. But are we so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all evil?
Q8. But are we so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all evil?
Q. But are we so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all evil?
Q. But are we so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all evil?
Answer: Indeed we are, except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.
What is regeneration? (See , , , )
Can we choose to live for God
It is the work of the Spirit that enables us to embrace Jesus Christ as our saviour, as He is given to us in the gospel.
Is responding to the gospel call the fruit of the Spirit’s work or the means of our regeneration?
So in light of everything we’ve learned this week, do we choose God or does He choose us? (See )
Does
, and is God’s work of regeneration a synergistic or monergistic