May 24
25
Baptist Catechism 20-21
Q. 20. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:18,19: Is. 64:6)
Q. 21. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. (Rom. 5:19; 3:10; Eph. 2:1; Is. 53:6; Ps. 51:5; Matt. 15:19)
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:18-21
“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:18–21, ESV)
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Question 20: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
Baptist Catechism 20 asks, Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? Answer: The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
Here we find the word “estate” again. Remember Baptist Catechism 16 and Second London Confession chapter 9. The fall brought man out of the estate of innocence and into an estate of sin and misery. Man did not cease to be man. Man did not cease to be the image of God (see Genesis 9:6). Man did not lose his ability to think rationally, to feel, or to freely choose. His condition did change, though. When Adem fell, all humanity fell in him. And what is the estate that humanity is now in by nature? A state or condition of sin and misery.
Question 21: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Question 21 then asks, Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? Perhaps another way to ask this question would be, what does this sinful estate include? What is involved in it? What effect did Adam’s fall into sin have on humanity? Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want [lack] of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. I know I keep saying this, but it is true. This teaching is so important. What does it mean to be fallen in Adam? What effect did Adam’s sin have on human beings? Three things are said as it pertains to man’s fallen condition. Each one should be contrasted with man’s condition in the state of innocence.
One, instead of man being holy as he was when first created (see Baptist Catechism 12), man is now guilty by nature. Adam’s guilt is imputed to all who are born from him through ordinary generation under the broken covenant of life or works.
Two, instead of man being righteous (right with God) as he was when first created (see Baptist Catechism 12), man lacks this original righteousness.
Three, instead of man possessing true knowledge as he did in the beginning (see Baptist Catechism 12), his whole nature is corrupted. His mind is darkened. His affections are disordered. His will is bent towards evil.
These three things have to do with the condition of man’s nature. Man is fallen now. His nature is totally depraved. This is why Paul says that men, by nature, are children of wrath (see Ephesians 2:3). This is why Jesus spoke to those who rejected him as the Messiah, saying, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires” (John 8:44).
Our catechism then notes that these three effects of the fall are commonly called original sin. This is not a reference to Adam’s original sin, but to the fact that, since the fall, all human beings are born into the world in this fallen and sinful condition. This is now our original condition. We will sometimes say, look at how innocent that child is! And children are innocent, compared to others. Why? Because, if they are very young, they have not lived long enough to willfully sin. But it would be a mistake to think that they are innocent in the way that Adam and Eve were in the beginning. No, we are born in sin (see Psalm 51:5). We are born in Adam, under the broken covenant of works (see Romans 5:12-19), with Adam’s guilt imputed to us (see Romans 3:10-19), at enmity with God (see Ephesians 2:1-3), and with corrupted natures (see Romans 8:7-8).
Finally, it is from this fallen and sinful condition that all actual sin flows. That is what our catechism means when it says, “together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.”
Have you ever wondered why everyone sins? Some might say, it is because of the bad example and negative effects of society. It’s a nurture problem. No, before the problem of nurture, there is the problem of nature. Men and women sin — they transgress God’s law freely and willingly — even from a very young age because we are born guilty, at enmity with God, and corrupted in nature. This is the effect that Adam’s sin has had upon humanity descending from him by ordinary generation.
I will not take any time to flesh this out, but I would encourage you to think about how this doctrine of original sin relates to the person of Jesus Christ and our salvation in him. Think again of the virgin birth. Think of the doctrine of the incarnation. How was the man Jesus able to perfectly obey God and to accomplish our salvation? It has a lot to do with the fact that he was not born in sin as we are, but was born of a virgin, having been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:35). In other words, Jesus was born in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, just as Adam was created.
And what does this have to do with our salvation in him? Well, Christ addresses all of our problems as our redeemer. He removes our guilt. He clothes us with his righteousness, and he renews our natures – he restores the image of God in us. Paul wrote about this in Colossians 3:9. He addressed Christians when he said, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:9–10).
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Conclusion
Hear Question 21 again: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. This is true doctrine.
