The Larger Catechism – Questions 21-30
Q.
21. Did man continue in that estate wherein God at first created him?
A.
Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, through the
temptation of Satan, transgressed the commandment of God in eating the
forbidden fruit; and thereby fell from the estate of innocency
wherein they were createda.
a
Gen.3:6-8,13; Eccl.7:29; 2 Cor.11:3
Q.
22. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression?
A.
The covenant being made with Adam as a publick
person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending
from him by ordinary generationa,
sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgressionb.
a
Acts
17:26
b Gen.2:16,17 compared with Rom.5:12-20 and with 1 Cor.15:21,22
Q.
23. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A.
The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and miserya.
a
Rom.5:12; Rom.3:23
Q.
24. What is sin?
A.
Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given
as a rule to the reasonable creaturea.
a
1 John 3:4; Gal.3:10,12
Q.
25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that
estate whereinto man fell?
A.
The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth
in the guilt of Adam's first sina, the
want of original. righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of
his nature, whereby he is utterIy indisposed,
disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly
inclined to all evil, and that continuallyb;
which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressionsc.
a
Rom.5:12,19 b Rom.3:10-19; Eph.2:1-3; Rom.5:6; Rom.8:7,8; Gen.6:5 c
James 1:14,15; Matt.15:19
Q.
26. How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?
A.
Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by
natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived
and born in sina.
a
Ps.51:5; Job 14:4; Job 15:4; John 3:6
Q.
27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
A.
The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with Goda,
his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrathb,
bond slaves to Satanc, and justly
liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to comed.
a
Gen.3:8,10,24 b Eph.2:2,3 c 2 Tim.2:26 d Gen.2:17;
Lam.3:39; Rom.6:23; Matt.25:41,46; Jude 7
Q.
28. What are the punishments of sin in this world?
A.
The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of minda,
a reprobate senseb, strong delusionsc,
hardness of heartd, horror of consciencee,
and vile affectionsf; or outward, as
the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakesg,
and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations,
and employmentsh; together with death itselfi.
a
Eph.4:18 b Rom.1:28 c 2 Thess.2:11 d Rom.2:5 e
Isa.33:14; Gen.4:13; Matt.27:4 f Rom.1:26 g Gen.3:17 h
Deut.28:15-18 i Rom.6:21,23
Q.
29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
A.
The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from
the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body,
without intermission, in hell-fire for evera.
a
2 Thess.1:9; Mark 9:43,44,46,48; Luke 16:24
Q.
30. Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A.
God doth not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and miserya,
into which they fell by the breach of the first covenant, commonly called the
Covenant of Worksb; but of his mere
love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it, and
bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the
second covenant, commonly called the Covenant of Gracec.
a
1 Thess.5:9 b Gal.3:10,12 c Tit.3:4-7; Gal.3:21; Rom.3:20-22
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