Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam's first sin,[1] the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually;[2] which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions.[3]

1. Rom. 5:12, 19

   Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...
   
   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.

   
   
2. Rom. 3:10-19

   ...as it is written:
   
   

   "None is righteous, no, not one;
   no one understands;
   no one seeks for God.
   All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
   no one does good,
   not even one."
   "Their throat is an open grave;
   they use their tongues to deceive."
   "The venom of asps is under their lips."
   "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
   "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
   in their paths are ruin and misery,
   and the way of peace they have not known."
   "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

   
   Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

   
   Romans 5:6

   For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

   
   Romans 8:7-8

   For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

   
   Eph. 2:1-3

   And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

   
   Gen. 6:5

   The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

   
   
3. James 1:14-15

   But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

   
   Matt. 15:19

   For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Question 25, Westminster Larger Catechism.

Tags: Westminster Catechism, Westminster Standards, catechisms, sin, fall, Adam, original sin