Lecture 7 - The Genesis of Sin

Question 1

The Origin of Sin

Answer 1

1) We talk about sin so that we can understand grace
2) Studying sin is uncomfortable for us; the worse our sin, the greater our Saviour.
3) Our identity is not defined by sin, it is found in God (although sin affects us)

Question 2

The Problem of Sin

Answer 2

1) We can only understand the origin of sin by revelation
2) We have to have the Bible to understand doctrines like this
3) Gen. 2-3 and Romans 5 are key passages

Question 3

Moral & Penal Effects of the Fall

Answer 3

1) Rom. 5 interprets the fall narrative in Gen. 2-3 by drawing a parallel between Adam & Jesus
2) The moral effects of the fall are summarized by sin
3) The penal effects of the fall are summarized by death

Question 4

“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.”

Answer 4

1) Romans 5
2) Federal framework for interpreting the fall narrative
3) Shows how Adam is the federal head, under Adam all men have a problem with sin & death

Question 5

Central Problem after Gen. 3

Answer 5

1) central problem of the Bible, humanity, and creation is the removal of the twofold consequence of the fall.
2) Messiah’s work is founded in the deliverance of humanity from the penal and moral effects of the law
3) Messiah is the Second Adam, the fulfillment of 3:15 redemption

Question 6

“For Christ frees us, not only from the guilt (reatu), but also from corruption (pravitate). For as a double evil (duplex malum) befell us from Adam, even our guilt (reatus) for the sin committed in him, and the corruption (depravatio) of our nature propagated (propagate) from him into us: so by Christ, the other Adam, a double grace (duplex gratis) has befallen us: even imputation of righteousness (solution to penal problem) and regeneration (solution to moral problem).”

Answer 6

1) Zacharias Ursinus, Sum of the Christian Religion
2) Urisinus was a student of Melanchthon, Luther’s student.
3) double evil (duplex malum): morally corrupt (pravitate) and legally guilty (raetu)

Question 7

“The parts [of original sin] are two: original guilt (reatus originalis), and original naughtiness (pravitas originalis). Original guilt (reatus) is a natural [fault] (culpa), & subjection to punishment (poenam), because of the fall of our first parents. Rom. 5. 12. So death went over all men. Original naughtiness (pravitas) isa natural depravity (depravatio) and corruption (corruptio) of man’s whole nature.”

Answer 7

1) Amandus Polanus, The Substance of the Christian Religion
2) Penal (raetus): guilt, fault, punishment
3) Moral (pravitas): naughtiness, depravity, corruption

Question 8

“The condition wherein man was created was morally good and upright; the state wherein he was placed, outwardly happy and blessed; the law given unto him, just and equal; the reward proposed unto him, glorious and sure; and his defection from this condition, voluntary . . . The execution of a righteous sentence, upon the voluntary transgression of a law just and equal, hath no unrighteousness in it. And this was the sum of what God did in this matter, as to the misery that came on mankind” (John Owen, Hebrews).

Answer 8

1) John Owen, Hebrews
2) God’s judgement in Gen. 3 is just after laying down the law in Gen. 2
3) As our federal head, Adam’s is passed or imputed to all men.

Question 9

“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Answer 9

1) Gen. 2
2) The law is given
3) Adam and Eve are under probation

Question 10

“To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’ And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, “You shall not eat of it,” cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;’”

Answer 10

1) Gen. 3
2) God’s judgement on mankind after his rebellion
3) God’s word decides God’s judgement

Question 11

“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.”

Answer 11

1) Romans 5
2) Adam is the federal head, so sin is imputed to everyone

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Question 12

Two solutions; one problem

Answer 12

1) (P) We can overcome our guilt by our own deeds (not possible)
2) (P) Someone more qualified who isn’t affected by the fall can remove them for us.
3) (S) The key to our deliverance is the satisfaction of God’s justice.

Question 13

The removal of the curse

Answer 13

1) Those under the curse cannot remove the curse unless the terms of the curse are satisfied.
2) Purity must be attained, judgement executed.
3) A sinless substitute is needed to satisfy the penal and moral law

Question 14

“No one can pay [recompense] except God, and no one ought to pay except man: it is necessary that a God-Man should pay it . . . In order, therefore, that a God-Man should bring about what is necessary, it is essential that the same one person who will make the recompense should be perfect God and perfect man. For he cannot do this if he is not true God, and he has no obligation to do so if he is not a true man”

Answer 14

1) Anselm, Cur Deus Homo
2) A sinless substitute is needed to satisfy the penal and moral law
3) We need a deliverer who represents us, pays our debt, and can satisfy the punishment we deserve

Question 15

The active and passive obedience of Christ

Answer 15

1) Active obedience answers the problem of our moral corruption
2) Passive obedience of Christ answers the problem of penal corruption
3) Our moral and penal problem held against Christ, He becomes sin for us and as a result of the imputation of our sin to Him, He bares our punishment.

Question 16

“The distinction between the active and passive obedience is not a distinction of periods. It is our Lord’s whole work of obedience in every phase and period that is described as active and passive, and we must avoid the mistake of thinking that the active obedience applies to the obedience of his life and the passive obedience of his final sufferings and death.
…..Christ’s obedience was vicarious in the bearing of the full judgment of God upon sin, and it was vicarious in the full discharge of the demands of righteousness. His obedience becomes the ground of the remission of sin and of actual justification”

Answer 16

1) Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray.
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Question 17

The Promise of Redemption

Answer 17

1) Gen. 3:15 - the first promise of redemption
2) Divine promise revealed a way for fallen humanity to relate to God and represents the establishment of a better way - the covenant of redemption
3) Deliverance of man will come through suffering. This is a faint understanding of penal substitution.

Question 18

“There is an intimation of the manner how this work shall be performed. This, first,God takes upon himself: ‘I will do it; “I will put enmity.”’ It is an issue of his sovereign wisdom and grace. But secondly, he will do it in and by the nature of man, “the Seed of the woman.” And two things must concur to the effecting of it;—first, That this Seed of the woman must conquer Satan, bruise his head, destroy his works, and procure deliverance for mankind thereby; secondly, That he must suffer from, and by the means of, Satan in his so doing,––the serpent must “bruise his heal.” This is the remedy and relief that God hath provided from mankind. And this is the Messiah, or God joining with the nature of man to deliver mankind from sin and eternal misery”

Answer 18

1) John Owen, Hebrews
2) The cause and relief of sin is found in the Scripture
3) Only the grace of God can rescue humanity from the judgement of God.

Question 19

At the heart of the covenant of grace is the fulfillment of the covenant of works. Rather than undermine grace, the covenant of works is the basis by which grace is defined, established, accomplished, and given.

Answer 19

1) The demands of perfect obedience are fulfilled by the Second Adam, the seed of the woman.
2) Gen. 3:15 is the basis for every promise to come. Later promises explain this first promise.
3) The heart of the covenant of grace is the covenant of works

Question 20

“At the beginning when the first promise of salvation was given to Adam it glowed like a feeble spark. Then, as it was added to, the light grew in fullness, breaking forth increasingly and shedding its radiance more widely. As last––when all the clouds were dispersed––Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, fully illumined the whole earth”

Answer 20

1) John Calvin, Institutes
2) Gen. 3:15 is crucial to understanding redemptive history

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