Theology - Humankind (WCF 4, 6, 9; WLC 14-17, 21-29; WSC 8-10, 13-19)

Question 1

What is the chief end of man?

Answer 1

To glorify God and enjoy him forever (WSC 1; Rev 4:11 created for God’s glory)

Question 2

What is the supreme activity of man? Or, what does God require of man?

Answer 2

WSC #39: The duty, which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will. (Mic 6:8; 1 Jn 5:3)

Question 3

What does the Bible teach about the creation of human beings?

Answer 3

WSC #10: God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. (Gen 1:27; Eph 4:24)

Question 4

In what ways is man in the image of God?

Answer 4

• WSC #10, namely that man is endued with knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and dominion.
• Made manifest in the offices of prophet, priest, and king under the great Prophet, Priest and King (Eph 4:24)

Question 5

Are all men made in the image of God?

Answer 5

• Yes, all men are made in the image of God, although that image has been distorted and defaced by the fall.
• Mankind still has dominion etc. and has the capabilities of prophet, priest, king (structure vs. direction)
• Cf. Gen 9:6 post fall image

Question 6

How does the doctrine of the image of God influence debates about gender roles?

Answer 6

• Man and woman are equally the image of God
• And made by God to function in different roles in God’s world, particularly in the family (Eph 5:22-33)
• Both and all are needed to fully reflect God’s image (cf. Bavinck)

Question 7

Where did man’s soul come from?

Answer 7

• Ultimately from God himself who breathed life into the dust to create Adam (Gen 2:4)
• Our soul is inherited from our parents-mediate origin. (Buswell)
• God creates each new soul immediately—without second causes. (Berkhof)

Question 8

What is sin? Include Scripture proofs.

Answer 8

• WSC #14: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
• 1 John 3:4 sin is lawlessness
• Gal 3:10 cursed is everyone who does not continue to do what is written in law

Question 9

Discuss the guilt of sin and the corruption of sin.

Answer 9

• Guilt is a judicial or legal concept of sin, describing one’s relationship to God’s law. It is the state of deserving condemnation or being liable to punishment because the law has been violated. (WSC 18; Rom 3)
• Corruption has to do with the moral condition we are in because of sin; we are made opposite to all good and inclined to evil (WCF 6.4; Rom 7; cf. prone to wander)

Question 10

Define and discuss original sin. Include Scripture proofs.

Answer 10

• Original sin is the effect of Adam’s sin on all his descendants. Every person is born with a sin nature.
• Want of original righteousness and corruption of whole nature (WSC 18) from Adam (Rom 5) that comes as a result of being conceived/born (Ps 51; Eph 2:1)

Question 11

How can original sin be reconciled to the canons of justice, either human or divine?

Answer 11

• When Adam fell, we all fell because he was our representative or federal head. This is just because it is God’s divine decree (Rom 5) And we also actually sin after being born.
• By the same principle, we can only be reconciled to God and forgiven by being brought under another federal head i.e., Jesus Christ.
• Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice the penalty of sin can be paid for God’s elect while God still remains just (both just and justifier! Rom 3)

Question 12

Is there any good remaining in a fallen, sinful man? Explain.

Answer 12

The fall has corrupted every aspect of human nature, but humans are not as evil as they could be; God’s common grace restrains sins
* Yet there is no good in us that would merit salvation in any way shape or form
* WCF 6.4: From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgression.

We are born sinful and live sinfully, in need of the grace of God.
* WSC #82: No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed. (Rom 3:9-23)

Question 13

In what ways does man sin?

Answer 13

• In any thought, word, or deed (or feeling) that does not conform to the law of God
• By commission and omission (1 John 3:4 lawlessness)
• WSC #82: No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed. (Rom 3:9-23)

Question 14

What are some of the consequences of sin?

Answer 14

WSC #19: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever. (Gen 3:8, 24; Rom 1:18; Rom 8:18-25; Rev 14:9-11)

Question 15

Is the will of man free? Explain and include Scripture proofs.

Answer 15

“Man is free to do whatever his nature dictates”
* Created will of man: possible to sin or not sin.
* Fallen will of man: not possible not to sin.
* Redeemed will of man: possible not to sin.
* Glorified will of man: not possible to sin.

Deut 30:19 blessings and cursing have been set before you; choose life

James 1:14 each man is tempted when he is drawn away by lust…

WCF 9.1: God has endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil.

Question 16

Was Adam’s will (before he sinned) free? Explain and include Scripture proofs.

Answer 16

• Yes, his will was free, or as stated above, it was “possible to sin.”
• WSC #13: Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (Gen 3:6-13)
• WCF 9.2: Man, in his state of innocence, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.
• Gen 2:16-17 (and God commanded man, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…)
• Eccl 7:29 (God made men upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes…)

Question 17

Can a sinner do anything good? Explain and include Scripture proofs.

Answer 17

• WCF 9.3: Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
• Rom 3:10-11 (there is no one righteous, no not one…there is none who seeks God)
• Nevertheless, in a non-meritorious sense, non-believers can still do common grace “good” to their neighbors etc.
• Principle of creation and human’s substance being made good but has directionally be distorted and defaced by sin

Question 18

Is a sinner’s will free to believe? Explain and include Scripture proofs.

Answer 18

• Not without the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (John 3 born again)
• Because of original sin, our sinful nature is in rebellion against God and actively opposes God’s authoritative claim on our life (Eph 2:1-10)
• Thus we must be effectually called
• WSC #31: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (1 Cor 2:10-16; Eph 1:17-18)

Question 19

Does a believer have a free will? Explain and include Scripture proofs.

Answer 19

• Yes, as God’s grace enables him through regeneration and subsequent sanctification
• WCF 9.4: When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by his grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good.
• Rom 6:18-22 you have been set free from sin; the fruit of which leads to sanctification