WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM # 25
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate
whereinto man fell?
Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell,
consisteth in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, 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, which is commonly called
Original Sin, and from which do proceed all actual
transgressions.
References: Rom. 5:12, 19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph 2:1-3; Rom.
8:7-8; Gen. 6:5; James 1:14-15; Mt. 15:19
How beautiful the fourth petal rises from the ashes of
man’s disobedience and fall from grace. Our Arminian
brothers would do well to read the meager proof texts put forth
by the Divines (meager in number, not content). As sure as the
seasons (which by God’s word will continue until He calls
the end) is man’s inability to turn to God. The heart of man
may desire otherwise, and there are possibly some of the elect
themselves caught in this error, but to naught it will come, for
God’s word clearly states otherwise. If God’s grace
were not irresistible, not one soul of man would populate heaven.
As I read these verses I am reminded of the devastating fires
that seemingly ruin millions of acres of forest lands, as wild
fires ravage the Western states each year. Yet, from the ashes of
ruin springs new life. Often within days the green of new growth
is evident. Then likened unto the story of God’s grace shown
to sinners, nurtured by the early and latter rains, warmed
beneath God’s life giving sun, this new life flourishes, and
within a few years it is hard to see that the scars of the
refiners fire ever touched the land. How like the new life
God’s grace brings to the elect, who from lives seared by
the fires of hell are transformed before our eyes into beautiful
works of God. Like the forest, the new life begins slowly, but
surely each year brings growth unto maturity. How marvelous the
hand of our Creator. How true Paul’s words that by the light
of nature the created can see God, even the invisible things and
the power of the eternal Godhead.
Here in the aftermath of the fire, we see the wisdom of God as
the underbrush and brambles are burned, and the fire removes the
clinging vines of earth that would hold back the growth of the
mightiest oak. Likewise into the life of His elect God brings
this refiners fire, and by the heat of passion and lusts that
burns within, and the enabling power of His Spirit so graciously
given, the creature is able to see himself as he is, and eagerly
accepts this trial by fire, that he may know the love and grace
of His creator. So much then for the cry of foul for those who
would point to the will of the creature, and deny the sovereignty
of God to so interfere in the life of His creation. Having their
eyes opened by the power of the Spirit through the foul deeds
from within their own hearts, men see how rotten they really are,
and willingly strive to reach for the goal set before the elect
by God the Father. Nay, apart from God’s grace not one soul
would turn to God, much less tread the fires of hell to reach out
toward Him.
Here the Divines have shown the absolute necessity of the
fourth Petal, and Irresistible Grace stands ever tall before the
throne of the Almighty as one of the key doctrines of truth
taught in the Holy Writ.
Aw the caviler will proclaim, even in the worst of mankind,
there are glimmers of hope and light as good deeds, thoughts, and
even actions take place. Yes says God, but only because they were
created in my image, and even the fires of hell can not totally
vanquish My stamp upon My creation. The creature has no control
over these random acts with the appearance of good, and cannot
use them to propel himself forward, but nay, will sink ever
deeper into the quick sands of hell in his struggles to do
otherwise than perish apart from the gracious gift of God’s
grace, shown in the gift of His Son unto salvation. The only good
deeds are those created by God before the foundation of the earth
for His elect to walk in. The natural light in the heart of the
reprobate may imitate God’s chosen works for His people, but
will never shine brightly before the throne of His glory. Indeed
our Lord foretells of the day when there will come those to Him
proclaiming all they have done in His name, only to be told to
depart as workers of iniquity.
The corruption in man existing as a result of his guilt before
a Holy God is total. Jesus speaking in the Gospel of John
testifies to this truth when He says none may come to Him, except
they be drawn by the Father. Man may thus know pity, and to some
limited extent compassion or even empathy, but never the
unconditional love of God, shown in His grace extended to His
fallen children. Such majesty and beauty are set before the world
and heaven in the salvation of even one such fallen soul, no
wonder the heavenly host rejoices at the event where even one
sinner repents through the mercy extended by God in grace. Not
only is man dead in sin because of the fall of Adam, there is
nothing he can do to reverse the situation, and is completely
unable to save himself. How glorious then is the perfection of
God in the punishment of the wicked, in that the perfection of
His wrath is as holy and glorious as His grace in salvation for
the elect. Man in his fallen condition does not understand this,
nor do many accept the truth here revealed. Nonetheless, dead men
do not set the conditions, and our sovereign God continues to
raise up the Reformed TULIP, that His chosen may rejoice in His
revealed truth.
Mind, body, and soul are thus corrupted, and except that God
Himself should shorten the days, even the very elect would fall
again into this deceit of hell, that man may choose God apart
from His sovereign election. Thus the First petal is continually
brought to light in this series of statements about sin. As we
have seen the fourth exists then by absolute necessity if any are
to be saved from the fires of hell. With the very nature of man
so corrupted, can any debate then the second petal as a
necessity? Once more the third petal holds firm to the stem and
continues to blossom in God’s celestial garden. The fifth
once more exists because God is sovereign and has spoken. Here
again, we have the fullness of the TULIP once more revealed from
the pages of the Bible, and brought so clearly to our attention
by the pens of the Divines.
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- November 1997
