Westminster Larger Catechism # 27
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
Answer: The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion
with God, his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature
children of wrath, bond slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all
punishments in this world, and that which is to come.
References: Gen 3:8,10,24; Eph. 2:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:26; Gen. 2:17;
Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Mt. 25:41,46; Jude 7.
A quick biographical trip through history reveals that most of
the great men of faith through the centuries have been men who
were deeply affected by the darkness of sin that hangs over the
world. In modern terms, they were men who had great bouts with
depression. No mere passing sadness, but a misery that haunts the
soul and consumes the mind in sorrow and regret. Regret not only
for the shortcomings they see in their own lives when examined in
the mirror of Scripture, but for the stench that seems to cling
to all humanity, even the redeemed. The price for sin we are told
in the Holy Writ is death. Those who have been in the company of
death will recognize this "stench" of death that clings
to every fiber it touches. Death has its own unique smell and yes
even taste, that brings an eclipse to the brightest sun at
midday. It seems strange perhaps, that this odious presence of
death is more apparent just before the final light of life in
this temporal world finally dims. No amount of washing, of
fruitful or flowery perfumes can mask it. Nothing of this world
can wash away nor mask this odorous horror. Yet after the fact,
it quickly disappears. All of this referring to physical death,
but also true of the spiritual death the Divines here bring to
our attention.
How can one draw close to the Creator and not be depressed at
their own lack of "life" in His glorious light. Can we
identify with Isaiah in his moment of being in God’s glory,
whereby he falls to his face crying "woe is me, for I am a
man of unclean lips?" To know God, is to know the
shortcomings of our own sin darkened existence. It is a truthful
saying that the price of sin is death, but we might also say the
price of sin is human misery.
It is also true that our sins have an affect upon others. No
they aren’t paying the price for our sins, Christ paid the
price for all of His; they are "living" within the veil
of darkness that sin brings to all who are touched by it, whether
personally or in the normal course of life in this temporal
world. For example who can describe the depth of hurt and misery
as a parent watches their child locked away for life, or even
give up their life for the sin the child has committed. All sin
is against God, and requires such a price. In the example just
given the laws of the state were violated and one might be
inclined to think that they sinned against man, but not so. The
psalmist knew this and said as much. Here God has commanded that
we obey the laws of the land, so when the laws are broken, we
have disobeyed God and the definition of sin in Scripture is
fully met. I know of no sin where this is not true. We may
involve others in our sin, but ultimately, the sin is against
God. Our sense of justice might be raised to question God’s
consistency in "punishing" others with misery for the
sins of another, but then who among men is undeserving, for we
all carry the stench of death within the flesh.
How often we hear that certain things are indifferent because
they are victimless crimes and harm no one other than the person
involved. This is not true. Even as the Godhead has always
existed in community, so mankind was created to live in community
and if there were not family involved, it is a natural truth, we
would not be here. The prophets of the Old Testament knew this
"burden" of the word of God. Our Lord cried at least
two times we know about in Scripture. Jesus knew the depths of
depression as He prayed for this cup to be removed, as He faced
the cross for sins that were not his. And so have God’s
ministers and people throughout history cried out for the sins of
others as well as themselves. The veil of death hangs over the
world, clouding the view of heaven and the glorious life man once
had in close personal communion with his Creator.
Though we can again know this communion, it will not be as it
was until the season of this earthly tabernacle ends in the
return of our Lord in glory. Paul discloses this in 1 Corinthians
13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face. . .." In the flesh we cannot be rid of the
pall of death from sin, and the glory we should have, cannot be
fully revealed nor attained. This is gracious of our God too, for
we could not bear to stand before a holy God in the flesh now
stained with sin; thus because of sin, we cannot see how fully we
have fallen, and because of the covering of the blood of the Son
of God, He no longer sees our sin.
How bright then the Reformed TULIP shines in this veil of
darkness, as it brings God’s plan of redemption and His
assurance of forgiveness and life everlasting to His chosen
people. The misery of uncertainty He relieves with the truth of
the fifth petal. The truth of Scripture revealed as the first
petal sets the stage for this sorry state of affairs, and points
to the deserved judgment of God on sinful mankind, the second
petal is as quickly revealed as the choice of God to pardon. No
sooner is this glorious light of the second petal revealed than
that mystery desired be looked upon even by the holy angels
bursts forth in explanation by way of the third petal. And that
the total darkness that has enveloped the soul of man cannot hold
back the light of God is as rapidly dispersed by the truth and
brightness of the fourth petal. How can it be that there are
those so dull of mind they would try to grow partial TULIPs with
only three or four of the precious jewels of God revealed in the
bloom and yet think they have the whole flower? Which of the
symbolic colors then do we paint the TULIP? None my friend, for
it has no mortal applied paint, but grows eternal in the heavenly
garden, revealed in the brightness of the noon day sun in the
midst of the darkness of hell by God’s Holy Word. Surely
this precious flower came from the throne room of the Creator for
the piercing of the darkness purchased by sin, lest all mankind
be left in total darkness and misery. The wisdom of God is
revealed in this beautiful display, as in this short acronym He
led our forefathers to sum up the total of His plan of
redemption.
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- December 1997
