10 May 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn—Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.18
10 May 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn—Westminster Shorter Catechism,
Q.18
Van Horn, Leonard T. “May
10: Van Horn on WSC Q.18.” This Day in
Presbyterian History. 10 May 2015. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2015/05/may-10-van-horn-on-wsc-q-18/.
Accessed 10 May 2015.
May 10: Van Horn
on WSC Q. 18
STUDIES IN THE WESTMINSTER
SHORTER CATECHISM
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
A.
The sinfulness of that estate wherein man fell, consists in the guilt of
Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the
corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original
sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Questions:
1.
What is original sin?
A
better way of expressing this would be “inherited sin.” This sin is the
guilt and pollution connected with our origin, in and through the first
Adam.
2.
Is there not another type of sin besides original sin?
Yes,
there is actual sin. This is any breach of God’s law, whether it be by
omission or commission, whether it be by thought, word or deed.
3.
How are all men guilty because of Adam’s first sin?
All
men are guilty of Adam’s first sin by imputation, (Ram. 5:19). This is so
because Adam represented his posterity, as we learned in Question 16. As
the righteousness of Christ, the second Adam, is imputed to all believers,
so the sin of the first Adam is imputed to all the natural seed.
4.
What is meant by the “guilt of Adam’s first sin”?
It
means the debt, the punishment to which we are exposed because of that
first sin, committed by our head and representative, Adam.
5.
What is the teaching involved in “the want of original righteousness”?
The
teaching here is that two things are involved:
(a) The lack of true spiritual understanding in the mind (I Cor. 2:14
).(b) The lack of the power and inclination toward good (Rom. 7: 18
).
6.
What is included in the statement “the corruption of his whole nature”?
Included
in this statement is the universal depravity present in every part of man
since the fall. Calvin states, “Therefore all of us, who have descended
from impure seed, are born infected with the contagion of sin. In fact,
before we saw the light of this life we were soiled and spotted in God’s
sight.” (Calvin’s Institutes, II, 1,5).
ORIGINAL SIN
The
lack of belief in this doctrine is probably one of the greatest motivators
of mankind toward their popular and many times stated position of: “Well,
I do my best and we are all trying to get to the same place. I’ll simply
take my chances on my best for a loving God would not condemn me.” This
position is heard time and time again and it is hard to take offensive
action against it when the person stating it does not believe in the Bible
as the inspired, infallible Word of God.
The
Presbyterian Standards are very clear about this matter of Original Sin
and its effects on mankind. Of the “corrupted nature” the Standards tell
us that “we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all
good, and wholly inclined to all evil” and from this corrupted nature
“proceed all actual transgressions”. The Standards further teach that this
condition is innate from birth and by nature. It is at this very place
that so many modern thinkers disagree with the Standards and insist that
there is an “inner goodness in man” and insist that man is rapidly making
progress. It is from this position that they move to the natural result
that if man does his best he will be taken care of by the loving God.
And
yet if a person of the world is forced to be honest with himself, forced
because of sickness, or impending death, or trouble of any great variety,
he recognizes inward evidences of the corruption of his nature. He
recognizes that naturally speaking he does not want to listen to the words
that will keep him from erring. He recognizes that he puts all his hope in
himself. He recognizes that his body is more important to him than his
soul. It is significant that when the person of the world is saved by
grace he does not have to be “forced” to be honest with himself in this
way, he knows it!
What
can all of us learn from this doctrine? The person not saved by grace will
learn little from it until he comes to the realization of his sinful
state. The person saved by grace can learn once again “Wonder of wonders,
He saved even me!” He can thank and praise God once again for the teaching
of Ephesians 2:1-10.
He can witness to others of the pardon that comes through the merits of
Jesus Christ.
.
He can witness to others of the pardon that comes through the merits of
Jesus Christ.
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