Scripture Readings:

Day

1 I John 3:4; Gal. 3:10, 12

2 1. Rom. 5:12, 19; Rom. 3:10_19; 5:6; 8:7_8; Eph. 2:1_3; Gen. 6:5

3 James 1:14_15; Matt. 15:19

4 Ps. 51:5; Job 14:4; 15:14; John 3:6

5 1. Gen. 3:8, 10, 24; Eph. 2:2_3; II Tim. 2:26

6 Gen. 2:17; Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46, Jude 1:7

The Children’s Catechism a new modern version, Summertown Press, 1988, reads "Sin is disobeying or not keeping God’s law in any way." A sovereign speaks, it is "law," that is to be obeyed period. A sovereign writes, and it is an edict to forever be engraved into the laws of the land and not ever forgotten. This is the tradition of mere mortals, of earthly sovereigns. As noted earlier the whole book of Esther demonstrates the inability of a sovereign to "change his mind" and issue different decrees, that do away with or change the original. All of this then must be perfected in the person of God, who is Sovereign. Whereby we read that God does not change.

Law without enforcement is useless. Man has long recognized this and in "rule by law," the rule of thumb is not to create any laws the majority will not voluntarily obey, because of the difficultly in enforcing such laws. Non-enforcement of a law brings disrespect for the entity making the law. God has spoken, it is law, and therefore man is without excuse for breaking that law. Should he plead ignorance, God has written His law into the heart of His creation and made man capable of responding to the law, even without the law being given unto him. (Compare Romans 1:17-32; 2:12-16). Paul is clear and definite that all of mankind is responsible for keeping the law of God, and that all will be judged according to this obedience, and whether in possession of the written law, or so called natural law, all are held accountable for the transgression. The passage form First John is the clearest in Scripture and rightly pointed to in this statement. That man is to go beyond obedience of the law in deed, to becoming what God wants him to be is also clear, though not used in the proof text for this question. There are several passages that show it is man’s duty is to be "conformed" to the image of the Son, Jesus Christ. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God has given mankind the ability to transcend this world, and not be conformed unto it, but transformed by this indwelling Spirit into the likeness of His Son. Once more we see God provide that which He requires of His creation.

Because we continue in the flesh, and the natural nature of a covenant breaker remains in the flesh, it is important then that we understand what sin is, and what we should do about it. Also, because the nature of the beast is to stretch everything to its limit, there can be no room to forgive those who do not obey God’s law, and who do not conform to what God wants them to be. Remembering, only God can forgive sin, because ultimately all sin is against God, it is not as judge, but as children of God, we must consistently, and constantly identify sin in our own life and the lives of those around us. Sin is to be confronted in love, with a forgiving spirit, but no wise to be condoned, even by our silence.

The first petal is here raised to her fullness, in that all have sinned and came short of the glory of God! This being true, petal two is a necessity, and where we have the proof for the need of one or more, the fullness of the five will flow naturally, as God’s word is sought as the remedy for the darkness in which man perishes, and in that light the TULIP blooms before a glorious Sovereign God.

We need to be careful to understand that by natural generation we mean being born of man (Adam) but that the actual sin is imputed guilt and since the Savior to come is not in this sense born in as the "natural" posterity of Adam, having not human father, this original sin is not imputed to Christ. We will deal with this next quarter at great length in the presentation of the doctrine of Christ, the Son of God. Nonetheless, all mankind stands condemned for sin because it is imputed because their "legal" representative did sin before them. From this sin nature will flow the actual transgression of God’s law, or actual sins of mankind. Man is thus depraved, lost and condemned to death and cannot save himself. There is not a single man who of self is righteous (Completely obedient to the prevalent law) that seeks after God.

There are two prices so to speak for sin, both original and actual of the individual. There is a very real and temporal price that will be paid for in the coin of man, human misery. Every misery known to man was born in this sinful nature first made manifest by the father of lies, even Satan. Because of sin, even the earth itself was cursed of God and all of creation awaits the glorious day of the Lord when the sons of God will be made manifest and this curse lifted from all in the righteous judgment of God.

This sin will lead also to the spiritual blindness purchased in the coinage of hell, introduced to man in the garden, where Adam and Eve were removed from the garden (presence of God) and all the evils we know have beset the created ever since. Sin touches and taints everything man says or does.

While the Bible appears to teach a degree to sin, all sin is a stench to the nostrils of God and even for the elect quenches the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. All sin then must be as reprehensible to us, and we must "repent" confessing our sins to God, who in the asking for, has already forgiven us. However without the Spirit of God first coming upon us in regeneration, we will not "see" this truth and will not repent. Thus only those chosen by God and drawn to the Son will be saved. This is not all mankind, for either God can accomplish all of His holy will, or He is not God. Thus the statement that God does not will for any to be lost must be understood in the context of all Scripture and God made true and man a liar, or there is no hope for any. God offers Christ to all, but man does not choose, God enables in the gift of faith by grace alone (Eph. 2:8).

For further thought: The first point of Calvinism is "Total Depravity" which means mankind is lost and cannot save himself by any means. Do you agree with this statement?

The second point is "Unconditional Grace or Election" which means for no reason of merit, and without use of the divine foreknowledge and for reasons known only to himself God chose to save man from self destruction. Do you agree with this statement?

The third point is "Limited Atonement" which means that while the atoning blood of Christ is sufficient for all the world, it is only effective for those to whom the Holy Spirit applies it, and is of no choice of the created (man). Consider that any human soul in hell means God was unable to fulfill His will if you disagree with this statement.

For further study: The fourth point of Calvinism is "Irresistible Grace" which means that those God has elected and shown grace, that grace cannot be resisted by man, and will be made effective. Can you from our studies so far fit this into the teaching of the Bible?

The fifth point of Calvinism is "Perseverance of the Saints" which means that those God has chosen and given grace will not fall from this state of grace, or in the words of some, "Once saved always saved." Do you think this fits what the Bible teaches? Why or why not?

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[1] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4 AV)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (Galatians 3:10-12 AV)

[2] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: {for that: or, in whom} (Romans 5:12 AV)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19 AV)

[3] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. {guilty...: or, subject to the judgment of God} (Romans 3:10-19 AV)

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {desires: Gr. wills} (Ephesians 2:1-3 AV)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {in due time: or, according to the time} (Romans 5:6 AV)

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. {the carnal...: Gr. the minding of the flesh} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8 AV)

[4] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14-15 AV)

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19 AV)

[5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. {conceive...: Heb. warm me} (Psalms 51:5 AV)

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. {can...: Heb. will give} (Job 14:4 AV)

What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? (Job 15:14 AV)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6 AV)

[6] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. {cool: Heb. wind} And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Genesis 3:8-10 AV)

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24 AV)

[7] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {desires: Gr. wills} (Ephesians 2:2-3 AV)

[8] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. {recover...: Gr. awake} {taken...: Gr. taken alive} (2 Timothy 2:26 AV)

[9] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. {thou shalt surely...: Heb. dying thou shalt die} (Genesis 2:17 AV)

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? {complain: or, murmur} (Lamentations 3:39 AV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 AV)

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41 AV)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46 AV)

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. {strange: Gr. other} (Jude 1:7 AV)

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36 AV)

[6] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, {his...: Gr. the angels of his power} (2 Thessalonians 1:7 AV)

[7] Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. {that excel...: Heb. mighty in strength} Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. (Psalms 103:20-21 AV)

[8] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4 AV)

[9] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27 AV)

[10] And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. {of the dust...: Heb. dust of the ground} (Genesis 2:7 AV)

[11] And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. {made: Heb. builded} (Genesis 2:22 AV)

[12] (see 11 above) – Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? (Job 35:11 AV)

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7 AV)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 AV)

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43 AV)

[13] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27 AV)

[14] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10 AV)

[15] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. {true...: or, holiness of truth} (Ephesians 4:24 AV)

[16] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) {their conscience...: or, the conscience witnessing with them} {the mean...: or, between themselves} (Romans 2:14-15 AV)

[17] Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. (Ecclesiastes 7:29 AV)

[18] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. {moveth: Heb. creepeth} (Genesis 1:28 AV)

[19] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. {pleasant: Heb. a desire} (Genesis 3:6 AV)

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. (Ecclesiastes 7:29 AV)