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Made Upright, Now Fallen
Sin didn't belong to the world as God first made it. Our first parents fell, and the whole human race suffers the consequences.
God created man in his image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness (Genesis 1:26-31 (opens in a new tab), Ecclesiastes 7:29 (opens in a new tab)). Adam received the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17 (opens in a new tab)). He broke that command (Genesis 3:1-7 (opens in a new tab)). Scripture treats this as a real event, and Paul explains its consequences in Romans 5:12-19 (opens in a new tab).
Why Does Adam's Sin Matter to Us?
Adam stood as the public head of his descendants in the covenant of works (WCF 6.3 (opens in a new tab) and 7.2). When he fell, the race descending from him by ordinary generation fell in him. We inherit the guilt of his first sin and a corrupted nature. We also commit sins of our own. This is the doctrine of original sin, taught in Westminster Confession 6 (opens in a new tab) and Larger Catechism 21-29.
Some find it hard that Adam represented people not yet born. Scripture itself presents the parallel with Christ. Through one man's disobedience many were made sinners, and through the obedience of one many shall be made righteous (Romans 5:19 (opens in a new tab)). Our salvation rests on the righteousness of a representative as surely as our ruin came through one.
How Deep Is Our Corruption?
The fall affects understanding, desires, will, and conduct. People can show natural affection, work honestly, and help neighbors. Yet apart from regenerating grace they cannot turn to God in saving faith or love him as his law requires (Romans 8:7-8 (opens in a new tab), 1 Corinthians 2:14 (opens in a new tab)). The confession calls this an inability to do spiritual good accompanying salvation (WCF 9.3 (opens in a new tab)).
We're responsible for our sins. Scripture never permits a man to excuse his choices by saying that he was born corrupt. We sin willingly, and our willing is itself disordered. Even our best outward acts can't remove the guilt of our rebellion.
Sin's Judgment
Death entered through sin (Romans 5:12 (opens in a new tab)). The whole creation groans under the curse (Romans 8:20-22 (opens in a new tab)). The final judgment will expose what people have done and what they've loved. God's law is holy, and its sentence is just.
That makes the gospel necessary. We can't repair ourselves by resolving to do better. Christ, the last Adam, obeyed where the first Adam failed and bore the curse for his people (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (opens in a new tab), Galatians 3:13 (opens in a new tab)). The Spirit gives a new heart and brings sinners to faith. Read Christ the Mediator and Justification. If you've never believed, hear the gospel and come to him.
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