1. What is law? How does its existence lead to sin? In what conditions? The law is an expression of the nature of God in the form of moral dictates of God's holiness and moral perfections. The law exists within humanity, it is in nature (general revelation), and it is revealed through God's Word (special revelation). Man sins when he chooses, of his own free will, to reject God's Law and to seek his own thing.
2. Define the Covenant of Works. Give the reasons why it did not exist. The Covenant of Works uses the words of a legal agreement, promises a reward for adherence, spells out all requirements, provides for punishment of transgressors, and has at least two participants. This Covenant does not seem to have existed because the Bible does not support it, Adam and God did not both agree, there is not a clearly-defined covenant, there were not any spelled out rewards for obedience.
3. What caused the fall of man? Adam fell into the common of traps of sin: (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life.
4. What were the conditions in the garden and what was the nature of man that led to the fall? Adam and Eve were there, and they had all that they needed. Satan came to Eve and enticed her with the fruit. She liked what she saw and ate it. Then, Adam ate. They were driven by the three parts of sin - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - and they took the fruit which they should have rejected.
5. List and explain the different views of the fall. First, the mythical account says that it never happened, that is was only a myth. Second, the allegorical account says that the story is only figurative or symbolic. Third, the historical and literal view says that it really happened just like the Bible says.
6. List the assertions to the sinfulness of man. First, sin shows itself in little children. Second, sin exists in every person. Third, man's entire being is corrupt. Fourth, believers can attest to their own sinfulness. Fifth, the Bible teaches that sin is real. Sixth, all people need to be redeemed. Seventh, people die, just as Romans 6:23.
7. List those who had immediate consequences to the fall and indicate what they were. First, the serpent was judged and made to crawl on its belly forever. Second, Adam and Eve were judged and forced out of the Garden. Third, the earth was judged. There is no longer harmony among all animals. Fourth, Satan was judged, and he will be punished when Christ returns.
8. Did God create sin? What are the different arguments that support your answer? Why are they important? God allows us to be tempted so that we can obtain a confirmed holiness. He did not create sin, and He does not make us sin. Adam and Eve had a way to escape if they had so chosen, but they did not. God allowed all of this so that humanity could exercise free will.
1. List the inadequate views of sin. Why do they not adequately define sin?
2. What must be included in a definition of sin? Sin is a specific evil, it stands related to the law, the law which is the law of God. It consists in the want of conformity and includes guilt and moral pollution.
3. Define temptation. When does temptation become sin? Why? Temptation is desire, intent to have the object of desire, developing a plan to acquire that which is desired, willingness to put the plan into action, and actually gratifying oneself with the object. Sin takes place at step four when the individual actually starts moving toward having the object.
4. What are the kinds of sin? Sin either is presumptuous, done intentionally, or innocent, done without intent. It is either commission, which is doing something wrong, or omission, which is not doing something which should be done.
5. What were the consequences to our parents because of their sin? The consequences of sin were separation from God or lost fellowship with Him. It will result in physical death, plus there may have been some earthly consequences of some wrong doings.
6. What is imputation and how is it carried out? Imputation means to reckon or lay to one's account the guilt of sin. It is carried out by immediate imputation. When Adam sinned, his sin was imputed to each of us.
7. What is the Pelagian view of imputation? Why is it rejected? This view says that people sin because of Adam's example. It is rejected because David and Paul say that man is born with an evil nature, also because Paul associated man's evil disposition directly with Adam's sin. If the Pelagians are correct, then they would basically be saying that people are amoral.
8. What is the Semi-Pelagian view of imputation? Why is it rejected? This group rejected original sin, but they did accept the sin nature as part of birth, from one generation to the next. Like with the Pelagian view, this view makes man amoral. They also void the Bible claim that lust, hatred, malice, and so forth, are sin.
9. Explain the Federal Headship view of imputation. What are the strengths/weaknesses? The Federal Headship view says that Adam acted as our representative. When he fell, we fell with him. This view is frequently presented in the Bible. It explains why all are guilty of Adam's first sin, but not all his sins.
10. Explain the Seminal view of imputation. What are its strengths/weaknesses? People are imputed the sin of Adam. Sin nature is inherited from parents. This view, which is supported by Romans 5:12-21 and Romans 5 and I Corinthians 15, says that all people were seminally in Adam when he sinned. This view makes it difficult t make us only guilty for Adam's first sin.
Tom of Spotswood "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lessons 18 & 19 - Anthropology
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