Heidelberg Catechism Week 3

6. Q. Did God create people so wicked and perverse? A. No. God created them good and in His own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love Him with all their heart, and live with Him in eternal happiness for His praise and glory.

7. Q. Then where does this corrupt human nature come from? A. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise. This fall has so poisoned our nature that we are born sinners - corrupt from conception on.

8. Q. But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil? A. Yes, unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

We are made in God's image. God created man to be like Him - to know Him, to hear from Him, to communicate with Him, and to have union with Him. He gave us souls that will live forever. However, Adam's disobedience caused human nature to be corrupted, and brought sin, shame, fear, blame, and pain into the world.

My fundamental problem is a sinful, corrupt heart that I was born with, inherited from Adam. This is what theologians call total depravity: "we are bad through and through (in head and heart and will) ... we are unable to do anything truly righteous because our 'good' acts do not come from faith and do not aim at the glory of God."

My only hope is to have my heart changed and made new by the Holy Spirit. And by the grace of God I have indeed been born again into newness of life!

At my church we sing this hymn of Isaac Watts that summarizes this truth:

How sad our state by nature is,
Our sin how deep it stains;
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains.
But there's a voice of sov'reign grace
Sounds from the sacred Word,
"Ho! ye despairing sinners come,
And trust upon the Lord."

My soul obeys th'almighty call,
And runs to this relief;
I would believe Thy promise, Lord;
O help my unbelief.
Unto the fountain of Thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me wash my spotted soul
From crimes of deepest dye.

Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King,
My reigning sins subdue;
And drive the dragon from his seat,
With all his hellish crew.
A guilty weak and helpless worm,
On Thy kind arms I fall,
Be Thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus, and my all.