April Questions

QUESTION 14: Did God create us unable to keep his law?_a

Answer: No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve,_b all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law._c

Scripture: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 17 and 19-24.
• b.) Genesis 3:6. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
• c.) Psalm 51:5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Isaiah 64:6. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Romans 5:18a, 19a. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men… For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners.

QUESTION 15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?_a

Answer: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior._b

Scripture: For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism  QUESTION 89.
• b.) Psalm 19:7-11. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Romans 7:7. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Galatians 2:22, 24. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe… So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. Titus 2:13-14. Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. See also Romans 3:31, Romans 7:12, 1 Timothy 1:8.

QUESTION 16: What is sin?_a

Answer: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation._b

Scripture: Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism  QUESTION 18.
• b.) Leviticus 5:17. If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. Romans 5:13. For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. James 4:17. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

QUESTION 17: What is idolatry?_a

Answer: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security._b

Scripture: For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened… because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:21, 25)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 55-58.
• b.) Exodus 32:8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” Deuteronomy 4:15-16. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female. 1 Chronicles 16:26. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Romans 1:22-23. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. See also 1 Kings 18:20-29, Jeremiah 2:27-28, Acts 17:29, Galatians 4:8, and 1 Thessalonians 1:9.