Since Adam derived his spiritual life from his union with God, his separation from the Lord meant death. Moreover, since Adam destroyed the natural order with his sin, it shouldn't surprise us that his sin would also deteriorate the whole human race. "The whole creation groans," says the apostle Paul, "being subject to futility, but … Continue reading Blogging the Institutes | 2.1.5 | Adam’s Sin Corrupts Everyone

When God punished Adam for his sin, it wasn't over some trivial fault but a heinous crime. So we're going to look into the nature of Adam's sin and why God inflicted such a dreadful punishment upon all humanity. Some theologians believe Adam's sin was merely giving into bodily urges. Such a view seems lackluster … Continue reading Blogging the Institutes | 2.1.4 | The Nature of Adam’s Sin

Some non-Christian writers will admit the limits of human reason due to their own experiences. They might have at one time failed to resist the lure of temptation, or have been duped by some false religion, or have been controlled by their emotions instead of rational thoughts. For this reason, Cicero says that the sparks … Continue reading Blogging the Institutes | 2.1.3 | Non-Christians Denigrate Sin and Elevate Reason