Ever since Adam revolted against God, all parts of the soul were possessed by sin. Not only did the appetites of the body entice Adam, but also a damnable impiety siezed his mind. Pride penetrated his innermost heart (Romans 7:12). Therefore, it is foolish to confine the corruption of sin merely to bodily desires. It is not enough either to call sin a desire which drags the body into sin. In other words, Peter Lombard got it wrong. Lombard claims that the very locus of corruption is in the flesh (as Paul declare), but Lombard merely says it is more apparent in the flesh. Lombard makes it seem that Paul only means that sin corrupts part of the soul and not the whole human nature. Yet Paul himself leaves no room for doubt when he says that corruption does not dwell in only one part. For Paul, no part of the soul is free from sin’s deadly stain. When Paul talks about our corrupt nature, he not only condemns the inordinate appetites of the body, but he also declares that our understanding is subject to blindness and the heart to depravity (Ephesians 4:17-18).

Romans 3 is nothing but a description of original sin. The truth of original sin is clearly shown by the need for spiritual renovation. The spirit, which is contrasted with the “old man” and the “flesh” signifies not onyl the grace by which the broken part of the soul is corrected but includes a complete renovation of the soul in all of its parts (Ephesians 4:23). Paul exhorts us to make sure not only our sinful appetites are suppressed but also that we would be renewed in the spirit of our min (Ephesians 4:23). Elsewhere, Paul tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Therefore, the most excellent parts of the soul have not only been wounded but so corrupted that a mere cure is not sufficient. There must be a totally new nature. We will shortly see how far sin has seized the mind and the heart. Here I only want to briefly observe that the whole person from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot is plunged into sin. No part of a person remains exempt from sin. Therefore, everything which comes from a person is imputed as sin. Thus Paul says that all our carnal thoughts and affections demonstrate enmity against God and deserve death (Romans 8:7).

“Blogging the Institutes” is my on-going attempt to paraphrase John Calvin’s work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. You can find out more about the series in the Introduction. For all the posts in this series, check out the Master List.