The Christian System - Chapter 7
MAN AS HE IS.
I. "God made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions." Adam rebelled. The natural man became preternatural. The animal triumphed over the human elements of his nature. Sin was born on earth. The crown fell from his head. The glory of the Lord departed from him. He felt his guilt, and trembled, he saw his nakedness and blushed. The bright candle of the Lord became a dimly smoking taper. He was led to judgment. He was tried, condemned to death, divested of his patrimonial inheritance, but respited from immediate execution. A prisoner of death, but permitted to roam abroad and at large till the King authorized his seizure and destruction.
II. The stream of humanity, thus contaminated at its fountain, cannot in this world ever rise of itself, to its primitive purity and excellence. We all inherit a frail constitution, physically, intellectually, but especially morally frail and imbecile. We have all inherited our father's constitution and fortune: for Adam, we are told, after he fell "begat a son in his own image," and that son was just as bad as any other son ever born into the world: for he murdered his own dear brother, because he was a better man than himself. "Thus, by one man sin entered into the world, and death by that one sin, and so death, the wages of sin, has fallen upon all the offspring of Adam," because in him they have all sinned, or been made mortal--and consequently are born under condemnation to that death which fell upon our common progenitor, because of his transgression.
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I. "God made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions." Adam rebelled. The natural man became preternatural. The animal triumphed over the human elements of his nature. Sin was born on earth. The crown fell from his head. The glory of the Lord departed from him. He felt his guilt, and trembled, he saw his nakedness and blushed. The bright candle of the Lord became a dimly smoking taper. He was led to judgment. He was tried, condemned to death, divested of his patrimonial inheritance, but respited from immediate execution. A prisoner of death, but permitted to roam abroad and at large till the King authorized his seizure and destruction.
II. The stream of humanity, thus contaminated at its fountain, cannot in this world ever rise of itself, to its primitive purity and excellence. We all inherit a frail constitution, physically, intellectually, but especially morally frail and imbecile. We have all inherited our father's constitution and fortune: for Adam, we are told, after he fell "begat a son in his own image," and that son was just as bad as any other son ever born into the world: for he murdered his own dear brother, because he was a better man than himself. "Thus, by one man sin entered into the world, and death by that one sin, and so death, the wages of sin, has fallen upon all the offspring of Adam," because in him they have all sinned, or been made mortal--and consequently are born under condemnation to that death which fell upon our common progenitor, because of his transgression.
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posted by Ken | 3:29 PM
3 Comments:
Is there any issues with AC on this one?
Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
I dunno. I'm not sure what he meant in the last paragraph. If children are born "depraved" then I don't see any other way then infant baptism. I've got the same issue with Baptist teaching on this.
The idea of a "sinful nature" has been anathema in the coCs I know of. Personally, I would use the term sinful nature, perhaps "stain" or "wounded nature" as the Catholics do.
Do you have any issues with what AC wrote up until this point?
I wouldn't put it on the personal level as you have done in asking your question. Like I commented earlier, I'm interested in the ideas he presents.
AC took the "fall" more seriously than most of his spiritual children. In fact you will find similiar thoughts burid in Robert Milligan's Scheme of Redemption as well but these thoughts have largely been ignored by 20th century, and far less theological, Churches of Christ.
The cross of Jesus is how AC deals with the depravity of human nature. I will have to dig it up but if you are interested I will.
Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
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