Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 8 (Sin) by reading up to the heading '14. The seat of original sin'.
My summary
This week Hodge asserts the Protestant doctrine of original sin.
Firstly Hodge gives an overview of the doctrine in church history and states the Protestant understanding.
Then he seeks to prove the doctrine of original sin by the:
(i) universal sinfulness of men;
(ii) total depravity of men;
(iii) early manifestation of sin;
(iv) need of redemption;
(v) necessity of regeneration;
(vi) universality of death;
(vii) common consent of Christians.
What grabbed me
I really appreciated the point that the sinfulness of sin is demonstrated by our rejection of Christ: 'A third proof of the dreadful evil of this hereditary corruption is seen in the universal rejection of Christ by those whom He came to save. He is in himself the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ; uniting in his own person all the perfections of the Godhead, and all the excellences of humanity. His mission was one of love, of a love utterly incomprehensible, unmerited, immutable, and infinite. Through love He not only humbled himself to be born of a woman, and to be made under the law, but to live a life of poverty, sorrow, and persecution ; to endure inconceivably great sufferings for our sakes, and finally to bear our sins in his own body on the tree. He has rendered it possible for God to be just and yet justify the ungodly. He therefore offers blessings of infinite value, without money and without price, to all who will accept them. He has secured, and offers to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ; to make us kings and priests unto God, and to exalt us to an unending state of inconceivable glory and blessedness. Notwithstanding all this ; notwithstanding the divine excellence of his person, the greatness of his love, the depth of his sufferings, and the value of the blessings which He has provided, and without which we must perish eternally, men universally, when left to themselves, reject Him. He came to his own and his own received Him not. The world hated, and still hates Him ; will not recognize Him as their God and Saviour ; will not accept of his offers ; will neither love nor serve Him. The conduct of men towards Christ is the clearest proof of the apostasy of our race, and of the depth of the depravity into which they are sunk ; and, so far as the hearers of the gospel are concerned, is the great ground of their condemnation. All other grounds seem merged into this, for our Lord says, that men are condemned because they do not believe in the only begotten Son of God. And the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of the Apostle, says, " If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be anathema maranatha ; " a sentence which will be ratified in the day of judgment by every rational creature, fallen and unfallen, in the universe.'
The universal rejection of one who is altogether lovely is a terrible indictment on the human race.
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 8 (Sin).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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