February 13, 2020

Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 - Shedd - XIV - Chapter V Original Sin concluded

Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - 
Conclude Chapter 5 'Original sin'.

My summary
Today we finish the chapter on original sin.

The reading is primarily concerned with answering the following objections:
(i) if man is unable to keep the law, he is not obligated to keep it;
(ii) if the apostate will is unable to perfectly obey the divine law, it is not free;
(iii) if the sinner has no power to obey the law, he has nothing to do in the matter of religion;
(iv) if the sinner's ability to keep the moral law depends upon the sovereign grace of God, he must wait God's time;
(v) the sinner excuses himself from faith and repentance, by saying, 'I cannot believe';
(vi) the doctrine of inability is incompatible with commands and exhortations to believe, repent, and obey the law of God.

The reading closes with:
(i) objections to the doctrine of sinner's ability;
(ii) propositions that summarise the substance of the doctrine of inability;
(iii) discussion of actual transgressions;
(iv) the totality of man's depravity.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed these comments about what would be valid objections to total inability: 'If man were destitute of reason, conscience, will, or any of the faculties of a moral being, he would not be obligated. If he were internally wrought upon by an almighty being, and prevented from obeying, he would not be obligated. If he were prevented by any external compulsion, he would not be obligated. If he had been created sinful, he would not be obligated. If he had been created indifferent either to holiness or sin, he would not have been obligated. None of these conditions obtain in the case of man. He was created holy, with plenary power to keep perfectly the moral law, and therefore was obligated to keep it. At the point of creation, ability and obligation were equal. But if after creation in holiness and plenary power, any alteration be made in the original ratio between ability and obligation by the creature's voluntary agency, this cannot alter the original obligation. If ability is weakened by an act of self-determination, obligation is not weakened.'

None of the possible excuses are valid because none of them describe reality.

And thus our guilt remains and we must cast ourselves on God's mercy.

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 1 'Christ's theanthropic person' by reading up to the paragraph beginning '5. The theanthropic personality of the Redeemer began in time' (page 278 of my edition).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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