Lesson #19—Sin and Misery (Part 3)

Shorter Catechism Q & A # 19

Q. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

Communion with God is nothing less than that covenant relationship established when man was first created in the image of his Creator, when man, male and female, were to have dominion over all things created (Gen. 1:26–31). God’s wrath is known through the broken relationship between man and God, and through man’s authority over creation.

What does it mean?

Define Communion with God: 2 Cor. 13:14. Koinonea = participation, fellowship. Acts 2:42.

Define wrath and curse: Eph. 2:2–3; Gal. 3:10. Wrath = Anger; Curse = sentence of divine judgment and ruin inflicted (Heb. 3:11–12).

Discuss made liable to: Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46.

What is our practice?

Acknowledging that sin is the transgression of God’s moral law, that we are declared guilty, deserving the wrath of the divine Judge, we come to God through Christ alone, knowing that our relationship with our Father in heaven resides in the Son’s redemptive act on our behalf. By the Spirit we are able to repent, turn away from our sinful acts, and come to the Father as his redemptive children.

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“See our misery by the fall. Heirs of wrath. And is this estate to be rested in? If a man be fallen under the king’s displeasure, will he not labour to re-ingratiate himself into his favour? Oh let us flee from the wrath of God! And whither should we fly, but to Jesus Christ? There is none else to shield off the wrath of God from us. ‘Jesus hath delivered us from the wrath to come.’ 1 Thess. 1:10.” (Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity)

“And were by nature children of wrath. All men without exception, whether Jews or Gentiles, (Galatians 2:15,16,) are here pronounced to be guilty, until they are redeemed by Christ; so that out of Christ there is no righteousness, no salvation, and, in short, no excellence. Children of wrath are those who are lost, and who deserve eternal death. Wrath means the judgment of God; so that the children of wrath are those who are condemned before God.” (John Calvin, Eph. 2:3 Commentaries)

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