Catechism Question 14
Did God originally create humans so sinful and guilty?
No. God originally created them good, made in His own image, able to glorify and enjoy Him forever.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question, we are making the point that human beings were not created sinful and guilty. We were created with the ability to be like God in character and to fulfill the purpose for which we were made. The problem is not in our original design or creation – it is in our conduct after we were created. This will lead to the following questions that discuss the fall of Adam and how that has affected us.
This question shows us that the problem we have can not be blamed on God. It is not that He made us sinful and guilty. He made us sinless, able to obey Him, and to glorify and enjoy Him forever. The problem we have has come from ourselves – not from God.
Additional Questions:
Did God make people who were sinful?
Were Adam and Eve created as sinners?
Were Adam and Eve able to obey God when they were created?
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 2:15-17
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Genesis 5:1
This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.
Ecclesiastes 7:29
This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.
Ephesians 4:24
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Psalm 8:3-9
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Questions for Further Discussion:
What does it mean that humans are the image of God? Is it some part or trait of humans that is the image of God, or is it our humanity itself, in its fullness, that is the image of God?
When God looked at everything in creation and said it was very good, what does that tell us about creation as God originally made it? What about humans?
Were Adam and Eve able to obey God when they were created?
What was the original character of Adam and Eve like? How does Paul describe the image of God in Ephesians 4:24? What are the three words we have used to summarize God’s character? (See question 7).
What did God command Adam and Eve to do? If they did this, would it have brought glory to God? Would it have brought enjoyment to them?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 6 of the Heidelberg Catechism, questions 9 and 10 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and question 14 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg, Westminster Shorter, or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “Man – The Image of God” (March 25, 2007), and “God’s Call for Mankind” (April 1, 2007).
Suggested Worship Song:
All Creatures of Our God and King (by Francis of Assisi, 1225)
All Creatures of Our God and King
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
Refrain
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
(Refrain)
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.
(Refrain)
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
(Refrain)
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
(Refrain)