The Creation and the Fall of Man - Lesson 5 from the Baltimore Cathechism

Baltimore Cathechism ^

[narses]

48. What is man?

Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

And God created man to his own image. (Genesis 2:7)

49. Is this likeness to God in the body or in the soul?

This likeness to God is chiefly in the soul.

50. How is the soul like God?

The soul is like God because it is a spirit having understanding and free will, and is destined to live forever.

And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

51. Who were the first man and woman?

The first man and woman were Adam and Eve, the first parents of the whole human race.

And Adam called the name of his wife Eve. (Genesis 3:15)

52. What was the chief gift bestowed on Adam and Eve by God?

The chief gift bestowed on Adam and Eve by God was sanctifying grace, which made them children of God and gave them the right to heaven.

53. What other gifts were bestowed on Adam and Eve by God?

The other gifts bestowed on Adam and Eve by God were happiness in the Garden of Paradise, great knowledge, control of the passions by reason, and freedom from suffering and death.

He gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise; and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding. (Ecclesiasticus 17:5)

54. What commandment did God give Adam and Eve?

God gave Adam and Eve the commandment not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree that grew in the Garden of Paradise.

And he commanded him, saying: "Of every tree of paradise thou shalt eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the death." (Genesis 2:16-17)

55. Did Adam and Eve obey the commandment of God?

Adam and Eve did not obey the commandment of God, but ate of the forbidden fruit.

And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold; and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband who did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

56. What happened to Adam and Eve on account of their sin?

On account of their sin Adam and Eve lost sanctifying grace, the right to heaven, and their special gifts; they became subject to death, to suffering, and to a strong inclination to evil, and they were driven from the Garden of Paradise.

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth, out of which thou wast taken; for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return. (Genesis 3:19)

57. What has happened to us on account of the sin of Adam?

On account of the sin of Adam, we, his descendants, come into the world deprived of sanctifying grace and inherit his punishment, as we would have inherited his gifts had he been obedient to God.

But, by the envy of the devil, death came into the world. (Wisdom 2:24)

58. What is this sin in us called?

This sin in us is called original.

59. Why is this sin called original?

This sin is called original because it comes down to us through our origin, or descent, from Adam.

Therefore as through one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)

60. What are the chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin?

The chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin are: death, suffering, ignorance, and a strong inclination to sin.

61. Is God unjust in punishing us on account of the sin of Adam?

God is not unjust in punishing us on account of the sin of Adam, because original sin does not take away from us anything to which we have a strict right as human beings, but only the free gifts which God in His goodness would have bestowed on us if Adam had not sinned.

62. Was any human person ever preserved from original sin?

The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of her Divine Son, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.

I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

[narses]

The Baltimore Catechism: The Purpose of Man's Existence
The Baltimore Catechism: God and His Perfections
The Baltimore Cathechism: The Unity and Trinity of God The Baltimore Cathechism: Creation and the Angels

The Baltimore Catechism: The Purpose of Man's Existence
The Baltimore Catechism: God and His Perfections
The Baltimore Cathechism: The Unity and Trinity of God The Baltimore Cathechism: Creation and the Angels

[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[Alex Murphy]

"In 1648, the first printing of the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly were made available for distribution and sale in England and Scotland. They remain the clearest expressions of Reformed Protestantism ever formulated..."

- May 13, This Week in Religion History

Confession and Catechisms [introduction to the Westminster Confession of Faith]

The Westminster Confession of Faith
[from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church website]
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scripture
Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: Of God’s Eternal Decree
Chapter 4: Of Creation
Chapter 5: Of Providence
Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant with Man
Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Of Free Will
Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Of Justification
Chapter 12: Of Adoption
Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life
Chapter 16: Of Good Works
Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints
Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
Chapter 20: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 23: Of the Civil Magistrate
Chapter 24: Of Marriage and Divorce
Chapter 25: Of the Church
Chapter 26: Of the Communion of Saints
Chapter 27: Of the Sacraments
Chapter 28: Of Baptism
Chapter 29: Of the Lord’s Supper
Chapter 30: Of Church Censures
Chapter 31: Of Synods and Councils
Chapter 32: Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 33: Of the Last Judgment

[narses]

LOL, welcome Alex. I will note that your heretical postings are welcome. For educational value, if not for ironic and humor value as well.

[RecallMoran]

Obama is evil. His evil actions especially in support of abortion, partial birth abortion, and infanticide demonstrate that he is evil. Communists are evil and much of the 20th century was spent fighting their murders, oppression and atheistic philosophies. Why do the masses of people that support him not see this?

Look at the temptations in the desert that Satan offered Jesus. 1. Provide bread for the people and they will worship you. Obama seeks to provide “bread” but man does not live by bread alone and man condemns himself by accepting it in peril of his soul. 2. Satan offers a political kingdom if he will pay tribute—abortion is tribute to satan.

[narses]

I agree.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

Obama Doesn’t Want His Daughters Punished with a Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg

CNN on Obama’s Infant Born Alive Act Rejection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY

Jill Stanek on Obama and Born Alive Infant Protection Act (MUST SEE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

Obama Cover-up Revealed On Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill

http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/ObamaCoverup.html

Explosive Audio Found Obama arguing against BAIPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypDwNpgIUQc

Babies left to die!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

[dartuser]

62. Was any human person ever preserved from original sin?

The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin

There are so many problems with this belief that its difficult to even begin. So lets just go to the previous statement in number 59:

Therefore as through one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)

I guess it depends what the meaning of "all" is.

I have never heard a coherant explanation from a Catholic as to why it is necessary for Mary to be born sinless also. Its a glaring contradiction with Scripture, and its full of logical implications that destroy the doctrine of salvation. Anyone out there that can explain this?

[RecallMoran]

This guy scares the hell out of me but not as much as his followers. He at least is seeking the obvious, power, what do they seek? They have sujugated their consciences, their basic humanity, the moral law written on their hearts for what?

[RecallMoran]

Do you disagree that all men experience a physical death? I’m confused by whether you are an atheist or a protestant. My approach to explaining Catholic doctrine to you hinges on whether you believe in Jesus Christ and his providing salvation or whether you deny the existance of God.

[narses]

Here is Luther on Mary and sin:

Mother Mary, like us, was born in sin of sinful parents, but the Holy Spirit covered her, sanctified and purified her so that this child was born of flesh and blood, but not with sinful flesh and blood. The Holy Spirit permitted the Virgin Mary to remain a true, natural human being of flesh and blood, just as we. However, he warded off sin from her flesh and blood so that she became the mother of a pure child, not poisoned by sin as we are…For in that moment when she conceived, she was a holy mother filled with the Holy Spirit and her fruit is a holy pure fruit, at once God and truly man, in one person. [36]

In 1534 Luther explained that Christ was “born of a young maiden, as you and I are born of our mothers. The only difference is that the Holy Spirit engineered this conception and birth, while in contrast we mortals are conceived and born in sin.”[37] Mary functioned in Luther’s theology as “the guarantee of the reality of the incarnation and of the human nature of Christ.”[38]

From http://www.ntrmin.org/Luthers%20Theology%20of%20Mary.htm#IV

[narses]

Like those who worshipped the Golden Calf, they want Paradise on Earth.

[RecallMoran]

Mary has the splendor of an entirely unique holiness and is enriched from the first instant of her conception through her son. She is redeemed (her original sin cleansed) in a more exalted fashion by reason of the merits of her Son. The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person in Christ with every spiritual blessing int he heavenly places and chose her in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blamelwss before him in love.

There is no time with God. Mary was conceived without original sin to be the mother of Christ. As Christ had not yet redeemed man before his incarnation had Mary not been preserved from sin then God would have impregnated a stained, un-justified, human whose soul was dark to Him with his son who is Himself. Her cousin Elizabeth recognized, as she carried John the Baptist, that Mary was “full of grace.” Grace is “part of God’s life” which would not inhabit a vessel stained and darkened by original sin.

For those in my RCIA class who struggle with this concept I ask them to imagine placing their new born child in a filthy toilet. Now imagine that the child is divine and the savior of the world.

It actually is much more liberating a concept than to believe, as Luther did, that man is never cleansed of original sin but his filth is only covered by the mantle of the merits of Christ. Man’s soul is washed by the redeeming blood of Christ and his faith and acts determine his judgement when he stands before God. Man, through his free will loves God (faith) and follows God’s commandments (acts).

The rejection of Mary as special(odd that Christians would be so hostile to the Mother of God) was important to the reformers so that they could spread the concept of only Christ’s merits covering man’s original sin and not the forgivenss of sin and the cleansing of man’s soul. In thier doctrine man is truely evil wherein Catholic doctrine man is, with baptism, truely good and born anew in the spirit. As Jesus says to Nicodemus, “”Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

The Church’s doctrine on Mary’s being born without Original Sin was not proclaimed until 1854. The Church held that view for about one thousand seven hundred years before making it doctrine. One reason that the Catholic Church acts so slowly to make doctrinal additions is that it, as Christ’s rock, waits to make sure that the Holy Spirit has acted on the community of true believers before making additions to doctrine. Something believed for 3 or 400 years wouldn’t make a dent.

[Just mythoughts]

54. What commandment did God give Adam and Eve? God gave Adam and Eve the commandment not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree that grew in the Garden of Paradise. And he commanded him, saying: "Of every tree of paradise thou shalt eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the death." (Genesis 2:16-17)

Genesis 2:16-17 The woman later called Eve had not yet been created when this command was given to him. So where is it recorded that God said one Word to 'that woman', later called Eve???

How did a tree labeled the tree of the knowledge of good and evil get labeled an apple tree. I can't find one mention of an apple tree anywhere regarding that sin. Now it does say that when this fruit was touched eyes were opened and these two figured out they were naked and sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Further I have yet to meet any person at any age that realized they were naked after eating an apple!!!!

Curiously Paul picks up the woman in his writings of his mission in presenting us to one husband, as a chaste virgin to Christ. IICorinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with 'godly' jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 BUT I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Interesting how down through the passage of time Eve is usually the one as was with out of Adam's own mouth the receiver of majority of blame for what actually took place in the Garden.

Adam was instructed by God Himself NOT to mess with that forbidden tree, yet he did, and when called to account he blamed that woman that God gave him Genesis 3:12 ... And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."

First recording of liberalism in the known 'world' and it still flourishes to this day.

[RecallMoran]

Eve was aware of what God had said to Adam. Not only did they both have infused knowledge from God but Adam probably told her. Even now a man would tell his wife the rules that God had told him.

Where did you get the idea that it was an apple? The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. No mention of an apple.

When Paul talks about the chaste virgin he is continuing the metaphore that Christ began in the Gospels of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His body post resurrection. He isn’t talking about Eve per se.

[Just mythoughts]

Eve was aware of what God had said to Adam. Not only did they both have infused knowledge from God but Adam probably told her. Even now a man would tell his wife the rules that God had told him.

I did not say she was unaware, but there is NO record of it being God Himself giving her that command, which is exactly why that shining serpent went to her to shall we say seduce. Even now the majority of men I have encounter do know that scripture of woman submit cause I am man and God says to, but they for some reason fail miserably to live up to their commanded stature of being as Christ to the Church.

ere did you get the idea that it was an apple? The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. No mention of an apple.

That is exactly what I was told as a child and I still continue to hear unto this day supposed preachers in the name of Christ refer to the apple being the object of touch and sin.

When Paul talks about the chaste virgin he is continuing the metaphore that Christ began in the Gospels of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His body post resurrection. He isn’t talking about Eve per se.

Read what Paul said again he did not stumble in his chosen words, he used EVE as lesson ONE in what he feared would be the outcome for corruption of the simplicity found in Christ. Guess one would have to know that sin to understand why the word virgin would be used.

[Iscool]

There is no time with God.

Of course there is...It's one thing that you guys add to and take away from the written words of God...It's another when you just flat out deny what God says...

Rev 10:6 And swore by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Time doesn't end til the 7th Angel of the Tribulation shows up...

[Iscool]

The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of her Divine Son, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.

I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

The one is supposed to be a proof text for the other??? There is nothing in either statement that points to the other...

[Petronski]

Time doesn't end til the 7th Angel of the Tribulation shows up...

LOL

[Iscool]

48. What is man?

Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

And God created man to his own image. (Genesis 2:7)

49. Is this likeness to God in the body or in the soul?

This likeness to God is chiefly in the soul.

Obviously you don't spend much time with the scripture since you copied someone else's error...THAT is not what Gen. 2:7 says...

And whoever wrote this piece doesn't have an understanding of what man is...

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Apparently you don't get it...

We are made in God's image...God is a Trinity...Man is a trinity...We have a body, a soul AND a spirit...A soul and a spirit are not the same thing...

[Iscool]

No doubt a lot of what God says is hilarious to you...