Adam as federal head; total depravity; inherited guilt and corruption; Canons teaching
The RCA affirms original sin as taught in the Canons of Dort and the Heidelberg Catechism. Adam acted as the federal head of all humanity; his sin brought guilt and death to all his posterity. Every human being inherits both the guilt and the corruption of Adam's transgression.
Total depravity means that sin has affected every aspect of human nature. The human will is bound by sin and cannot, without grace, turn toward God. Every human heart is naturally inclined toward evil; human reason is darkened, and the affections are disordered. This radical fallenness is the condition from which grace alone can redeem.
The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that by nature we are prone to hate God and our neighbors. The doctrine undergirds the necessity of Christ's atoning death and the Holy Spirit's regenerating grace. Without understanding the depth of human depravity, the magnitude of grace and the centrality of Christ cannot be properly appreciated.
Key Distinctions
- Doctrine type:
- Adam's sin imputed to all humanity
- Free will effect:
- All faculties affected; no natural goodness
Scripture References
Sources
- Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 3-5
- Canons of Dort III/IV