Lord’s Day 3
Q8. Are we so sinful that we cannot do any good at all and are drawn toward all kinds of evil?
Yes, unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Genesis 6:5
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 8:21
“And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”
Job 14:4
“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.”
Isaiah 53:6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John 3:3–5
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
Can we do any good at all without being born again by the Spirit of God?
- 2
What does it mean to be "born again"?
- 3
Why do you think the catechism says we are drawn toward "all kinds of evil"?
Illustration
A dead battery cannot power a flashlight no matter how new and shiny the flashlight looks on the outside. Without the Holy Spirit giving us new life, we are like that dead battery. We might look fine on the outside, but we have no power to do what is good on our own.
Application
This is a hard teaching, and it should make you feel your need for God. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart that wants to do good. Only he can do this work in you.