Westminster Shorter Catechism: Questions 17 & 18

Introduction (Proposition)

Question 17:

Q: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A: The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery

Question 18:

Q: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

A: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

Talk about “want” means to lack. In other words, “the lack of original righteousness.”

Tell the funny story about how old ways of language is so confusing and how it took a long time to actually understand what Psalm 23:1 actually means when it says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. Talk about when we’d sing Audrey Assad’s song “I Shall Not Want” and how I was convicted singing it the correct way and in my head, would sing “I Shall Want”. Maybe provide a couple examples of old english that can confuse somebody now. Then talk about this particular example of the use of the word “want” in the Shorter Catechism answer. “Want” means to lack. So “the want of original sins” means “the lack of original sin.”

Matt Heft will specifically be talking about the “misery” part of Question 17 when preaches on Question 19. Today, I will be focusing on the “sin” portion of the question 17, by answering Question 18.

Give the flow of the Westminster Catechism (Questions 13-19 focuses on the fall of man, sin, and the punishment for sin. In Question,

Guilt

Subpoint 1

Subpoint 2

Subpoint 3

Subpoint 1

Subpoint 2

Subpoint 3

Main Point 3

Subpoint 1

Subpoint 2

Subpoint 3

Conclusion: So now what?