Question 9

Doth not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law, that which he cannot perform?

Not at all;^a for God made man capable of performing it,^b but man, by the instigation of the devil,^c and his own wilful disobedience, deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.^d

1. a. Ecclesiastes 7:29

   Ecclesiastes 7:29

   ^7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

   ^7:29 Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3

   John 8:44

   ^8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

   ^8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

   2 Corinthians 11:3

   ^11:3 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.

   ^11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Genesis 3:4, 7

   Genesis 3:4; Genesis 3:7

   ^3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ^3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

   ^3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent told her. ^3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

4. d. Romans 5:12

   Romans 5:12

   ^5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

   ^5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible