How does God execute His decrees?

God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence

What is the work of creation?

The work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good

Gen. 1–31; Heb. 11:3

How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures

Gen. 1:26–28; Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:24

What are God’s works of providence?

God’s works of providence are His most holy, (Psa. 145:17) wise, (Is. 28:29, Psa. 104:24) and powerful preserving (Heb. 1:3) and governing all His creatures, and all their actions

Psa. 103:19; Matt. 10:29–31

What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?

When God had created man, He entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death

Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:12

Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created by sinning against God

Gen. 3:6–8, 13; Eccles. 7:29

What is sin?

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God

1 John 3:4

What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit

Gen. 3:6, 12

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression

Gen. 2:16–17; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21–22

Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery

Rom. 5:12

Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

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

Matt. 15:19; Rom. 5:12–21; Eph. 2:1–3; James 1:14–15

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, (Gen. 3:8, 10, 24) are under His wrath and curse, (Gal. 3:10; Eph. 2:2–3) and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever

Lam. 3:39; Matt. 25:41, 46; Rom. 6:23