The Westminster Larger Catechism

Questions 149—152: On Transgressions of God's Moral Law

Q. 149. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No man is able, either of himself^a, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God^b; but doth daily break them in thought^c, word, and deed^d.

^a James 3:2; John 15:5; Rom. 8:3 ^b Eccl. 7:20; 1 John 1:8,10; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:18,19 ^c Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21 ^d Rom. 3:9-19; James 3:2-13

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?

A. All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others^a.

^a John 19:11; Ezek. 8:6,13,15; 1 John 5:16; Ps. 78:17,32,56

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?

A. Sins receive their aggravations,

1. From the persons offending^a; if they be of riper age^b, greater experience or grace^c, eminent for profession^d, gifts^e, place^f, office^g, guides to others^h, and whose example is likely to be followed by othersⁱ.

^a Jer. 2:8 ^b Job 32:7,9; Eccl. 4:13 ^c 1 Kings 11:4,9 ^d 2 Sam. 12:14; 1 Cor. 5:1 ^e James 4:17; Luke 12:47,48 ^f Jer. 5:4,5 ^g 2 Sam. 12:7-9; Ezek. 8:11,12 ^h Rom. 2:17-24 ⁱ Gal. 2:11-14

2. From the parties offended^k: if immediately against God^l, his attributes^m, and worshipⁿ; against Christ, and his grace^o; the Holy Spirit^p, his witness^q, and workings^r; against superiors, men of eminency^s, and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto^t; against any of the saints^u, particularly weak brethren^x, the souls of them, or any other^y, and the common good of all or many^z.

^k Matt. 21:38,39 ^l 1 Sam. 2:25; Acts 5:4; Ps. 51:4 ^m Rom. 2:4 ⁿ Mal. 1:8,14 ^o Heb. 2:2,3; Heb. 12:25 ^p Heb. 10:29; Matt. 12:31,32 ^q Eph. 4:30 ^r Heb. 6:4-6 ^s Jude 8; Num. 12:8,9; Isa. 3:5 ^t Prov. 30:17; 2 Cor. 12:15; Ps. 55:12-15 ^u Zeph. 2:8,10,11; Matt. 18:6; 1 Cor. 6:8; Rev. 17:6 ^x 1 Cor. 8:11,12; Rom. 14:13,15,21 ^y Ezek. 13:19; 1 Cor. 8:12; Rev. 18:12,13; Matt. 23:15 ^z 1 Thess. 2:15,16; Josh. 22:20

3. From the nature and quality of the offence^a: if it be against the express letter of the law^b, break many commandments, contain in it many sins^c: if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions^d, scandalize others^e, and admit of no reparation^f: if against means^g, mercies^h, judgmentsⁱ, light of nature^k, conviction of conscience^l, publick or private admonition^m, censures of the churchⁿ, civil punishments^o; and our prayers, purposes, promises^p, vows^q, covenants^r, and engagements to God or men^s: if done deliberately^t, wilfully^u, presumptuously^x, impudently^y, boastingly^z, maliciously^a, frequently^b, obstinately^c, with delight^d, continuance^e, or relapsing after repentance^f.

^a Prov. 6:30-35 ^b Ezra 9:10-12; 1 Kings 11:9,10 ^c Col. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:10; Prov. 5:8-12; Prov. 6:32,33; Josh 7:21 ^d James 1:14,15; Matt. 5:22; Micah 2:1 ^e Matt. 18:7; Rom. 2:23,24 ^f Deut. 22:22 compared with verses 28,29; Prov. 6:32-35 ^g Matt. 11:21-24; John 15:22 ^h Isa. 1:3; Deut. 32:6 ⁱ Amos 4:8-11; Jer. 5:3 ^k Rom. 1:26,27 ^l Rom. 1:32; Dan. 5:22; Tit. 3:10,11 ^m Prov. 29:1 ⁿ Tit. 3:10; Matt. 18:17 ^o Prov. 27:22; Prov. 23:35 ^p Ps. 78:34-37; Jer. 2:20; Jer. 42:5,6,20,21 ^q Eccl. 5:4-6; Prov. 20:25 ^r Lev. 26:25 ^s Prov. 2:17; Ezek. 17:18,19 ^t Ps. 36:4 ^u Jer. 6:16 ^x Num. 15:30; Exod. 21:14 ^y Jer. 3:3; Prov. 7:13 ^z Ps. 52:1 ^a 3 John 10 ^b Num. 14:22 ^c Zech. 7:11,12 ^d Prov. 2:14 ^e Isa. 57:17 ^f Jer. 34:8-11; 2 Pet. 2:20-22

4. From circumstances of time^g and place^h: if on the Lord's dayⁱ, or other times of divine worship^k; or immediately before^l or after these^m, or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriagesⁿ: if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled^o.

^g 2 Kings 5:26 ^h Jer. 7:10; Isa. 26:10 ⁱ Ezek. 23:37-39 ^k Isa. 58:3-5; Num. 25:6,7 ^l 1 Cor. 11:20,21 ^m Jer. 7:8-10; Prov. 7:14,15; John 13:27,30 ⁿ Ezra 9:13,14 ^o 2 Sam. 16:22; 1 Sam. 2:22-24

Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?

A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty^a, goodness^b, and holiness of God^c, and against his righteous law^d, deserveth his wrath and curse^e, both in this life^f, and that which is to come^g; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ^h.

^a James 2:10,11 ^b Exod. 20:1,2 ^c Hab. 1:13; Lev. 10:3; Lev. 11:44,45 ^d 1 John 3:4; Rom. 7:12 ^e Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10 ^f Lam. 3:39; Deut. 28:15-68 ^g Matt. 25:41 ^h Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18,19