Originally Posted by ATulipNotADaisy
The WCF chap 6.4 states “From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.”

Doesn’t this mean that there is NO good left in man due to the Fall?

However, not all men commit acts that are as bad as they could be.
For example I would not rob a bank, but is this due to:

1. the restraining hand of God
2. my own self-righteousness since I don’t want to go to jail
3. both
1. There are two parts to "Original Sin"; a) imputation of Adam's guilt to all his progeny, b) spiritual death, aka: corruption of nature, total depravity/inability.
2. The latter is what you are referring to, i.e., "Total Depravity/Inability" which means in simple terms, fallen man has no desire nor ability to do ANYTHING good, nor even to think anything good. The natural man hates God and all that is holy, pure, good, etc. (cf. Rom 3:9-13; Eph 2:1-5; et al).
3. Scripture teaches that the natural man is totally depraved but not utterly depraved, i.e., man is not as bad as he could be, or as John Gerstner succinctly put it, "there is room for deprovement".
4. The reasons you gave for you not robbing a bank are correct; "1. the restraining hand of God 2. my own self-righteousness since I don’t want to go to jail 3. both" (cf. Gen 20:2-6; Acts 2:22-24). God has decreed/ordained/predestined ALL THINGS and by His omnipotent providence He brings all things to pass for His own glory and for the sanctification and final good of those whom He loved from eternity in Christ Jesus. AND... all men are 100% responsible and culpable for their evil thoughts, words, and deeds.

Conclusion: Fallen man cannot do anything good, i.e., perfectly in accord with God's holy law. And (not but) man does do relative good according to man's own standards/law due to God's restraining man's natural evil and not eut to anything within man himself.

[Linked Image]

simul iustus et peccator

[Linked Image]