Heidelberg Catechism

Question 9. Does not God do injustice to man by requiring from him in his law what he is unable to do?

Answer: Not at all; (a) for God created man with the ability to keep the law; but man, at the instigation of the devil, (b) and his own willful disobedience, (c) deprived himself and all his descendants of these gifts.(d)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

a. Genesis 1:31

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

b. Genesis 3:13

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

      John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

c. Genesis 3:6

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

d. Romans 5:12, 18, 19

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.