Article Three: The Fall of Man — Understanding Our Greatest Problem
One of the most important questions we can ask is, What is wrong with the world? Every generation wrestles with violence, injustice, broken relationships, suffering, and death. While many explanations are offered, the Bible takes us back to one defining event: the fall of man.
Article Three of the 1853 New Hampshire Baptist Confession summarizes this biblical truth beautifully:
“We believe that man was created in holiness… but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state…”
The Bible begins with humanity in perfect fellowship with God. Created in His image, Adam and Eve were holy, joyful, and free from sin (Genesis 1:26–31). They lived under God’s good authority, enjoying His presence and every blessing He had provided.
Yet everything changed when they willingly disobeyed God’s command (Genesis 3). Their sin was not forced upon them. It was a deliberate act of rebellion against their Creator. Through that one act, sin entered the world, bringing guilt, corruption, suffering, and death.
The confession goes on to explain that this tragedy affects every one of us. We are “all mankind… sinners, not by constraint, but choice.” Scripture teaches both that we inherit a sinful nature from Adam (Romans 5:12–19) and that we personally choose to sin (Romans 3:10–18, 23). We are not merely victims of a broken world; we are participants in its brokenness.
This is why the confession says we are “by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil.” Left to ourselves, we do not naturally seek God or delight in His ways. Instead, our hearts are bent toward self-rule. Every part of our being has been affected by sin—our minds, desires, wills, and actions.
These words may sound severe, but they are profoundly honest. Before we can appreciate the greatness of God’s grace, we must first understand the depth of our need.
The article concludes by reminding us that, apart from God’s mercy, we stand “under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.” God’s judgment is never arbitrary or unfair. Because He is perfectly holy, He must judge sin with perfect justice. None of us can stand before Him claiming innocence.
Yet this sobering truth prepares us for the glorious message of the gospel.
The bad news of our fall makes the good news of Jesus Christ shine all the brighter. Where Adam failed, Christ obeyed perfectly. Where our sin brought condemnation, Christ bore that condemnation on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, forgiveness, righteousness, and new life are freely offered to all who repent and believe.
The doctrine of the fall keeps us humble because it reminds us that salvation is entirely by grace. It also fills us with hope because the God who justly condemns sin is the same God who lovingly sent His Son to rescue sinners.
Only when we understand how far humanity has fallen can we truly rejoice in how great a Savior we have.
III. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore without defense or excuse.