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

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 82. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

1. Ecclesiastes 7:20

   For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins. (NET)

2. 1 John 1:8, 10

   ⁸If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. ¹⁰If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. (NET)

3. Galatians 5:17

   For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. (NET)

4. Genesis 6:5

   But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time. (NET)

5. Genesis 8:21

   And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. (NET)

6. Romans 3:9-21

   ⁹What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, ¹⁰just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; ¹¹there is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God. ¹²All have turned away;together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” ¹³“Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips.” ¹⁴“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” ¹⁵“Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ruin and misery are in their paths, ¹⁷and the way of peace they have not known.” ¹⁸“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” ¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. ²¹But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed— (NET)

7. James 3:2-13

   ²For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. ³And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. ⁴Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. ⁵So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. ⁶And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell. ⁷For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. ⁸But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. ¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. ¹¹A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? ¹²Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

No mere man since the fall can perfectly keep God's commandments in this life. Everyone breaks them daily in thought, word and deed. The words 'mere man' leave room for Jesus, who is God and man and kept the law perfectly. This answer shows our need of a Savior.

What can we ask our children?

1. Can anyone keep God's law perfectly?
2. In what three ways do we break God's law?
3. Who is the one man who kept the law perfectly?