← Westminster Larger Catechism · Q. 29

What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?

⊕ Covenant

The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.1

Scripture proofs

The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.

1 2 Thess. 1:9; Mark 9:43–44, 46, 48; Luke 16:24
2 Thess. 1:9

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Mark 9:43–44, 46, 48

Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Luke 16:24

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

This doctrine across the Standards

Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.

In the Westminster Confession

VI.1 Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. …

Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.

→ VI.1 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
VI.2 By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in …

By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.

→ VI.2 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
VI.3 They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death …

They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.

→ VI.3 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
VI.4 From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly …

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.

→ VI.4 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
VI.5 This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be …

This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin.

→ VI.5 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
VI.6 Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, …

Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.

→ VI.6 · Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
IX.3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any …

Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.

→ IX.3 · Of Free Will

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q.13 Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

→ Open Q.13
Q.14 What is sin?

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

→ Open Q.14
Q.15 What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.

→ Open Q.15
Q.16 Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

→ Open Q.16
Q.17 Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

→ Open Q.17
Q.18 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

→ Open Q.18
Q.19 What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

→ Open Q.19