Chapter 5, “The Creation and Fall of Man” Loc. 2857-3318.
Fagerberg addresses the anthropology of the Confessions. Since their central tenet is salvation by grace through faith, the anthropology relates this need (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2862). To depict God as the savior, it was necessary to see man in need of salvation. Melanchthon viewed man as needing something better but as naturally unable to see or follow what is good and right (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2884). The will is free to pursue its desire, but the desire of the natural man is not directed to God (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2903).
Fagerberg discusses man’s original state (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2929ff). He is created in the image of God, which “appears in man’s reason and free will” (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2939). In the creation man was in harmonious relationship with God. Fagerberg steps through numerous statements of the Confessions describing the original character. He then moves to the fall, the time when the right relationship with God was ruined (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 2994) This doctrine of original sin is likewise clearly laid out in the Confessions. This sin is seen primarily in evil desires (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 3022). This does not mean man cannot live in a moral way, but that he cannot be pleasing to God apart from repentance and faith (Fagerberg 1988, Loc. 3041).
To conclude, justification is God’s way of relieving his people from sin to draw them to himself. This restores the believer roughly to the original righteousness of the creation.