Monday, March 07, 2011

Heidelberg Catechism 11 - 20

Q. 11. Is not God then also merciful?

A. God is indeed merciful, (a) but also just; (b)? therefore his justice requires, that sin which is committed against the most high majesty of God, be also punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul.

(a) Exod 34:6,7; Exod 20:6
(b) Ps 7:9; Exod 20:5; Exod 23:7; Exod 34:7; Ps 5:5,6; Nah 1:2,3


Q. 12. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?

A. God will have his justice satisfied: (a) and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another. (b)

(a) Gen 2:17; Exod 20:5; Exod 23:7; Ezek 18:4; Matt 5:26; 2 Thess 1:6; Luke 16:2
(b) Rom 8:3,4


Q. 13. Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?

A. By no means; but on the contrary we daily increase our debt. (a)

(a) Job 9:2,3; Job 15:15,16; Job 4:18,19; Ps 130:3; Matt 6:12; Matt 18:25; Matt 16:26


Q. 14. Can there be found anywhere, one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?

A. None; for, first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man has committed; (a) and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin, so as to deliver others from it. (b)

(a) Ezek 18:4; Gen 3:17; Heb 2:14-17
(b) Nah 1:6; Ps 130:3


Q. 15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?

A. For one who is very man, and perfectly (a) righteous; (b) and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also very God. (c)

(a) 1 Cor 15:21; Jer 33:16; Isa 53:9; 2 Cor 5:21
(b) Heb 7:16,26
(c) Isa 7:14; Isa 9:6; Rom 9:5; Jer 23:5,6; Luke 11:22


Q. 16. Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

A. Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin; (a) and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others. (b)

(a) Ezek 18:4,20; Rom 5:12,15,18; 1 Cor 15:21; Heb 2:14-16; 1 Pet 3:18; Isa 53:3-5,10,11
(b) Heb 7:26,27; Ps 49:7,8; 1 Pet 3:18


Q. 17. Why must he in one person be also very God?

A. That he might, by the power of his Godhead (a) sustain in his human nature, (b) the burden of God's wrath; (c) and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life. (d)

(a) Isa 9:6; Isa 63:3
(b) Isa 53:4,11
(c) Deut 4:24; Nah 1:6; Ps 130:3
(d) Isa 53:5,11; Acts 2:24; 1 Pet 3:18; John 3:16; Acts 20:28; John 1:4


Q. 18. Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God, (a) and a (b) righteous man? (c)

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ: (d) "who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (e)

(a) 1 John 5:20; Rom 9:5; Rom 8:3; Gal 4:4; Isa 9:6; Jer 23:6; Mal 3:1
(b) Luke 1:42; Luke 2:6,7; Rom 1:3; Rom 9:5; Phil 2:7; Heb 2:14,16,17; Heb 4:15
(c) Isa 53:9,11; Jer 23:5; Luke 1:35; John 8:46; Heb 4:15; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 1:19; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Pet 3:18
(d) 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 2:9; Matt 1:23; 1 Tim 3:16; Luke 2:11
(e) 1 Cor 1:30


Q. 19. Whence knowest thou this?

A. From the holy gospel, which God himself first revealed in Paradise; (a) and afterwards published by the patriarchs (b) and prophets, (c) and represented by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; (d) and lastly, has fulfilled it by his only begotten Son. (e)

(a) Gen 3:15
(b) Gen 22:18; Gen 12:3; Gen 49:10,11
(c) Isa 53; Isa 42:1-4; Isa 43:25; Isa 49:5,6,22,23; Jer 23:5,6; Jer 31:32,33; Jer 32:39-41; Mic 7:18-20; Acts 10:43; Rom 1:2; Heb 1:1; Acts 3:22-24; Acts 10:43; John 5:46
(d) Heb 10:1,7; Col 2:7; John 5:46
(e) Rom 10:4; Gal 4:4,5; Gal 3:24; Col 2:17


Q. 20. Are all men then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?

A. No; (a) only those who are ingrafted into him, and, receive all his benefits, by a true faith. (b)

(a) Matt 7:14; Matt 22:14
(b) Mark 16:16; John 1:12; John 3:16,18,36; Isa 53:11; Ps 2:12; Rom 11:17,19,20; Rom 3:22; Heb 4:2,3; Heb 5:9; Heb 10:39; Heb 11:6




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