From Discipleship Weekly
(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)
|
A Word from Our Sponsor
"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." -- John 8:34-36 The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 1- Of Man's Redemption Week 5 12. Q. Since, then, by the righteous judgment of God we have deserved temporal and eternal punishment, how may we escape this punishment, come again to grace, and be reconciled to God? A. God wills that his righteousness satisfied; therefore, payment in full must be made to his righteousness, either by ourselves or by another. [Ex. 20:5; 23:7; Isa. 53:11; Rom. 2:1-11; 8:3-4] 13. Q. Can we make this payment ourselves?
A. By no means. On the contrary, we increase our debt each day. [Ps. 130:3;
Matt. 6:12;
Rom. 2:4-5]
14. Q. Can any mere creature make the payment for us?
A. No one. First of all, God does not want to punish another creature for man's debt. Moreover, no mere creature can bear the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and redeem others from it. [Ps. 130:3; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Nah. 1:6; Heb. 2:14-18] 15. Q. Then what kind of mediator and redeemer must we seek?
A. One who is a true and righteous man and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is at the same time true God. [Isa. 7:14; 9:6; 53:9; Jer. 23:6; John 1:1; Rom. 8:3,4; I Cor. 15:21; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:17; 7:26] Suggestions for discussion and review:
Ancient cultures believed that the gods were by nature against humankind, and that their anger must be calmed, their favor bought, through animal sacrifices. What are some of the ways people today, both Christian and non-Christian, try to pacify God and win His approval and help?
For it was not after we were reconciled to him through the blood of his Son that he began to love us. Rather, he has loved us before the world was created. . . we have already been reconciled to him who loves us, with whom we were enemies on account of sin. -- John Calvin |