The Heidelberg Catechism
4. Lord’s Day
Q. 9.
Does not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law,
that which he cannot perform?
A.
Not at all; (a)
for God made man capable of performing it;
but man, by the instigation of the devil, (b)
and his own wilful disobedience, (c)
deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.
(a) Eph.4:24; Eccl.7:29. (b) John 8:44; 2 Cor.11:3; Gen.3:4. (c)
Gen.3:6; Rom.5:12; Gen.3:13; 1 Tim.2:13,14.
Q. 10.
Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
A.
By no means;
but is terribly displeased (a)
with our original as well as actual sins; and will punish them in his just
judgment temporally and eternally, (b)
as he has declared, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things,
which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” (c)
(a) Gen.2:17; Rom.5:12. (b) Ps.5:5; Ps.50:21; Nah.1:2; Exod.20:5;
Exod.34:7; Rom.1:18; Eph.5:6; Heb.9:27. (c) Deut.27:26; Gal.3:10.
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.
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