The Heidelberg Catechism
The Second Part – Of Man’s Deliverance
5. Lord’s Day
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 favour?
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; Jer.23:6; Luke 11:22.
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