Lord's Day 4 & 5 Review - Christian Theology

**Lord's Day 4** **God's Punishment Of Sin** **Workbook pages 24-29** **Scripture Reading: Deut 7: 9-11** Summary: God's justice which calls for sin to be punished does not contradict His mercy **Introduction** In LD 2 we saw that God demands perfect obedience to His law. Then in LD 3 we saw t...

**Lord's Day 4** **God's Punishment Of Sin** **Workbook pages 24-29** **Scripture Reading: Deut 7: 9-11** Summary: God's justice which calls for sin to be punished does not contradict His mercy **Introduction** In LD 2 we saw that God demands perfect obedience to His law. Then in LD 3 we saw that because of his fall in Adam, man is utterly incapable of meeting this demand. This, of course, raises a number of questions: Is this reasonable? Is it fair for God to require something that man is incapable of giving? If so, how is that consistent with the grace and mercy of God? Let us find out as we study this LD together **Outline** God's Punishment of Sin This Punishment is: I. Just (Q + A 9) II\. Certain (Q+ A 10) III\. Consistent With His Mercy (Q + A 11) **Questions For Discussion** *1. Q + A 9 asks: But does not God do man an injustice by requiring in His law what man cannot do? The Catechism here expresses the question which is often raised by sinful men: Is it fair for God to require something of man which he is incapable of giving? Isn't this unreasonable?* The answer is no. Why? Because "God so created man that he was able to do it." The reference here is to Q + A 6 which states that "God created man good and in his image, that is in true righteousness and holiness so that he might rightly know God his creator, heartily love Him and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him" (Q + A 6). In other words, God gave man everything he needed to obey His law. *2. What happened?* "Man, at the instigation of the devil, in deliberate disobedience, robbed himself and all his descendants of these gifts". The Catechism here is referring to the fall of man (LD 3). It says that this fall was the result of: a\. the instigation (prompting) of the devil. The reference here is to the serpent which tempted Eve to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. b\. man's free choice. Before the fall man had a perfectly free will: He could obey or not obey. Man chose to disobey. The devil was only the catalyst. *3. What conclusion can we draw from this?* God is perfectly just in requiring perfect obedience to His law. *4. What will God do to those who do not obey His law?* He will punish them. Q + A 10: "Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished? Certainly not. He is terribly displeased with our original sin as well as our actual sins". *a. What is original sin?* Original sin is the sin nature which we inherited from Adam *b. What are actual sins?* Actual sins are the sins we commit every day *5. What is God's attitude towards such sins?* He is "terribly displeased" with them. *a. What does this imply about sin?* It implies that sin is very bad - much worse than we think it is. *b. What does this imply about God?* It implies that God is perfectly holy. If He was not, He would not be "terribly displeased" *6. How does God express this displeasure?* "He will punish them both now and eternally" *a. How does God punish sin now (i.e. in this life)?* He does this in many ways, e.g. by sending sickness, disease, poverty, unemployment, war, etc. *b. How does God punish sin eternally?* He does this by consigning sinners to everlasting damnation in hell *7. Where has God said He will do this?* In Gal. 3: 10 where Paul, quoting from Deut 27: 26 writes: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, *"Cursed* *is* *everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."* Here God pronounces a curse on everyone who does not obey the law of God perfectly. Note: "all" things. *8. Is this consistent with the mercy of God? (Q + A 11)* Yes it is. We must remember that although God is merciful, He is also just. These two attributes may never be played off against each other. God is not more merciful than He is just or more just than he is merciful. He is both fully and completely. *9. What does God's justice require?* It requires "that sin committed against the most high majesty of God also be punished with the most severe, that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul." *10. Why must sin be punished so severely?* Because sin is committed against God who is the ultimate being. Sin that is committed against the ultimate being deserves the ultimate punishment. *11. Where does this punishment take place?* In hell *12. What is hell?* Hell is a place of unrelenting torment. This is where the souls of the unrepentant and unbelieving are kept until the day of judgment. On that day their souls will be reunited with their bodies and they will be cast -- body and soul -- into hell. There they will remain -- together with the devil and his demons - to all eternity. **Review** 1\. God is not unjust in requiring of man what he is incapable of doing. 2\. God is absolutely determined to punish sin 3\. God's determination to punish sin is not inconsistent with His mercy. **What About You?** We have learned that God will punish sin wither everlasting punishment of body and soul in hell. There is only one way to escape this judgment: it is by repenting of sin and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you done that? Do so today! Tomorrow may be too late! **Homework:** 1\. Memorize LD 4 (bold) 2\. Answer questions 1-6, 11, 12 **Lord's Day 5** **Our Need For A Mediator** **Workbook pages 30-35** **Scripture Reading: Rom 2:1-11** Summary: Payment must be made for our sins; however, there is no way that either we, or a creature can pay for them. A special mediator and deliverer is needed. **Introduction** With LD 5 we begin the second major section of the HC: Deliverance (Salvation, Grace); hence the heading above this LD: "Our Deliverance". So far we have examined the subject of man's sin (guilt). Having convinced us of our guilty state before God, the Catechism goes on to show us how we may be delivered from our guilt and be restored to a right relationship with Him. It does this first of all by teaching us our need for a mediator. **Outline** Our Need For a Mediator I. Why We Need Mediator (Q + A 12-14) A. God demands that the penalty for sin be paid (Q + A 12) B. We cannot make this payment (Q + A 13) C. No mere creature can make this payment (Q + A 14) II\. The Kind of Mediator We Need (Q+A 15) A. He must be true and righteous man B. He must at the same time be true God **Questions For Discussion** *1. Q + A 12 begins with an admission: "Since, according to God's righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment..." Why is this admission significant?* Admitting our guilt is the first step to finding a solution. Unless we admit that we are sinners we will never seek to be delivered. *2. Why is this admission incomplete?* It is not complete because the second part of this question suggests that while man is ready to accept the blame for his sin, he is not quite ready to accept its consequences. Hence he asks: "how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour?" It is as if our questioner is looking for a way out. He knows he deserves God's judgment but now he is seeking for some way to get out from under it. *3. Is there a way out? Can we avoid being punished for our sins?* No we cannot. "God demands that His justice be satisfied. Therefore full payment must be made either by ourselves or by another." *4. Why can't God simply sweep our sins under the rug? Why does He require payment?* Because God is holy and just. As we saw in Q + A 11, "His justice requires that sin committed against the most high majesty of God also be punished with the most severe, that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul." If God did not punish sin, He would not be God. *5. Why does the Catechism use the word "payment"?* It does so for a reason. When we sin we become indebted to God. The more we sin the greater our debt becomes. In order to be reconciled to God this debt must be paid. *6. Can we pay this debt ourselves (Q + A 13)?* "Certainly not. On the contrary we daily increase our debt." *7. Why can't we pay this debt?* Because God demands a perfect satisfaction for sin. This is something we are utterly incapable of rendering. *8. Which famous Reformer had to learn this the hard way?* Martin Luther *9. What did he try to do?* He prayed, made confession, deprived himself of all earthly comforts, made a pilgrimage to Rome. But none of this gave him peace with God *10. If we cannot make this satisfaction ourselves, can any mere creature do this for us (e.g. an animal or an angel)? (Q + A 14)* No. *11. Why not?* Two reasons: a\. God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man has committed (Ez 18: 4). If God were to do this He would not longer be just. b\. No mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it (Heb 10: 4) *12. What is the ONLY way this payment can be made?* By means of a mediator *13. What is a mediator?* A mediator is a go-between. A "man-in-the-middle" *14. What two qualifications must he have (Q + A 15)?* a\. He must be a true and righteous man "true": he must be a real man with real flesh and blood "righteous": he must be without sin b\. He must be true God **Review** 1\. We cannot escape the just judgment of God for sin. God's justice must be satisfied either by ourselves or by another. 2\. We cannot make this satisfaction ourselves nor can any mere creature do this for us. 3\. The only one who can make this satisfaction is one who is man and God in one person. **What About You?** By nature we want to make satisfaction for our own sins. It is not until we have come to an end in ourselves and our own resources that we will look for salvation outside of ourselves in Jesus Christ. Have you come to that point in your life? Ask God to empty you of self and to open your eyes to see your need of a Saviour - if He has not done that already. **Homework:** 1\. Memorize LD 5 (bold) 2\. Answer questions 1-6, 13, 15