Heidelberg Catechism Week 6

16. Q. Why must He be truly human and truly righteous? A. God's justice demands that human nature, which has sinned, must pay for its sin; but a sinner could never pay for others.

17. Q. Why must He also be true God? A. So that, by the power of His divinity, He might bear the weight of God's anger in His humanity and earn for us and restore us to righteousness and life.

18. Q. And who is this Mediator - true God and at the same time truly human and truly righteous? A. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was given us to set us completely free and to make us right with God.

19. Q. How do you come to know this? A. The holy gospel tells me. God Himself began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise; later, He proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs and prophets, and portrayed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; finally, He fulfilled it through His own dear Son.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

Theological terms addressed in these questions:

Expiation: Christ's death removed our sin and guilt.
Redemption: Christ's death ransomed us from the curse of the law and the punishment and power of sin.
Reconciliation: Christ's death restored our relationship with God.
Propitiation: Christ's death appeased or placated the wrath of God.

This is not just "dry theology" - this is the gospel message that brings hope and peace and joy to the condemned sinner! So many people have a twisted or inferior understanding of the gospel. The gospel is not a cliché or a theory or a superstition. And as Kevin DeYoung states it, neither is it "a summons to kingdom living or a message about what we can do for God or a description of our efforts at cultural transformation. The gospel, according to Paul's summary in 1 Corinthians 15, is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day."

A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on,
My person and off'ring to bring.
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.

The work which His goodness began
The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is yea and amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
Not all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forgo,
Or sever my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains,
In marks of indelible grace;
Yes, I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is giv'n;
More happy, but not more secure,
The glorified spirits in heav'n.

(Augustus M. Toplady)