Heidelberg Catechism Week 16

40. Q. Why did Christ have to go all the way to death? A. Because God's justice and truth demand it: only the death of God's Son could pay for our sin.

41. Q. Why was He "buried"? A. His burial testifies that He really died.

42. Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die? A. Our death does not pay the debt for our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.

43. Q. What further advantage do we receive from Christ's sacrifice and death on the cross? A. Through Christ's death our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with Him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may dedicate ourselves as an offering of gratitude to Him.

44. Q. Why does the creed add, "He descended to hell"? A. To assure me in times of personal crisis and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, especially on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

Two songs immediately came to mind when reading through this section. The first is a little song we've been teaching the children in Sunday School these past few weeks:

He paid a debt He did not owe;
I owed a debt I could not pay;
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And, now, I sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace.”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

He paid that debt at Calvary.
He cleansed my soul and set me free.
I'm glad that Jesus did all my sins erase.
I, now, can sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace.”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

And then in reference to the believer's physical death I am reminded of the precious hymn "It is Not Death to Die":

It is not death to die,
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high,
Who’ve found their home with God.
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears,
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears.

Chorus:
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die.

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust,
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just.
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore.