I. Des articles de la foi — Le 9e dimanche
The Curse Borne and Annihilated
Christ took upon himself the curse of the cross to liberate us from it, transforming the curse into a source of blessing.
Jesus Christ was made subject to the curse to free us from it. Minister: Does the fact that he was crucified mean something more than if he had been put to death in some other way? Elder: Yes, as the Apostle shows, saying that he was hung on the tree to transfer our curse onto himself, so as to free us from it (Galatians 3:13). For this kind of death was cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:23). 61. Minister: How so? Doesn't it dishonor the Lord Jesus to say that he was subject to a curse, even before God?✦ Student: Not at all.1 For in receiving it, he annihilated it by his power, so completely that he never ceased to be always blessed, in order to fill us with his blessing.✦2
Victory Over Death
By enduring death and the grave, Christ conquered the power of death that resulted from sin.
By enduring death, Christ conquered it. M: Set forth what follows. E: Since death was a curse on humanity because of sin, Jesus Christ endured it, and by doing so, he conquered it. And to prove that his death was real, he chose to be laid in a tomb, just like other men.✦
Death as a Passage to Life
For the believer, death is no longer a source of terror but a transition into a better life, following the path of Christ.
The death of the faithful is a passage to life. M: But it doesn't seem that we gain any good from this victory, seeing that we still die all the same. E: That doesn't prevent anything. For the death of the faithful is now nothing more than a passage that brings them into a better life.✦ 64. M: From this it follows that we no longer need to fear death as something horrible, but should willingly follow our head and captain, Jesus Christ, who goes before us there—not to make us perish, but to save us. E: That's right.
Read the original Latin
Jésus-Christ fait sujet à malédiction pour nous en délivrer 60. M : Ce qu'il a été crucifié, emporte-t-il quelque chose plutôt que si l'on eût autrement fait mourir? E : Oui, comme l'Apôtre le remontre, disant qu'il a été pendu au bois pour transporter notre malédiction sur soi-même, pour nous en décharger (Galates 3:13). Car ce genre de mort était maudit de Dieu (Deutéronome 21:23).
61. M : Comment? N'est-ce pas déshonorer le Seigneur Jésus de dire qu'il a été sujet à malédiction, même devant Dieu? E : Nenni. Car en la recevant, il l'a anéantie par sa vertu, tellement qu'il n'a pas laissé d'être toujours béni pour nous remplir de sa bénédiction.
Christ en endurant la mort, l'a vaincue 62. M : Expose ce qui s'ensuit. E : D'autant que la mort était une malédiction sur l'homme, à cause du péché, Jésus-Christ l'a endurée, et en l'endurant l'a vaincue. Et pour démontrer que c'était une vraie mort que la sienne, il a voulu être mis en sépulcre, comme les autres hommes.
Mort des fidèles est passage à la vie 63. M : Mais il ne semble pas qu'il nous revienne quelque bien de cette victoire, vu que nous ne laissons point de mourir. E : Cela n'empêche de rien. Car la mort des fidèles n'est maintenant autre chose qu'un passage pour les introduire à une vie meilleure.
64. M : De cela il s'ensuit qu'il ne nous faut plus craindre la mort comme une chose horrible, mais suivre volontairement notre chef et capitaine Jésus-Christ qui nous y précède, non pas pour nous faire périr, mais pour nous sauver. E : Il est ainsi.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gal.3.13 — Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."
- ↩Gal.3.13;Deut.21.23 — Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." Deut.21.23 — His body must not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that same day, for a hanged person is cursed by God, and you must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- ↩Matt.27.59-Matt.27.60;1Cor.15.4 — And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Matt.27.60 — and he laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, he departed. 1Cor.15.4 — and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
- ↩Phil.1.21;2Cor.5.1-2Cor.5.8;John.5.24 — For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 2Cor.5.1 — For we know that if our earthly tent-house is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2Cor.5.2 — Indeed, in this body we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven. 2Cor.5.3 — since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 2Cor.5.4 — For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan under the weight of it — because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2Cor.5.5 — Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 2Cor.5.6 — So we are always confident, and we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 2Cor.5.7 — for we walk by faith, not by sight 2Cor.5.8 — We are confident, and I say we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. John.5.24 — Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.
Notes
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit