Der zweite Teil: Von des Menschen Erlösung — 15. Sonntag
The Meaning of Christ's Suffering
Christ suffered throughout his life to bear the wrath of God and secure our eternal redemption.
What do you mean by the word "suffered"? Throughout his entire life on earth, and especially at the end, Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God against the sin of all humanity in both body and soul. Through his suffering as the one-time atoning sacrifice, he redeemed our body and soul from eternal damnation and secured for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life.
The Legal and Cursed Death
Christ's condemnation by Pilate and his death on the cross demonstrate his legal substitution for our judgment and curse.
Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate? He was unjustly condemned by a worldly judge, and through this, he freed us from the strict judgment of God that was coming our way. Does His death on the cross mean more than if He had died a different kind of death? Yes, because through it I am certain that He took upon Himself the curse that was on me, since death on a cross was cursed by God.
Read the original Latin
Was verstehst du unter dem Wort»gelitten«? Jesus Christus hat an Leib und Seele die ganze Zeit seines Lebens auf Erden, besonders aber an dessen Ende, den Zorn Gottes über die Sünde des ganzen Menschengeschlechts getragen. Mit seinem Leiden als dem einmaligen Sühnopfer hat er unseren Leib und unsere Seele von der ewigen Verdammnis erlöst und uns Gottes Gnade, Gerechtigkeit und ewiges Leben erworben.
Warum hat er unter dem Richter Pontius Pilatus gelitten? Er wurde unschuldig vom weltlichen Richter verurteilt und hat uns dadurch von Gottes strengem Urteil, das über uns ergehen sollte, befreit.
Bedeutet sein Tod am Kreuz mehr, als wenn er eines anderen Todes gestorben wäre? Ja, denn dadurch bin ich gewiss, dass er den Fluch, der auf mir lag, auf sich genommen hat, weil der Tod am Kreuz von Gott verflucht war.
Heidelberg Catechism (Heidelbergse Catechismus) 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