Der erste Teil: Von des Menschen Elend — 4. Sonntag
The Origin of Human Misery
Humanity's inability to keep God's law stems from our own willful disobedience rather than an unjust demand from God.
Isn't God being unfair to humanity by demanding something in His law that people are unable to do? No, rather God created humanity in such a way that they could do it. However, humanity—instigated by the devil—has deprived themselves and all their descendants of God's gift through willful disobedience.
The Reality of Divine Judgment
God's righteous anger against sin ensures that both our sinful nature and actions will be punished according to His holy law.
Will God let this disobedience go unpunished? No, rather He is terribly angry about the sinful nature of humanity and their sinful actions. He intends to punish both according to His just judgment, both now and forever, as He has spoken: "Cursed be anyone who does not uphold everything written in the Book of the Law, that he may do it!"✦
The Harmony of Mercy and Justice
While God is merciful, His perfect justice requires that the offense against His majesty be met with eternal punishment.
Isn't God also merciful? God is indeed merciful, but He is also just. Therefore, His justice demands that sin, which offends God's honor and majesty, be punished with the highest penalty: eternal punishment of both body and soul.
Read the original Latin
Tut denn Gott dem Menschen nicht Unrecht, wenn er in seinem Gesetz etwas fordert, was der Mensch nicht tun kann? Nein, sondern Gott hat den Menschen so erschaffen, dass er es tun konnte. Der Mensch aber, vom Teufel angestiftet, hat sich und alle seine Nachkommen durch mutwilligen Ungehorsam der Gabe Gottes beraubt.
Will Gott diesen Ungehorsam ungestraft lassen? Nein, sondern er zürnt schrecklich über die sündige Art des Menschen und seine sündigen Taten. Beides will er nach seinem gerechten Urteil schon jetzt und ewig strafen, wie er gesprochen hat: "Verflucht sei jeder, der nicht bleibt bei alledem, was geschrieben steht in dem Buch des Gesetzes, dass er’s tue!"
Ist denn Gott nicht auch barmherzig? Gott ist wohl barmherzig, er ist aber auch gerecht. Deshalb fordert seine Gerechtigkeit, dass die Sünde, die Gottes Ehre und Hoheit antastet, mit der höchsten, nämlich der ewigen Strafe an Leib und Seele gestraft wird.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Deut.27.26 — Cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them. And all the people shall say, "Amen."
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