The Second Part – Of Man’s Deliverance
LORD’S DAY 5
12. Since, then, by the righteous judgment of God we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how may we escape this punishment and be again received into favor?
God wills that His justice be satisfied;1Exodus 20:5; 23:7 therefore, we must make full satisfaction to that justice, either by ourselves or by another.2Romans 8:3-4
13. Can we ourselves make this satisfaction?
By no means, on the contrary, we daily increase our guilt.3Job 9:2-3; 15:15-16; Matthew 6:12; 16:26
14. Can any mere creature make satisfaction for us?
None; for first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man committed;4Hebrews 2:14-18 and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin5Psalm 130:3 and redeem others from it.
15. What kind of a mediator and redeemer, then, must we seek?
One who is a true61 Corinthians 15:21-22, 25-26 and righteous man,7Jeremiah 13:16; Isaiah 53:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:15-16 and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, One who is also true God.8Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 7:26