In today's episode, we discuss questions 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

And for our word of the day, Josiah talks us through one of the most beautiful truths of Christianity...

12. Q. Since, according to God’s righteous judgment

we deserve temporal and eternal punishment,

how can we escape this punishment

and be again received into favour?

A. God demands that his justice be satisfied.

Therefore we must make full payment,

either by ourselves or through another.

13. Q. Can we by ourselves make this payment?

A. Certainly not.

On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.

14. Q. Can any mere creature pay for us?

A. No. In the first place,

God will not punish another creature

for the sin which man has committed.

Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain

the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin

and deliver others from it.

15. Q. What kind of mediator and deliverer

must we seek?

A. One who is a true and righteous man,

and yet more powerful than all creatures;

that is, one who is at the same time true God.

Resources: Heidelberg Catechism