In today's episode we discuss questions 9, 10 and 11 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

9. Q. But does not God do man an injustice

by requiring in his law what man cannot do?

A. No, for God so created man

that he was able to do it.

But man, at the instigation of the devil,

in deliberate disobedience,

robbed himself and all his descendants

of these gifts.

10. Q. Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?

A. Certainly not.

He is terribly displeased with our original sin

as well as our actual sins.

Therefore he will punish them

by a just judgment

both now and eternally, as he has declared:

Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law (Gal 3:10).

11. Q. But is God not also merciful?

A. God is indeed merciful,

but he is also just.

His justice requires that sin committed

against the most high majesty of God

also be punished with the most severe,

that is, with everlasting, punishment of body and soul.

And for our word of the day, we look at what it means to abandon the faith...

Resources: Heidelberg Catechism