Lords Day 6

Pella Flowers

Lords Day 6, from the Heidelberg Catechism, continues with questions regarding the necessity of our penal substitute being wholly righteous and yet also wholly man. Beautifully illustrated poetically, we come to understand that Christ, the Lion Prince of Judah's line, born of Mary, yet still divine was truly able to satisfy God's righteous requirements in payment for our sins!

Why Must Our Penal Substitute

Why must our penal substitute
Be wholly righteous, truly man?
God's just demands are absolute
A guilty sinner never can
Remove his even least offense
Although God's law requires it
Or pay for sin in any sense
He strives and still remains unfit

This human nature which has sinned
Must bear His unrelenting rod
But why must our Redeemer then
Yet be in nature very God?
So that His great divinity
The font of His immortal power
Would gird His frail humanity
When made an altar and devoured

Then rising from the earthen grave
A sweet aroma infinite
Restore our righteousness and save
Poor sinners lost and impotent
What man as God incarnate lives
Who treads the press of wrath alone
What mortal merits to forgive
To always reign on David's throne?

The Lion Prince of Judah's line
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Of Mary's flesh and yet divine
Who sets us free and makes us right
How do you come to know all this?
Within the gospel’s gazing glass
This was revealed in Adam’s bliss
By types and shadows till at last

God's words to holy patriarchs
And all His prophets now have ceased
The ceremonies and the ark
And sacrifice of mortal beasts
In latter days His holy will
The ends of all the ages come
In His good timing was fulfilled
Through Christ, His dear and only Son

April 17, 1996
Lord's Day 6 Heidelberg Catechism Questions & Answers 16-19
© Copyright 1996 David L. Croft

Though it is true that God's Words to the patriarchs have ceased, and the ceremonies and sacrifices are passed away, the sacrifice of Christ has satisfied all of God's requirements to pay the penalties of man's sin. To the end of the ages, man will have the hope of Christ, His only delivery from his state of sin and death!

What a blessed hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ!