Fridays with the Heidelberg

I was encouraged so much by our church's conference this past weekend "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" with Dr. Michael Haykin. He began our time pointing to five reasons why we ought to study our past;
1- God takes history seriously
2- We can learn wisdom from the past
3- the past delivers us from the stupidity of the present
4- such study helps us understand who we are
5- Our past provides models for imitation

These five points will help to provide meaning and purpose in our exposure to the Heidelberg Catechism.

Before we read Lord's Day 4, a brief word regarding the aforementioned reason #3. As with any generation, we are very much in need of wisdom in light of the vast amounts of erroneous thoughts that permeate our culture. Even within Christian circles, we are in need of great discernment because of all of the unbiblical opinions that fill our bookstores, radio stations, websites, etc. We need deliverance from all of the present stupidity! A trip back to the 16th century can help! Let me provide a short example;

This past month I have been part of a process of evaluating various Easter musicals. One, which was quite good in many ways included the following phrase in one of the closing songs; "He's not mad at you, and He's not disappointed. His grace is greater still than all of your wrong choices." I understood the context of this song to be an invitation to unbelievers to trust in Christ. His "grace is greater" but how confusing it must be for an unbeliever to reconcile how they are in need of responding to this message when God is neither mad or disappointed with them in their current state. Today's section in the Heidelberg will provide a corrective to such erroneous thought.

God is merciful and gracious, and in this we rejoice. However, He is also just and holy and can have nothing to do with sin. Apart from Christ, you are without hope and awaiting God's wrath. Read through the following questions and exalt in Our God who is both merciful and just!

9. Q:BUT DOESN'T GOD DO US AN INJUSTICE BY REQUIRING IN HIS LAW WHAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO?
A:No. God created humans with the ability to keep the law. They, however, tempted by the devil, in reckless disobedience, robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts.

10. Q:WILL GOD PERMIT SUCH DISOBEDIENCE AND REBELLION TO GO UNPUNISHED?
A:Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge He punishes them now and in eternity. HE has declared: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

11. Q.BUT ISN'T GOD ALSO MERCIFUL?
A.God is certainly merciful, but He is also just. His justice demands that sin, committed against His supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty-eternal punishment of body and soul.