Easter Special: ‘How Does the Way Jesus Lived & Died — & the Fact of the Resurrection — Benefit Me?’

Posted by Eric F. Langborgh on 15 Apr 2006 at 08:57 pm

Lord’s Day Meditation

The Second Part, cont’d:
On Our Deliverance

35. Q. What do you confess when you say: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?
    A. The eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God,¹ took upon Himself true human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,² through the working of the Holy Spirit.³ Thus He is also the true seed of David,⁴ and like His brothers in every respect,⁵ yet without sin.^{6
    1} Jn 1:1; 10:30-36; Rom 1:3; 9:5; Col 1:15-17; 1 Jn 5:20. ² Mt 1:18-23; Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:14. ³ Lk 1:35. ⁴ 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32; Rom 1:3. ⁵ Phil 2:7; Heb 2:17. ⁶ Heb 4:15; 7:26, 27.

 

36. Q. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?
    A. He is our Mediator,¹ and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God, my sin, in which I was conceived and born.^{2
    1} 1 Tim 2:5, 6; Heb 9:13-15. ² Rom 8:3, 4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4, 5; 1 Pet 1:18, 19.

 

37. Q. What do you confess when you say that He suffered?
    A. During all the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end, Christ bore in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.¹ Thus, by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice,² He has redeemed our body and soul from everlasting damnation,³ and obtained for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.^{4
    1} Is 53; 1 Tim 2:6; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18. ² Rom 3:25; 1 Cor 5:7; Eph 5:2; Heb 10:14; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10. ³ Rom 8:1-4; Gal 3:13; Col 1:13; Heb 9:12; 1 Pet 1:18, 19. ⁴ Jn 3:16; Rom 3:24-26; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 9:15.

 

38. Q. Why did He suffer under Pontius Pilate as judge?
    A. Though innocent, Christ was condemned by an earthly judge,¹ and so He freed us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.^{2
    1} Lk 23:13-24; Jn 19:4, 12-16. ² Is 53:4, 5; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13.

 

39. Q. Does it have a special meaning that Christ was crucified and did not die in a different way?
    A. Yes. Thereby I am assured that He took upon Himself the curse which lay on me, for a crucified one was cursed by God.^{1
    1} Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13.

 

40. Q. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself even unto death?
    A. Because of the justice and truth of God¹ satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.^{2
    1} Gen 2:17. ² Rom 8:3; Phil 2:8; Heb 2:9, 14, 15.

 

41. Q. Why was He buried?
    A. His burial testified that He had really died.^{1
    1} Is 53:9; Jn 19:38-42; Acts 13:29; 1 Cor 15:3,4.

 

42. Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?
    A. Our death is not a payment for our sins, but it puts an end to sin and is an entrance into eternal life.^{1
    1} Jn 5:24; Phil 1:21-23; 1 Thess 5:9, 10.

 

43. Q. What further benefit do we receive from Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?
    A. Through Christ’s death our old nature is crucified, put to death, and buried with Him,¹ so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer reign in us,² but that we may offer ourselves to Him as a sacrifice of thankfulness.^{3
    1} Rom 6:5-11; Col 2:11, 12. ² Rom 6:12-14. ³ Rom 12:1; Eph 5:1, 2.

 

44. Q. Why is there added: He descended into hell?
    A. In my greatest sorrows and temptations I may be assured and comforted that my Lord Jesus Christ, by His unspeakable anguish, pain, terror, and agony, which He endured throughout all His sufferings¹ but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.^{2
    1} Ps 18:5, 6; 116:3; Mt 26:36-46; 27:45, 46; Heb 5:7-10. ² Is 53.

 

45. Q. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?
    A. First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, so that He could make us share in the righteousness which He had obtained for us by His death.¹ Second, by His power we too are raised up to a new life.² Third, Christ’s resurrection is to us a sure pledge of our glorious resurrection.^{3
    1} Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:16-20; 1 Pet 1:3-5. ² Rom 6:5-11; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:1-4. ³ Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:12-23; Phil 3:20, 21.

 

* * * * *

Previously from Heidelberg Catechism Series:
Questions 1-2: ‘What Is Your Only Comfort in Life and Death?’
Questions 3-11 : ‘Will Our Sins Go Unpunished?’
Questions 12-19: ‘How May We Escape God’s Righteous Judgment, and Who Will Be Our Deliverer?’
Questions 20-24: ‘What Is the True Faith I Must Believe to be Saved?’
Questions 25-28: ‘Who Is God and How Is He My Father’
Questions 29-34: ‘How is Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior, and What Does it Mean to be a Christian?’

© 2004-2008 Eric F. Langborgh