Lord’s Day 5
Q13. Can we make this payment ourselves?
Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Romans 2:4–5
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
Question
13. Can we ourselves make this satisfaction? Answer: By no means; on the contrary, we add to our debt every single day.
Having explained how our deliverance is accomplished, we must now ask who can actually make this satisfaction and bring about the removal of sin. Can we do it ourselves, or must someone else do it for us? If someone else must do it, can that someone be a mere creature? And if not a mere creature, then who, and what kind of mediator would be required? The first of these questions is answered in Question 13 of the Catechism. The remaining two are addressed in Questions 14 and