Lord’s Day 4
Q10. Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?
Certainly not. God 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 abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Exodus 34:7
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Romans 1:18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
Ephesians 5:6
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Galatians 3:10
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Deuteronomy 27:26
“Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
In the exposition of this Question, we must consider the evil of punishment, which is the other part of the misery of man. In relation to this we are taught that God punishes sin most severely, justly, and certainly. He punishes it "most severely", that is, with present and eternal punishment, on account of its enormity and greatness, because it is an offence against the infinite good. "Most justly", because every sin, even the smallest transgression, is a violation of the law of God; and, therefore, according to the order of divine justice, deserves eternal punishment and banishment from God. "Most certainly", because God is true, and does not change the sentence which the law denounces: "Cursed is he that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." (Gal. 3:6.)
Objection 1. But the wicked often prosper in this life, and do many things with impunity. Therefore all sins are not punished.
Answer. They will at length be punished: yea they are even in this life punished, 1. In the conscience, by whose stings the wicked are tortured.