Lord’s Day 5
Q13. Can we ourselves make this payment?
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.”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
Having given an explanation of the manner in which our deliverance is accomplished, we must now inquire by whom this satisfaction, and abolishing of sin can be effected: whether by ourselves, or by some one else? And if by some one else, whether it be by a mere creature? And if not by a mere creature, by whom, therefore, and by what kind of a mediator? The first of these questions is answered in this 13th Question of the Catechism. The other two are answered in the 14th and 15th Questions of the Catechism.
We cannot make this satisfaction by and of ourselves, neither by obedience nor by punishment.
We cannot make it by obedience, because whatever good we perform we owe to God by present obligation. Hence it is impossible for us to satisfy for our past offences by any present obedience which we may render to the law of God, for we cannot deserve any thing at the hands of God for the present, much less for the time to come; neither can a double merit, that is to say, a merit for the present and the future, proceed from one satisfaction.