I'm continuing my study through the Heidelberg Catechism - and enjoying it immensely.

The second question/answer of the Heidelberg Catechism says this:

Q. What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort [the comfort of Jesus we have in life and death]?

A. First, how great my sins and misery are; second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.

This formulation articulates what many theologians call the "law-gospel" distinction. According to this distinction, we first recognize that God's law tells us what He expects and commands us to DO.

By this, God does not intend to give us a moral ladder to climb ever-upward, earning some form of legalistic righteousness before Him. Instead, God first imparts His law to humble us, bring us to the end of ourselves, and point us to our only true and lasting hope: Jesus. As C.S. Lewis wisely remarked, "No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good." As many rightly note, the law can DIAGNOSE us; it cannot DELIVER us.

Thankfully, and with that in mind, the gospel responds by telling us what God's DONE for us in Jesus Christ - the second part of the Heidelberg Catechism's answer. Where we failed to keep God's Law, Jesus stood in our place ever-faithful. Jesus satisfied the righteous demands of God's law in our place, in His sinless life and atoning death. He took our record of sin and shame upon Himself and granted us His record of perfect righteousness in its place, a gift we receive by grace alone through faith alone in Him alone.

Finally, the Heidelberg Catechism does an excellent job of making the point that while God saves us by grace alone through faith alone, these are never alone. They always and invariably produce good works born of loving gratitude for such great mercy and grace from God. Our obedience is our loving and grateful response to God's mercy, not the means to earn it. Later sections of the Catechism elaborate on this theme.

Are these works perfect in this life? Of course not. However, they are genuine and pleasing to God since whatever good is present in them is born of His Spirit, and whatever remains lacking is already covered by the precious blood of Christ.

Have a great day, basking in God's love and grace!

Supporting Scriptures

1. Romans 3:9, 10; 1 John 1:10
2. John 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43
3. Matthew 5:16; Romans 6:13; Ephesians 5:8-10; 1 Peter 2:9, 10