By Grace Alone

Since, according to God’s righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:15 +0000

12. Q. Since, according to God’s righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour? A. God demands that His justice be satisfied.[1] Therefore full payment must be made either by ourselves or by another.[2] [1] Ex. 20:5; 23:7; Rom. 2:1-11. [2] Is. 53:11; Rom. 8:3, [...]

But is God not also merciful?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:00:32 +0000

11. Q. But is God not also merciful? A. God is indeed merciful,[1] but He is also just.[2] His justice requires that sin committed against the most high majesty of God also be punished with the most severe, that is, with everlasting, punishment of body and soul.[3] [1] Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 103:8, 9. [2] Ex. [...]

Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:00:42 +0000

10. Q. Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished? A. Certainly not. He 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,[1] as He has declared:[2] Cursed be every one who does not abide by all [...]

Is God, then, not unjust by requiring in His law what man cannot do?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:48:01 +0000

9. Q. Is God, then, not unjust by requiring in His law what man cannot do? A. No, for God so created man that he was able to do it.[1] But man, at the instigation of the devil,[2] in deliberate disobedience[3] robbed himself and all his descendants of these gifts.[4] [1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 3:13; John [...]

But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined to all evil?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:00:18 +0000

8. Q. But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined to all evil? A. Yes,[1] unless we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.[2] [1] Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; Is. 53:6. [2] John 3:3-5. The Heidelberg Catechism - Q8

From where, then, did man’s depraved nature come?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:34:47 +0000

7. Q. From where, then, did man’s depraved nature come? A. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,[1] for there our nature became so corrupt[2] that we are all conceived and born in sin.[3] [1] Gen. 3:1-24. [2] Rom. 5:12, 18, 19. [3] Ps. 51:5. The Heidelberg Catechism - Q7

Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:44:00 +0000

6. Q. Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse? A. No, on the contrary, God created man good[1] and in His image,[2] that is, in true righteousness and holiness,[3] so that he might rightly know God His Creator,[4] heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him.[5] [1] Gen. [...]

Can you keep all this perfectly?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:07:37 +0000

5. Q. Can you keep all this perfectly? A. No,[1] I am inclined by nature to hate God and my neighbour.[2] [1] Rom. 3:10, 23; I John 1:8, 10. [2] Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:23; 8:7; Eph. 2:3; Tit. 3:3 The Heidelberg Catechism - Q5

What does God’s law require of us?

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:53:59 +0000

4. Q. What does God’s law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in a summary in Matthew 22: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.[1] This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall [...]

From where do you know your sins and misery

jeff@jeffbrown.com (Jeffrey A. Brown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:51:16 +0000

3.Q. From where do you know your sins and misery? A. From the law of God.[1] [1] Rom. 3:20; The Heidelberg Catechism - Q3