LORD’S DAY 4
Q. 9. Doth not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in His law that which he cannot perform?
A. Not at all; 1 for God made man capable of performing it;2 but man, by the instigation of the devil,3 and his own wilful disobedience, deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.4
- Eccl. 7:29.
- John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:3.
- Gen. 3:4, 7.
- Rom. 5:12.
Q. 10. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
A. By no means; but is terribly displeased1 with our original as well as actual sins; and will punish them2 in His just judgment temporally and eternally, as He hath declared, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.3
- Psa. 5:5.
- Rom. 1:18; Deut. 28:15; Heb. 9:27.
- Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10.
Q. 11. Is not God then also merciful?
A. God is indeed merciful,1 but also just;2 therefore His justice requires that sin which is committed against the most high majesty of God be also punished3 with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment4 of body and soul.
- Ex. 34:6.
- Ex. 20:5. Job 34:10, 11.
- Psa. 5:5, 6.
- Gen. 2:17. Rom. 6:23.
LORD’S DAY 4
Inescapable Punishment
1. Does God still demand that we keep His law, though we cannot perform it?
Yes, God always maintains the demands of His law, which is holy, just, and good.
2. But is it unjust of God to demand something of us which we cannot do?
Not at all; for God made man capable of performing His law, but man deprived himself and all his posterity of this capability.
3. How did man deprive himself of his ability to keep God’s law?
By the instigation of the devil and his own willful disobedience man deprived himself of the divine gifts of righteousness, holiness, and true knowledge.
4. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
By no means; but He is terribly displeased with our original as well as actual sins. Psalm 5:5; Romans 1:18.
5. How then does God punish sin?
In His just judgment He punishes sin with temporal misery and eternal desolation in hell. Matthew 25:41-46.
6. Can you prove that God punishes man on account of his disobedience?
Yes, God has declared, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10.
7. But is not God also merciful?
God is merciful, but also just; therefore His mercy can never contradict His justice.
8. What does God’s justice require?
Since sin is committed against the most high majesty of God, it must be punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul. Romans 2:5-9.