Lord’s Day 5
Q13. Can we make this payment ourselves?
No, we cannot. In fact, we make our debt bigger every day.
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.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
Can we make the payment for our own sin?
- 2
What does the catechism mean when it says we "make our debt bigger every day"?
- 3
Have you noticed how even your best days still have sin mixed in?
Illustration
If you owed someone a hundred dollars and tried to pay it back but kept borrowing more money each day, you would never get out of debt. Every day we sin more, which means we owe more. We cannot dig ourselves out of this hole.
Application
Pay attention today to how many times you fall short of loving God and loving others perfectly. Let that drive you to thank God that he provided someone else to pay what you never could.