Catechisma

Lord’s Day 6

Q16. Why must he be a true and perfectly good person?

He must be a true human because God's justice requires that the same human nature that sinned must pay for sin. He must be perfectly good because someone who is a sinner cannot pay for other people's sins.

Scripture Proofs — King James Version

1

Romans 5:12, 15

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. … But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

1 Corinthians 15:21

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Hebrews 2:14–16

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Isaiah 53:3–5

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

2

Hebrews 7:26–27

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

Parent Guide

Discuss this question together

Discussion Questions

  1. 1

    Why must the Savior be a true human being?

  2. 2

    Why must the Savior also be perfectly good?

  3. 3

    How does knowing that Jesus is a real person who never sinned give you confidence?

Illustration

If your class has a spelling test and someone from a different class takes it for you, it does not count. The person paying for human sin had to be a human. But a human with his own sins to pay for could not pay for yours, just like a student who failed the test could not give you his grade. Jesus is human and sinless, so his payment counts.

Application

Thank Jesus this week that he became a real person with real hands, real hunger, and real tiredness, all while never sinning once. Ask God to help you trust that his perfect life counts for you.