Lord’s Day 14
Q36. How does Jesus' holy birth help you?
He is our mediator (the one who goes between us and God), and because he is perfectly innocent and holy, he covers my sin — the sin I have had since I was born — so that God no longer sees it.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
1 Timothy 2:5–6
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Hebrews 9:13–15
Romans 8:3–4
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Galatians 4:4–5
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
1 Peter 1:18–19
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does the catechism say Jesus covers for you?
- 2
Why does Jesus need to be perfectly innocent to be our mediator?
- 3
What would happen if our mediator had his own sins to deal with?
Illustration
If your white shirt got a big stain, you could not clean it by rubbing another stained shirt on it. You need something perfectly clean. Jesus is perfectly holy, so his life can cover the stain of sin that has been on us since birth.
Application
Before bed tonight, thank Jesus that his perfect life covers your sin. Because he was born holy, he can stand between you and God on your behalf.