Catechisma
Heidelberg (Kids)
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Lord’s Day 4

Q9. Is it unfair for God to require things in his law that we cannot do?

No. God made people so they could obey him. But people, tricked by the devil, chose to disobey and lost these good gifts — for themselves and for all their children after them.

Scripture Proofs — King James Version

1

Genesis 1:31

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Ephesians 4:24

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

2

Genesis 3:13

“And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

1 Timothy 2:13–14

“For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

3

Romans 5:12, 18–19

“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. … Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Parent Guide

Discuss this question together

Discussion Questions

  1. 1

    Is it unfair for God to require things we cannot do?

  2. 2

    Why does the catechism say it is not unfair?

  3. 3

    Have you ever lost something good because of a bad choice, and then wished you still had it?

Illustration

If your parents give you a library book and you lose it, the library still says you owe them a book. It does not matter that you cannot find it. You had it, and you lost it. Adam had the ability to obey God perfectly, and he lost it for all of us. God still rightly requires what he originally gave.

Application

When you feel frustrated that obeying God is so hard, remember that this difficulty is the result of sin, not something God did to you. Ask God to help you be honest about your sin instead of blaming him.