Heidelberg Catechism Part 1: Sin and misery

Bible Reading A) [Extent of sin] Genesis 6:5, 11-12; 8:21 Psalm 51:5 Jeremiah 17:9 Romans 1:18-32 B) [Law and result] Romans 7:7-12 Genesis 2:16-17 Genesis 3:1-7 Genesis 5:5, 8, 11

Naturally ignorant Most people consider themselves to be generally good (not murders/rapists etc.) Do not think that God is angry with them/they will face his judgement Similar to people of Japan in city of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) – oblivious to the fact that soon, an American bomb would destroy their city

God's law shows us our true selves God gave his law to us in the Bible to show us our true selves 'What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7) Reading God's law/the Bible 'opens' our eyes so we can see/realise our position before God

Perfect moral standards “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40 We all fall short of God's perfect moral standard.

God requires perfection ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.' (Leviticus 19:2) 'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' (Matthew 5:48)

Unable No one is able to keep God's law perfectly We cannot live up to God's standards Instead, by nature: we hate God (no one wants God telling them what to do) we hate our neighbour (survival of the fittest)

Surely not? No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. - Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Really that bad We are inclined by nature To hate God To hate our neighbor Everyone born is inclined to hate another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion. People by nature are born to hate, and if they are born to hate, they cannot simply be taught to love, for love does not come more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. - Nelson Mandela, corrected by the Bible’s teaching

Created sinful? If we are by nature sinful (prone to hate God and our neighbour) – surely that means God made a mistake? Faulty product…? (Read Genesis 1:26-31)

Genesis 1:26-31 God made us perfectly good God made us in his image and likeness – in true righteousness and holiness God is NOT the origin of sin

Where does sin come from then? Mankind, Adam and Eve, though they were perfectly good, chose to ignore God and listen to the Devil (Genesis 3) As descendants/children of Adam and Eve (the first humans) we share in their fallen nature By nature, we are sinful – poisoned and corrupted by sin such that our entire human nature has been damaged

Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. There is no part of human nature – body, soul, mind, heart will – which has not been damaged/corrupted by sin.

Example Nazi Germany 1933-1945 Educated and advanced economy, technologically superior to USA/UK/Russia Mass murder of millions of people How?

Really that bad? Yes Although people know God’s righteous decree (God's law) that those who do such things (sin) deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. -Romans 1:32

Need Rebirth By nature, we cannot do anything to change ourselves – love does not come naturally to the human heart, hate does. Need for something to happen to us, to change us. What is the problem with the world? I am.

But…unfair?! How can God give us a law, a perfect standard, if we by nature cannot keep it? E.g. You cannot punish a fish for not walking, or a cow for not flying! When God created mankind – he created mankind good and able to keep his law perfectly. It is mankind's own fault, that he is no longer able to do so.

But, isn't God also merciful? Yes, God is merciful. “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:6-7

But God's mercy will never compromise his justice "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7

God's justice requires payment/punishment for sin "The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them." Ezekiel 18:20 God will always punish sin.

Infinite and eternal The punishment which sin deserves is death, infinite and eternal Punishment fits the crime – someone who steals from a king/queen will be punished more severely than someone who steals from another. The nature of the person being wronged, determines the nature of the punishment. God is infinite – without measure or limit – of worth which we cannot define or imagine. Just and fair punishment for any sin against God must also be 'without measure' – eternal death.

Questions How high are God's ethical standards? Is it possible for someone to keep God's law perfectly? Are we really that bad? Who is to blame for human sin? Why is it 'fair' of God to demand something from us (perfection) which we cannot perform? Is it fair that God regards us as enemies because of Adam's sin?

Doxology Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Know that the Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.