For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
- Romans 8:3-4
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
- Psalm 130:3
or everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
- Ezekiel 18:4
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
- Hebrews 2:14-18
“Q. Since, according to God’s righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour?
God demands that his justice be satisfied. Therefore we must make full payment, either by ourselves or through another.
Ex 20:5; 23:7; Rom 2:1-11.
Is 53:11; Rom 8:3, 4.
- Heidelberg Catechism, Question 12
Q. Can we by ourselves make this payment?
Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.
Ps 130:3; Mt 6:12; Rom 2:4, 5.
- Heidelberg Catechism, Question 13
Q. Can any mere creature pay for us?
No. In the first place, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed. Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.
Ezek 18:4, 20; Heb 2:14-18.
Ps 130:3; Nahum 1:6.
- Heidelberg Catechism, Question 14
Q. What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek?
One who is a true and righteous man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God.
1 Cor 15:21; Heb 2:17.
Is 53:9; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 7:26.
Is 7:14; 9:6; Jer 23:6; Jn 1:1; Rom 8:3, 4.
- Heidelberg Catechism, Question 15
The Message
As mentioned last week, the beginning of this discourse is bleak.
It reminds me of the Four Spiritual Laws. God loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us. But God is Holy and we have sinned. There is a great gulf between us and God caused by that sin. Regardless of what we do, we cannot bridge that gulf.
But Jesus, fully human, fully God, can bridge that gulf for us. So, these questions focus on our inability to do anything that is worthy of God’s attention, much less salvation.
But then the last question mentions the necessary requirements for the unnamed mediator.
Next week, those requirements are examined deeper and the mediator is named. There is hope and we find hope in Jesus Christ.
And now let us sing.
Here is Just as I am sung by CeCe Winans. And the video can also be used to teach reading cursive.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord,
We believe in You. You are just, Lord. And You are Holy. Your justice must be served. Our best efforts are like filthy rags, so filthy that in olden days, we might have to go around saying “unclean.” How can we do anything that bridges the gulf between us and You? We can’t, but Jesus can. Lord, we need Jesus and we must trust in Him or that gulf, that chasm cannot be bridged. Jesus is our only hope.
In Thy name we pray,
Amen
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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