Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 4 / Q. 9
Q. 9. Doth not God then do injustice to man by requiring from him, in his law, that which he cannot perform? —(Gal. 3;10).
Question. Doth not God then do injustice to man by requiring from him, in his law, that which he cannot perform? —(Gal. 3;10).
Answer. Not at all (Rom. 3;20); for God made man capable of performing it (Ecc. 7:29); but man, by the instigation of the devil, and his own willful disobedience (Rom. 5;19), deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts (Rom. 5;12).
Proofs.
- [proof-1] Gal. 3;10.—Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.— Rom. 3;5, 6.—Rom. 1;32.
- [proof-2] Rom. 3;20.—By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.— Rev. 15;3,
- [proof-3] Ecc. 7;29.—God hath made man upright.
- [proof-4] Rom. 5;19.—By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.— Gen. 3;13.—2 Cor. 11;3.
- [proof-5] Rom. 5;12.—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.—1 Cor. 15;22.
