Lord's Day 05

Q. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God,

we deserve temporal and eternal punishment,

is there no way by which we may escape that punishment and be again received into favor?
A. God will have His justice satisfied;

and therefore we must make this full satisfaction,

either by ourselves or by another.

Q. Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?
A. By no means;

but on the contrary we daily increase our debt.

Q. Can there be found anywhere one who is a mere creature,

able to satisfy for us?
A. None;

for, first,

God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man hath committed;

and further,

no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin,

so as to deliver others from it.

Q. What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?
A. For one who is very man,

and perfectly righteous;

and yet more powerful than all creatures;

that is, one who is also very God.