3/17/12 No Excuses

25- 3/17- HDBG- 9,10, 11

Q. 9. Is not God unjust in requiring of man in his Law what he cannot do?

A. No, for God so created man that he could do it. But man, upon the instigation of the devil, by deliberate disobedience, has cheated himself and all his descendants out of these gifts.

Q. 10. Will God let man get by with such disobedience and defection?

A. Certainly not, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, both against our inborn sinfulness and our actual sins, and he will punish them according to his righteous judgment in time and in eternity, as he has declared: “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, and do them.”

Q. 11. But is not God also merciful?

A. God is indeed merciful and gracious, but he is also righteous. It is his righteousness which requires that sin committed against the supreme majesty of God be punished with extreme, that is, with eternal punishment of body and soul

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Romans 3:19,20)

Thoughts:  It is an appropriate thought for Lent: we cannot weasel our way out of sin.  No excuse, no rationalization, no salve to hide the symptoms of our mistakes will keep us from the consequences of sin.  God is more merciful than we deserve, but He cannot overlook an open affront to Him.  His justice is more merciful than mine.  I am quick to condemn others (but slow to condemn myself).  God has great patience and gives us opportunity after opportunity to respond to Him. 
   Today is St. Patrick's Day.  St. Patrick was very bold, and gave no excuses, nor did he allow others to excuse their evil or their beliefs. Patrick admitted his sin and weaknesses.  Yet, though he was humble, he was bold in sharing his faith- even with druids and kings who threatened and tried to kill him (some say as many as 120 times).  Patrick always cast himself on the mercy o fGod. 

Prayer: Lord, may I understand your great love and mercy, but also understand how I have wronged you.  Forgive me, not because of my good- or despite my bad- but because I know your Son has made payment for my sins.