Heidelberg 3 & 4

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 3:20)

Thoughts: The Law of God shows us how to live.  But it also reveals to us our sin and how this life is not what it is made up to be.  It is ironic that some secularists say "heaven is a place on earth."  But some others (or the same people in difference time and circumstance) say "I believe there is no worst hell than right here."  Such thoughts really show the limits of our ability to think beyond our circumstances.  But often the things we thought were perfect turn out to be miserable.  So the "marriage made in heaven" can seem like a trap formed in hell.  The job we thought was just right is uninteresting, tedious and difficult.  The Law of God is like the outside  reminder that things are meant to be better.  We were meant to be honest and not lie.  We were meant to be faithful people not wishy washy adulterers who abuse those we said we loved.  The Law shows us our weakness- our problem- and thus we are called to account to be better people. Yet we have a tendency to not want to listen to rebuke or anyone telling us how we should live- or that we might be wrong.  Yet we know from school and from business that not listening to others to correct, rebuke, and help us leads us naively down the wrong path.  We are called to love- but even there we know we mess up and are apathetic and indifferent to God and neighbor.  The Law shows us how we fall short.  It is like a mirror that shows us where our cuts, bruises, pimples, and flaws are.  Mirrors do not solve our problem - but they are helpful to teach us where our flaws are. 

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that your Law shows me where my weakness is.  

Q & A 3

Q. How do you come to know your misery?

A. The law of God tells me.1

1 Rom. 3:20; 7:7-25

Q & A 4

Q. What does God’s law require of us?

A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22:37-40:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’1
This is the greatest and first commandment.

“And a second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’2

“On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets.”

1 Deut. 6:5
2 Lev. 19:18

Q & A 5

Q. Can you live up to all this perfectly?

A. No.1
I have a natural tendency
to hate God and my neighbor.2

1 Rom. 3:9-20, 23; 1 John 1:8, 10
2 Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:23-24; 8:7; Eph. 2:1-3; Titus 3:3

Man in the mirror song- Michael Jackson youtube