The catechism comes under attach especially because it starts with the unpopular concept of sin, but does so to take us to Christ! It takes us to a unique question. Do YOU know your sin and misery? This is not a question about the mere knowledge of sin, but a very personal question. Do YOU know YOUR sin and misery. This question points us to the cross. Only when we ask ourselves this question will we be taken to the cross as the Holy Spirit presses on us the knowledge of our sin!

The question is a very spiritual one. The world is full of misery even though we know the root of it. But this question is different for us as we do not address misery horizontally. We feed and clothe and then bring the Gospel of Christ is often times true, but we are dealing with misery that social programs cannot take away and misery that separates us from God. (Rev. 3:17ff) We ask this question that we may be given eyes to see and therefore know our redemption in Christ alone. That is why we ask this question and stand before God!

The Pharisees, in trying to ask what the greatest commandment is are told it is the love of God...the very element where the child of God finds his very freedom! As we stand before the law of God CAN we keep it perfectly?! The question is not do we...but CAN WE?! It seems ridiculous to ask the question as we are prone by nature to hate God and the neighbor. Israel was asked to curse even though they were justified in the land of Canaan and is exactly where we stand. There is NONE righteous...not one! There is only one way to gain it...at the foot of the cross!

That is why this question is so beautiful. It takes us to Christ so we are justified and not like Laodicea! Where is our righteousness? It is found in Christ, the Great Physician, where we experience righteousness without bounds!