We cannot save ourselves because all our righteous deeds are filthy rags in the sight of God. We cannot pay for our sin nor can we win heaven by good works. What hope then do we have? The answer is found in the next question of our Shorter Catechism.
WSC 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, —from all eternity,—elected some to everlasting life,—did enter into a COVENANT OF GRACE, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a REDEEMER.
• In the first, which we may name: “Author,” the apostle Paul reminds us that God the Father is the source of all spiritual blessings, which he bestows through Christ.
• In the second, which we may call: “Time,” we are taught that God has chosen us in Christ before the
foundation of the world.
• In the third, which we may name, “Purpose,” we are informed what is the purpose of our election.
• In the fourth, which we may name as “Plan,” we are told how God has planned to bring to pass his
purpose for us.
• In the fifth, which we would call, ‘Basis’, we see the reason underlying God’s choice of us.
• In the sixth, which we may name ‘Goal’ we see the goal of what the Lord did and is doing for us. |
