HC 13

Q13. Can we ourselves make this payment?

Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.

Proof texts

• Ps. 130:3 — [3] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
• Matt. 6:12 — [12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
• Rom. 2:4-5 — [4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Ps. 130:3 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q4 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q4 · WSC Q5 · WSC Q6 · WLC Q6 · WCF 2.1 · WCF 2.2 · WCF 2.3 · BC 2.1 · BC 2.2 · BC 2.3 · BC 2.4 · 1689 2.1 · 1689 2.2 · 1689 2.3