HC 17

Q17. Why must He at the same time be true God?

He must be true God so that by the power of His divine nature He might bear in His human nature the burden of God's wrath, and might obtain for us and restore to us righteousness and life.

Proof texts

• Isa. 9:5 — [5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
• Deut. 4:24 — [24] For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
• Nah. 1:6 — [6] Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
• Ps. 130:3 — [3] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
• Isa. 53:5 — [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
• Isa. 53:11 — [11] Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
• John 3:16 — [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
• 2 Cor. 5:21 — [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Isa. 9:5 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 8 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