Lords Day 16

Lords Day 16 of the Heidelberg Catechism answers so many questions surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, as presented in this beautiful poetic rendition by David Croft. Why did Christ have to die and be buried? Why, then, do we need to die if Jesus already died in our place? The Bible answers these and so many more questions. It is so very important that we do not try to rest our convictions on our own understanding, but rather to rest our convictions on God's Word alone!

Lords Day 16

Come Tell Me Why

Come tell me why the Lord of life
Was made to suffer unto death
And did our wretched sinning strife
Demand His last and dying breath?
The only balm and saving cure
God's truth and justice joining hands
Was all the Son of God endured
To pay for sin as law demands

And why was Jesus buried then?
To show His death unto the world
Since Jesus died, why must His friends?
To gaze upon our precious Pearl
For which the kiss of death is sweet
Although it pays no legal debt
But hymns Christ's final victory
The end of sin in glory met

What firm and further benefit
From Jesus' death and agony
What grace of that New Testament
Assists our pilgrim poverty?
Through Jesus' death that tyrant reign
Of our old selves is crucified
Our soul's assassin tombed and slain
Our fleshly fires mortified

As slaves of love unto the Lord
We gladly offer up ourselves
Why doth the creed include the words
That He descended into hell?
From Christ's unfathomed suffering
His cross and His whole life as well
I humbly bear His chastening
Whose wounds delivered me from hell

April 30, 1996
Lords Day 16 Heidelberg Catechism Questions & Answers 40-44
© Copyright 1996 David L. Croft

Lords Day 16 of the Heidelberg Catechism addresses the many questions we may have surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this poetic rendition of this Lord's Day, David Croft beautifully expresses the truths taught. To appease a Holy God whose hatred of sin is such that He cannot even look upon it, it was necessary for Christ to suffer, not only the agony of death, but the separation from God, when He cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

Enduring all that He did, a way was made for God's children to come to Him. Being covered by the blood of Christ, God does not see their sin, but only the righteousness of Christ. For this, we owe everything to our dear Lord and Savior. Nothing on this earth could ever compare to the debt of love we owe to Him who left heaven's glory that He might purchase a people for Himself.

Oh the glories that await us in heaven. We cannot even begin to comprehend the joy that awaits us there!

Lords Day 16

Lords Day 17

Lords Day 15

Heidelberg Catechism Poetry

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