Reasonable Service (or Such a Price)

This Sunday I preached at our church, since our pastor was away. I spoke on Lord’s Day 16 of the Heidelberg Catechism which refers to the passage in the Apostle’s Creed about Christ’s suffering, death, burial and descent into Hell. I read a lot of Calvin on the subject and it changed my view which I had learned from other commentators and preachers.

Calvin basically says that the physical suffering and death of even a God/Man (God of very God, man of very man. Fully God and fully Man) could hardly have paid for the contemptuous nature of our sin. Calvin points out that the wages, which must be satisfied, are the second death or Hell; and Christ surely had to receive in himself the recompense for that sin in his very soul in order to satisfy God’s jealous anger. He goes on to point out just how terrified Christ seems to be in the Garden of Gethsemane. I always tended to downplay the fear in his voice, but Calvin accentuates it. All of this leads to a fuller understanding of: My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?

That was the price He paid. That was the dowry this Bridegroom paid for His bride. As the bride of Christ, how does this awesome and terrible price that was paid for us effect our lives, our decision making, and even the simple and easy to see parts of our life? How does it effect my budget? How does it influence how I spend my time?

He paid for us. I am His child in the palm of His hand and no one (even myself) can remove me from his protection. I don’t have to fret, but what is my reasonable service?

To glorify Him with all I have.