Catechism Question 13
How do you come to learn of your sin and guilt?
The law of God shows me my sin and guilt.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question, we are showing that it is God’s law that reveals our sin. Since God’s law is the perfect reflection of His character and shows us what God has demanded of us (question 9), it is also His law that will show us when we fall short. We may convince ourselves that we are not guilty, or try to blame it on other people, but God’s law cuts through our excuses and shows us our sin and guilt.
This question shows us that sin and guilt are not a matter of culture or societal norms, but of a violation of God’s law. Guilt is not primarily an internal, subjective feeling – it is an external, objective status before God. Those who break God’s law are legally, objectively guilty before Him – even if they have seared their conscience so that they no longer feel that they are guilty.
Additional Questions:
How do you learn that you are guilty before God?
How do you know that you are a sinner?
How do you know that you have sinned?
What does God use to show us our guilt?
Scripture References:
Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 7:7
What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
Galatians 3:10
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Romans 2:14-15
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
Questions for Further Discussion:
When we speak of our guilt, do we mean our feelings of guilt or our actual legal guilt before a holy God?
If someone does not feel guilty, does that mean that they are in fact not guilty of sin?
Are all people really guilty of sin? Isn’t there anyone who is sinless?
Do you know anyone who is a “good person”? Then why do we say that there is no one who is good? In what sense are they “good people”? In what sense are they not “good people”?
How does the law of God show me my guilt?
Does the law help me to obey God, or does it merely tell me what I must do? If the law does not help, how will I ever be able to obey God?
What about people who do not have the law in written form in the Bible? How do they know they are guilty of their sin? (See Romans 2:14-15).
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 3 of the Heidelberg Catechism, questions 39 and 40 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and question 15 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg, Westminster Shorter, or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teaching “The Proper Use of God’s Law” (July 24, 2011).
Suggested Worship Song:
The Law of God is Good and Wise (words by Matthias Loy, 1873) *We could not find a version available online
(Note the three uses of the law in this hymn. In verses 1-2 it shows us our sin to cause us to despair and look to Christ; in verse 3 it shows the Christian God’s will for how to live in gratitude, and in verse 4 it serves to restrain the wickedness of mankind.)
The law of God is good and wise,
And sets His will before our eyes,
Shows us the way of righteousness,
And dooms to death when we transgress.
Its light of holiness imparts
The knowledge of our sinful hearts,
That we may see our lost estate
And seek deliverance ere too late.
To those who help in Christ have found
And would in works of love abound
It shows what deeds are His delight
And should be done as good and right.
When men the offered help disdain
And willfully in sin remain,
Its terror in their ear resounds
And keeps their wickedness in bounds.
The law is good, but since the fall
Its holiness condemns us all;
It dooms us for our sin to die
And has no power to justify.
To Jesus we for refuge flee,
Who from the curse has set us free,
And humbly worship at His throne,
Saved by His grace through faith alone.