In this episode of the Heidelberg Catechism devotionals, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Question 14: "Can any mere creature pay for us?" Following the realization that we cannot pay our own debt for sin, we examine why no other created being—whether animal or human—can serve as our substitute.Key insights from this study include:The Problem of Justice: God will not punish a different kind of creature for the sins committed by humanity; the debt belongs to man and must be paid by man.The Problem of Capacity: No mere creature has the strength to sustain the infinite burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin while also delivering others from it.Scriptural Evidence: Through Psalm 49, Hebrews 10, and Psalm 130, we see the insufficiency of animal sacrifices and the high cost of a human soul.This "impossible situation" sets the stage for the next study, where we look toward the only possible solution: a mediator who is both truly human and truly God.
