Catechism #37-42

I haven't kept up with posting from the Catechism - partly because I dropped the ball, and partly because the q&a's in this section are really short, so bunching several together seems like a good idea.

Question #37: What do you understand by the word "suffered"?

Answer: That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race.

This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life ( Isa. 53; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:14; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 3:13; John 3:16; Rom. 3:24-26).

Question #38. Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate" as judge?

Answer: So that he, though innocent, might be condemned by a civil judge, and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us (Luke 23:13-24; John 19:4, 12-16;Isa. 53:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13).

Question #39: Is it significant that he was "crucified" instead of dying some other way?

Answer: Yes. This death convinces me that he shouldered the curse which lay on me, since death by crucifixion was accursed by God (Gal. 3:10-13; Deut. 21:23).

Question #40. Why did Christ have to go all the way to death?

A. Because God's justice and truth demand it: only the death of God's Son could pay for our sin (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 8:3-4; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:9).

Question #41. Why was he "buried"?

A. His burial testifies that he really died (Isa. 53:9; John 19:38-42; Acts 13:29; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Question #42: Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?

A. Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life (Ps. 49:7; John 5:24; Phil. 1:21-23; 1 Thess. 5:9-10).