Chapter 16: Lord's Day 16
Section 40. Q. 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.
Section 41. Q. 41: Why was he 'buried'? A. His burial testifies that he really died.
Section 42. Q. 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.
Section 43. Q. 43: What further benefit do we receive from Christ's sacrifice and death on the cross? A. Through Christ's death our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may dedicate ourselves as an offering of gratitude to him.
Section 44. Q. 44: Why does the creed add, 'He descended to hell'? A. To assure me during attacks of deepest dread and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from hellish anguish and torment.