The Gospel & The Heidelberg Catechism
Many people want to see the power of God displayed in signs and wonders, but Paul tells us in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is truly the power of God we should wish to display, and pray with fervor and longing to see manifested in our lives. When we read in Acts about the powerful signs displayed by the apostles like speaking in tongues, raising the dead to life, healing the sick, we’re tempted to believe that unless God uses us to do some physical work or declare some original prophetic utterance, then we are lesser Christians. On the contrary, the most understated act of the apostles, ever-present among those signs, is the declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When they preached in the synagogues or set sail for a distant land, they did not say, “Let us go and display our powers of healing.” Instead, they sought to proclaim salvation for both Jew and Gentile through Jesus Christ alone. And it was in this evangelism that the powerful salvation of God was brought forth to all the nations, and goes forth still today.
So when we, who are saved by the power of God, seek to be a powerful instrument of God, we should seek first the power of the Holy Spirit to use us men to declare God’s power through His glorious gospel. In 2 Peter 1:3, we’re told the great majesty and blessed ramifications of God’s power at work in us. And Peter goes on to tell us what we should desire as a result:
“3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
One instrument that has been handed down to us to help Christians supplement their faith, and keep them from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, is the catechism. So, today, we are going to focus on my personal favorite, The Heidelberg Catechism.
What is a catechism? According to Webster’s Dictionary 1828, a catechism is "A form of instruction by means of questions and answers, particularly in the principles of religion.” What I find unique in the Heidelberg Catechism’s format is that through the Questions and Answers, the individual is logically taken through the gospel. When Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus wrote it in 1563 - at the request of Elector Frederick III - they broke it into 3 sections that have been called Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude or Misery, Deliverance, and Gratitude. They then split the 129 questions into 52 week’s called “Lord’s Days.” This was so that in a single year, ministers could walk their congregation through the principles of the Christian faith, which was pivotal in a time when a huge percentage of the population was illiterate. It became quite popular in a short amount of time, especially among the Dutch and German reformed preachers, and it would go on to be approved by the Synod of Dort in 1619, becoming part of the Three Forms of Unity along with the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort. These documents widely comprise the official doctrinal statements of the Reformed churches.
And just to get the bibliographical stuff out of the way, I’ve used Crossway’s introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism as an information reference, as well as the Westminster Theological Seminary’s website, and even GotQuestions.org. When reading the actual excerpts from the catechism (except for the answer to Question 23), I’ll be using the version found on the Westminster Theological Seminary’s website, which, I believe, is the version currently used by the Canadian and American Reformed Churches. The answer to question 23, I’ve used the version found in Crossway’s ESV Bible, Creeds and Confessions Edition. I’ve linked them all here in the blog, but will also add links to the podcast notes.
Now, because of the clarity of the catechism’s teaching, I’m going to read through questions 1-23 without commentary, except for question 1. The first question beautifully describes the glorious comfort that the Christian has in this life, and sets up the course of discussion for the rest of the catechism. The question is:
Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not my own,[1] but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death,[2] to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.[3] He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil.[5] He also preserves me in such a way[6] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;[7] indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.[8] Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life[9] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.[10]
Now, that alone is such a robust and wonderful answer. I can’t tell you how liberating it is to be reminded that not even a hair can fall from my head, much less my life be lost, unless it is by the will of God. But let’s look at this answer another way. If you’re reading, notice that this answer alone has 10 footnotes. Each question in the catechism derives its answer directly from the Bible, and the authors thoughtfully supplied footnotes with those scripture references (so check them out as you read). But in this first question, those 10 footnotes reference 22 separate passages of Scripture. The reason I bring this up, is that when you put all of those referenced scriptures together in the order they are listed, they almost seamlessly combine. And together they create a powerful, master-presentation of the gospel that truly does bring comfort to any man, woman, or child. So here are those verses in order.
Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
Romans 14:7-8 (ESV) 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
1 Corinthians 3:23 (ESV) and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Titus 2:14 (ESV) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works
1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV) 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 John 1:7 (ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2:2 (ESV) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Hebrews 2:14 (ESV) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
1 John 3:8 (ESV) Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
John 8:34-36 (ESV) 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 6:39 (ESV) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
John 10:28 (ESV) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV) But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
1 Peter 1:5 (ESV) who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV) 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 21:18 (ESV) But not a hair of your head will perish
Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (ESV) 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 5:5 (ESV) He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Romans 8:16 (ESV) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:14 (ESV) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
***
I’ll let that sink in for a moment…
So from here on out, I’m going to read questions 1-23 of the Heidelberg Catechism, and I hope you find that is supplements your faith to the glory of God! If so, consider sharing it with a friend, or working through it together with your family or church family. Semper reformanda!
The Heidelberg Catechism
1.Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not my own,[1] but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death,[2] to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.[3] He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil.[5] He also preserves me in such a way[6] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;[7] indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.[8] Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life[9] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.[10]
[1] I Cor. 6:19, 20 [2] Rom. 14:7-9. [3] I Cor. 3:23; Tit. 2:14. [4] I Pet. 1:18, 19; I John 1:7; 2:2. [5] John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14, 15; I John 3:8. [6] John 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; II Thess. 3:3; I Pet. 1:5. [7] Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18. [8] Rom. 8:28. [9] Rom. 8:15, 16; II Cor. 1:21, 22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13, 14. [10] Rom. 8:14.
2. Q. What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
A. First, how great my sins and misery are;[1] second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery;[2] third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.[3]
[1] Rom. 3:9, 10; I John 1:10. [2] John 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43. [3] Matt. 5:16; Rom. 6:13; Eph. 5:8-10; I Pet. 2:9, 10.
3.Q. From where do you know your sins and misery?
A. From the law of God.[1]
[1] Rom. 3: 20;
4. Q. What does God's law require of us? A. Christ teaches us this in a summary in Matthew 22: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.[1] This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.[2]
[1] Deut. 6:5. [2] Lev. 19:18.
5. Q. Can you keep all this perfectly?
A. No,[1] I am inclined by nature to hate God and my neighbour.[2]
[1] Rom. 3:10, 23; I John 1:8, 10. [2] Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:23; 8:7; Eph. 2:3; Tit. 3:3.
6. Q. Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse?
A. No, on the contrary, God created man good[1] and in His image,[2] that is, in true righteousness and holiness,[3] so that he might rightly know God His Creator,[4] heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him.[5]
[1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 1:26, 27. [3] Eph. 4:24. [4] Col. 3:10. [5] Ps. 8.
7. Q. From where, then, did man's depraved nature come?
A. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,[1] for there our nature became so corrupt[2] that we are all conceived and born in sin.[3]
[1] Gen. 3. [2] Rom. 5:12, 18, 19. [3] Ps. 51:5.
8. Q. But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined to all evil?
A. Yes,[1] unless we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.[2]
[1] Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; Is. 53:6. [2] John 3:3-5.
9. Q. Is God, then, not unjust by requiring in His law what man cannot do?
A. No, for God so created man that he was able to do it.[1] But man, at the instigation of the devil,[2] in deliberate disobedience[3] robbed himself and all his descendants of these gifts.[4]
[1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 3:13; John 8:44; I Tim. 2:13, 14. [3] Gen. 3:6. [4] Rom. 5:12, 18, 19.
10. Q. Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?
A. Certainly not. He is terribly displeased with our original sin as well as our actual sins. Therefore He will punish them by a just judgment both now and eternally,[1] as He has declared:[2] Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them (Galatians 3:10).
[1] Ex. 34:7; Ps. 5:4-6; 7:10; Nah. 1:2; Rom. 1:18; 5:12; Eph. 5:6; Heb. 9:27. [2] Deut. 27:26.
11. Q. But is God not also merciful?
A. God is indeed merciful,[1] but He is also just.[2] His justice requires that sin committed against the most high majesty of God also be punished with the most severe, that is, with everlasting, punishment of body and soul.[3]
[1] Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 103:8, 9. [2] Ex. 20:5; 34:7; Deut. 7:9-11; Ps. 5:4-6; Heb. 10:30, 31. [3] Matt. 25:45,46.
12. Q. Since, according to God's righteous judgment we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how can we escape this punishment and be again received into favour?
A. God demands that His justice be satisfied.[1] Therefore full payment must be made either by ourselves or by another.[2]
[1] Ex. 20:5; 23:7; Rom. 2:1-11. [2] Is. 53:11; Rom. 8:3, 4.
13. Q. Can we ourselves make this payment?
A. Certainly not. On the contrary, we daily increase our debt.[1]
[1] Ps. 130:3; Matt. 6:12; Rom. 2:4, 5.
14. Q. Can any mere creature pay for us?
A. No. In the first place, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed.[1] Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.[2]
[1] Ezek. 18:4, 20; Heb. 2:14-18. [2] Ps. 130:3; Nah. 1:6.
15. Q. What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek?
A. One who is a true[1] and righteous[2] man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God.[3]
[1] I Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:17. [2] Is. 53:9; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26. [3] Is. 7:14; 9:6; Jer. 23:6; John 1:1; Rom. 8:3, 4.
16. Q. Why must He be a true and righteous man?
A. He must be a true man because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should pay for sin.[1] He must be a righteous man because one who himself is a sinner cannot pay for others.[2]
[1] Rom: 5:12, 15; I Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:14-16. [2] Heb. 7:26, 27; I Pet. 3:18.
17. Q. Why must He at the same time be true God?
A. He must be true God so that by the power of His divine nature[1] He might bear in His human nature the burden of God's wrath,[2] and might obtain for us and restore to us righteousness and life.[3]
[1] Is. 9:5. [2] Deut. 4:24; Nah. 1:6; Ps. 130:3. [3] Is. 53:5, 11; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:21.
18. Q. But who is that Mediator who at the same time is true God and a true and righteous man?
A. Our Lord Jesus Christ,[1] whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30).
[1] Matt. 1:21-23; Luke 2:11; I Tim. 2:5; 3:16.
19. Q. From where do you know this?
A. From the holy gospel, which God Himself first revealed in Paradise.[1] Later, He had it proclaimed by the patriarchs[2] and prophets,[3] and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law.[4] Finally, He had it fulfilled through His only Son.[5]
[1] Gen. 3:15. [2] Gen. 12:3; 22:18; 49:10. [3] Is. 53; Jer. 23:5, 6; Mic. 7:18-20; Acts 10:43; Heb. 1:1. [4] Lev. 1:7; John 5:46; Heb. 10:1-10. [5] Rom. 10:4; Gal. 4:4, 5; Col. 2:17.
20. Q. Are all men, then, saved by Christ just as they perished through Adam?
A. No. Only those are saved who by a true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all His benefits.[1]
[1] Matt. 7:14; John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21.
21. Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in His Word.[1] At the same time it is a firm confidence[2] that not only to others, but also to me,[3] God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation,[4] out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.[5] This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel.[6]
[1] John 17:3, 17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19. [2] Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:16. [3] Gal. 2:20. [4] Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:10. [5] Rom.3:20-26; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10. [6] Acts 16:14; Rom. 1:16; 10:17; I Cor. 1:21.
22. Q. What, then, must a Christian believe?
A. All that is promised us in the Gospel,[1] which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary.
[1] Matt. 28:19; John 20:30, 31.
23. Q. What are these articles?
III.1.I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord; He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; On the third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge.the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;.and the life everlasting.