Heidelberg Catechism
1. LORD’S DAY.
Question 1. What is your only comfort in life and death?
Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
Question 2. How many things are necessary for you to know, that you, enjoying this comfort, may live and die happily?
Answer. Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.
9. LORD’S DAY.
Question 26. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?
Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.
10. LORD’S DAY.
Question 27. What do you mean by the providence of God?
Answer. The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.
Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created and by his providence still upholds all things?
Answer. That we may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity; and that in all things that may hereafter befall us we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.
11. LORD’S DAY.
Question 29. Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is a Saviour?
Answer. Because he saves us, and delivers us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.
Question 30. Do those then who seek their salvation of themselves, or anywhere else, believe in Jesus the only Saviour?
Answer. They do not; for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Saviour; for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Saviour; or that they, who by a true faith receive this Saviour, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation.
12. LORD’S DAY.
Question 31. Why is he called Christ that is anointed?
Answer. Because he is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body has redeemed us and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; and also to be our eternal King who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation he has purchased for us.
Question 32. But why are you called a Christian?
Answer. Because I am a member of Christ by faith, and thus am partaker of his anointing; that so I may confess his name, and present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him: and also that with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life: and afterwards reign with him eternally, over all creatures.
13. LORD’S DAY.
Question 33. Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?
Answer. Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for his sake.
Question 34. Why then do we call him our Lord?
Answer. Because he has redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood, and has delivered us from all the power of the devil; and thus has made us his own property.
20. LORD’S DAY.
Question 53. What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit?
Answer. First, that he is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Son; secondly, that he is also given to me, to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all his benefits, that he may comfort me and abide with me for ever.
Now, in the following questions these benefits that the Holy Spirit gives to us are examined, beginning of course with the Church family that the Spirit builds.
21. LORD’S DAY.
Question 54. What do you believe concerning the “holy catholic church” of Christ?
Answer. That the Son of God from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to himself by his Spirit and word, out of the whole human race, a church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am and for ever shall remain, a living member thereof.
Question 55. What do you understand by “the communion of saints”?
Answer. First, that all and every one, who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, partakers of him, and of all his riches and gifts; secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members.
Question 56. What do you believe concerning “the forgiveness of sins”?
Answer. That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ; that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God.
22. LORD’S DAY.
Question 57. What comfort does the “resurrection of the body” afford you?
Answer. That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ.
Question 58. What comfort do you take from the article of “life everlasting”?
Answer. That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life, I shall inherit perfect salvation, which “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man” to conceive, and that, to praise God therein forever.