I am copying and linking to Lord’s Day 7 of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563).
(Making up for missing last week, being on the road, I post 2 Lord’s Days in one day)
This text comes from the Heidelblog.net publication of the Catechism (accessed 5 March 2023).
Q20. Are all men then saved by Christ as they perished in Adam?
A. No, only those who by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits.1
1John 1:12,13. 1 Cor 15:22. Ps 2:12. Rom 11:20. Heb 4:2, 3. Heb 10:39.
Q21. What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word;1 but also a hearty trust,2 which the Holy Spirit 3 works in me by the Gospel,4 that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God,5 merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.6
1James 1:6. 2Rom 4:16-18. 32 Cor 4:13. Phil 1:19, 20. 4Rom 1:16. Rom 10:17. 5Heb 11:1, 2. Rom 1:17. 6Eph 2:7-9. Rom 3:24, 25. Gal 2:16. * Acts 10:43.
Q22. What then is necessary for a Christian to believe?
A. All that is promised us in the Gospel,1 which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in sum.
1John 20:31. Matt 28:20. * 2 Pet 1:21. * 2 Tim 3:15.
Q23. What are these articles?
A. I believe in God the Father, almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit , born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit , a holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
One can either search for the tag: #heidelbergcatechism1563 or use this pre-built query to get access to the whole catechism as the Lord’s Days Questions and Answers are posted each week
Thank you
PHANTOM LANDSCAPES 