Displays articles in our confessions
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 46. Q. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SAYING, “HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 47. Q. BUT ISN’T CHRIST WITH US UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD AS HE PROMISED US?1
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 48. Q. IF HIS HUMANITY IS NOT PRESENT WHEREVER HIS DIVINITY IS, THEN AREN’T THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 49. Q. HOW DOES CHRIST’S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN BENEFIT US?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 50. Q. WHY THE NEXT WORDS: “AND SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 51. Q. HOW DOES THIS GLORY OF CHRIST OUR HEAD BENEFIT US?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 52. Q. HOW DOES CHRIST’S RETURN “TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD” COMFORT YOU?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 20 – 53. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE HOLY SPIRIT”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 54. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 55. Q. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 56. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS”?
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Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 22 – 57. Q. HOW DOES “THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY” COMFORT YOU?
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 46. Q. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SAYING, “HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN”?
A. That Christ, while his disciples watched, was lifted up from the earth to heaven1 and will be there for our good2 until he comes again to judge the living and the dead.3
Biblical References:
1 Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11
2 Rom. 8:34; Eph. 4:8-10; Heb. 7:23-25; 9:24
3 Acts 1:11
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 47. Q. BUT ISN’T CHRIST WITH US UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD AS HE PROMISED US?1
A. Christ is true man and true God. In his human nature Christ is not now on earth;2 but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is not absent from us for a moment.3
Biblical References:
1 Matt. 28:20
2 Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21
3 Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:16-19
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 48. Q. IF HIS HUMANITY IS NOT PRESENT WHEREVER HIS DIVINITY IS, THEN AREN’T THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER?
A. Certainly not. Since divinity is not limited and is present everywhere,1 it is evident that Christ”s divinity is surely beyond the bounds of the humanity he has taken on, but at the same time his divinity is in and remains personally united to his humanity.2
Biblical References:
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49 (Isa. 66:1)
2 John 1:14; 3:13; Col. 2:9
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 18 – 49. Q. HOW DOES CHRIST’S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN BENEFIT US?
A. First, he pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of his Father.1 Second, we have our own flesh in heaven- a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, his members, to himself in heaven.2 Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee.3 By the Spirit”s power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God”s right hand.4
Biblical References:
1 Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1
2 John 14:2; 17:24; Eph. 2:4-6
3 John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5
4 Col. 3:1-4
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 50. Q. WHY THE NEXT WORDS: “AND SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD”?
A. Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that he is head of his church,1 and that the Father rules all things through him.2
Biblical References:
1 Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18
2 Matt. 28:18; John 5:22-23
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 51. Q. HOW DOES THIS GLORY OF CHRIST OUR HEAD BENEFIT US?
A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members.1 Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.2
Biblical References:
1 Acts 2:33; Eph. 4:7-12
2 Ps. 110:1-2; John 10:27-30; Rev. 19:11-16
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 19 – 52. Q. HOW DOES CHRIST’S RETURN “TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD” COMFORT YOU?
A. In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as judge the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me.1 All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven.2
Biblical References:
1 Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:22-25; Phil. 3:20-21; Tit. 2:13-14
2 Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-10 GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 20 – 53. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE HOLY SPIRIT”?
A. First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God.1 Second, he has been given to me personally,2 so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings,3 comforts me,4 and remains with me forever.5
Biblical References:
1 Gen. 1:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4
2 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Gal. 4:6
3 Gal. 3:14
4 John 15:26; Acts 9:31
5 John 14:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:14
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 54. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH”?
A. I believe that the Son of God, through his Spirit and Word,1 out of the entire human race,2 from the beginning of the world to its end,3 gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life4 and united in true faith.5 And of this community I am6 and always will be7 a living member.
Biblical References:
1 John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 10:14-17; Col. 1:18
2 Gen. 26:3b-4; Rev. 5:9
3 Isa. 59:21; 1 Cor. 11:26
4 Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-14
5 Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6
6 1 John 3:14, 19-21
7 John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 55. Q. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS”?
A. First, that believers one and all, as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts.1 Second, that each member should consider it his duty to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.2
Biblical References:
1 Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3
2 Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 21 – 56. Q. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONCERNING “THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS”?
A. I believe that God, because of Christ”s atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins1 nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life.2 Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment.3
Biblical References:
1 Ps. 103:3-4,10,12; Mic. 7:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7;2:2
2 Rom. 7:21-25
3 John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1-2
Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 22 – 57. Q. HOW DOES “THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY” COMFORT YOU?
A. Not only my soul will be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head,1 but even my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ, will be reunited with my soul and made like Christ”s glorious* body.2
Biblical References:
1 Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:21-23
2 1 Cor. 15:20, 42-46, 54; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2 *The first edition had here the word for “holy.” This was later corrected to “glorious.”