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LORD’S DAY 7 20. Are all men, then, saved by Christ as they have perished in Adam? No, only those who by true faith are engrafted into Him and receive all His benefits.1 [1] Jn. 1:12–13; 1 Cor. 15:22; Ps. 2:12; Rom. 11:20; Heb. 4:2–3; 10:39. 21. What is true faith? True faith is not only a sure 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 Spirit3 works in me by the Gospel,4 that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvationRead More →

LORD’S DAY 6 16. Why must He be a true and righteous man? Because the justice of God requires1 that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin; but one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others.2 [1] Rom: 5:15. [2] Isa. 53:3–5. 17. Why must He also be true God? That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God’s wrath,1 and so obtain for2 and restore to us righteousness and life.3 [1] Isa. 53:8; Acts 2:24. [2] Jn. 3:16; Acts 20:28. [3] 1 Jn. 1:2. 18. But who now isRead More →

The Only Possible Solution LORD’S DAY 5 12. Since, then, by the righteous judgment of God we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how may we escape this punishment and be again received into favor? God wills that His justice be satisfied;1 therefore, we must make full satisfaction to that justice, either by ourselves or by another.2 [1] Ex. 20:5; 23:7. [2] Rom. 8:3–4. 13. Can we ourselves make this satisfaction? Certainly not; on the contrary, we daily increase our guilt.1 [1] Job 9:2–3; 15:15–16; Matt. 6:12; *16:26. 14. Can any mere creature make satisfaction for us? None; for first, God will not punish any otherRead More →

LORD’S DAY 4 9. Does not God, then, do injustice to man by requiring of him in His Law that which he cannot perform? No, for God so made man that he could perform it;1 but man, through the instigation of the devil, by willful disobedience deprived himself and all his descendants of those divine gifts.2 [1] Eph. 4:24. [2] Rom. 5:12. 10. Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished? Certainly not,1 but He is terribly displeased with our inborn as well as our actual sins, and will punish them in just judgment in time and eternity, as He has declared, “CursedRead More →

LORD’S DAY 3 6. Did God create man thus, wicked and perverse? No,1 but God created man good and after His own image,2 that is, in righteousness and true holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness, to praise and glorify Him.3 [1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 1:26–27. [3] 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24. 7. From where, then, does this depraved nature of man come? From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,1 whereby our nature became so corrupt that we are all conceived and bornRead More →

Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 2 The Definition of our Misery LORD’S DAY 2 3. From where do you know your misery? From the Law of God. 4. What does the Law of God require of us? Christ teaches us in sum, Matthew 22, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” 5. Can you keep all this perfectly? No, for I amRead More →

My Only Comfort: Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day #1 LORD’S DAY 1 1. What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, HeRead More →