I want to try something different this week. I want to see how it works to blog through part of the Heidelberg Catechism, a summary of the Christian faith written in 1563 primarily by a 29-year old theology professor called Zacharias Ursinus. It is going to be slightly longer than usual because the goal of doctrine is not only the study of God but the worship of Him.
Heidelberg Catechism
Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Answer 1: That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,[1] am not my own,[2] but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ,[3] who with His precious blood [4] has fully satisfied for all my sins,[5] and delivered me from all the power of the devil;[6] and so preserves me[7] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;[8] indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation,[9] and, therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,[10] and makes me sincerely willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.[11]
Bible
There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!"
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you so very much for giving me the kind of comfort that infiltrates every part of my existence - physical, spiritual and eternal. I've always longed for this kind of comfort but I could never get it. I praise and worship and adore you for giving this to me at great cost to yourself - Amen.
Regards
Kruger
Here are the Scripture references to the above question and answer in the Heidelberg Catechism. Feel free to look them up and ask questions about them - some are not that clear!
1] Rom 14:7-9; [2] 1 Cor 6:19-20; [3] 1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14; [4] 1 Pt 1:18-19; [5] 1 Jn 1:7; 2:2;[6] Jn 8:34-36; Heb 2:14-15; 1 Jn 3:8; [7] Jn 6:39-40,10:27-30; 2 Thes 3:3; 1 Pt 1:5; [8] Mt 10:29-31; Lk 21:16-18; [9] Rom 8:28; [10] Rom 8:15-16; 2 Cor 1:21-22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14; [11] Rom 8:14
Heidelberg Catechism
Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Answer 1: That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,[1] am not my own,[2] but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ,[3] who with His precious blood [4] has fully satisfied for all my sins,[5] and delivered me from all the power of the devil;[6] and so preserves me[7] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;[8] indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation,[9] and, therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,[10] and makes me sincerely willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.[11]
• This question and answer is basically a brilliant summary of the Christian faith and of the Gospel.
• It reminds a Christian of his or her new identity since they now 'belong to [their] faithful Saviour Jesus Christ'. This gives a believer more than comfort, since 'comfort' is the english translation of the original catechism's German word 'trost' (or Dutch, 'troost') which carries with it the meaning of 'certainty and protection'. The comfort believers have is so pervasive that no part of life or death is not infiltrated by it, similiar to the kind of 'comfort' a parent gives to an anxious child.
• We can have this kind of comfort because the one we belong to paid for us with his 'precious blood', in other words 'with his life'. Because his love for us transcended this life our hope and comfort reaches even beyond the grave.
• In fact, because our Saviour was raised to life it becomes clear that belonging to him even transcends our spiritual fears. Because we are delivered from the devil's power in death we are also delivered from his power in life.
• Christ's death and resureection doesn't only give us freedom from fear but a new purpose in life - he died for us so that we can live for him.
There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!"
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you so very much for giving me the kind of comfort that infiltrates every part of my existence - physical, spiritual and eternal. I've always longed for this kind of comfort but I could never get it. I praise and worship and adore you for giving this to me at great cost to yourself - Amen.
Regards
Kruger
Here are the Scripture references to the above question and answer in the Heidelberg Catechism. Feel free to look them up and ask questions about them - some are not that clear!
1] Rom 14:7-9; [2] 1 Cor 6:19-20; [3] 1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14; [4] 1 Pt 1:18-19; [5] 1 Jn 1:7; 2:2;[6] Jn 8:34-36; Heb 2:14-15; 1 Jn 3:8; [7] Jn 6:39-40,10:27-30; 2 Thes 3:3; 1 Pt 1:5; [8] Mt 10:29-31; Lk 21:16-18; [9] Rom 8:28; [10] Rom 8:15-16; 2 Cor 1:21-22, 5:5; Eph 1:13-14; [11] Rom 8:14
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