Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 1

 Q1. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A.  That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.  He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven:  in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.  Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

 Q2. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

A. Three things: 

-First, how great my sin and misery are;

-Second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery;

-Third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

 This is a brilliant gospel summary to memorize, especially if everyone else in the New Members class is doing it.  The Heidelberg Catechism edition we use in the class has a plethora of scripture passages to support each answer; checking the references allows one to explore the context and content further. 

 Many gospel truths are stated or implied: the depth of sin under the curse, the need for a savior, Christ’s death and resurrection, heaven, and the Christian’s commitment to love and thank Jesus by obeying His commands.  Other truths are included: the existence of and freedom from the devil, God’s promises to be with us and to work things for our good, and the nature of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 The verb in Question Two , “know,” is a preciously subtle way of stating that salvation is by faith alone.  I cannot earn it; I must do what Jesus taught – repent and believe.