(Heidelberg Catechism. part 3)
Q. 67.
Are both word and sacraments, then,
ordained and appointed for this end,
that they may direct our faith
to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross,
as the only ground of our salvation? (a)
A.
Yes, indeed:
for the Holy Ghost teaches us in the gospel,
and assures us by the sacraments,
that the whole of our salvation
depends upon that one sacrifice of Christ
which he offered for us on the cross.
(a) Rom.6:3; Gal.3:27.
Q. 68.
How many sacraments
has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?
A.
Two: namely,
holy baptism,
and the holy supper.
Of Holy Baptism
26. Lord's Day
Q. 69.
How art thou admonished and assured
by holy baptism,
that the one sacrifice of Christ
upon the cross
is of real advantage to thee?
A.
Thus: That Christ appointed this external washing with water, (a)
adding thereto this promise, (b)
that I am as certainly washed by his blood and Spirit
from all the pollution of my soul,
that is, from all my sins, (c)
as I am washed externally with water,
by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away.
(a) Matt.28:19. (b) Matt.28:19; Acts 2:38; Matt.3:11; Mark 16:16;
John
1:33; Rom.6:3,4. (c) 1 Pet.3:21; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3
Q. 70.
What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
A.
It is to receive of God the remission of sins, freely,
for the sake of Christ's blood,
which he shed for us
by his sacrifice upon the cross; (a)
and also
to be renewed by the Holy Ghost,
and sanctified to be members of Christ,
that so we may more and more die unto sin,
and lead holy and unblamable lives. (b)
(a) Heb.12:24; 1 Pet.1:2; Rev.1:5; Rev.7:14; Zech.13:1;
Ezek.36:25.
(b) John 1:33; John 3:5; 1 Cor.6:11; 1 Cor.12:13; Rom.6:4;
Col.2:12.
Q. 71.
Where has Christ promised us,
that he will as certainly wash us
by his blood and Spirit,
as we are washed with the water of baptism?
A.
In the institution of baptism, which is thus expressed:
"Go ye, therefore,
and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the
Holy Ghost", Matt.28:19.
And
"he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved;
but he that believeth not, shall be damned.", Mark 16:16.
This promise is also repeated, where the scripture calls baptism
"the washing of regenerations" and the washing away of sins.
Tit.3:5,
Acts 22:16. (a)
(a) Tit.3:5; Acts 22:16.
27. Lord's Day
Q. 72.
Is then the external baptism with water
the washing away of sin itself?
A.
Not at all: (a)
for the blood of Jesus Christ only,
and the Holy Ghost
cleanse us from all sin. (b)
(a) Matt.3:11; 1 Pet.3:21; Eph.5:26,27. (b) 1 John 1:7; 1
Cor.6:11.
Q. 73.
Why then does the Holy Ghost call baptism
"the washing of regeneration,"
and "the washing away of sins"?
A.
God speaks thus not without great cause,
to-wit, not only thereby to teach us,
that as the filth of the body is purged away by water,
so our sins
are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ; (a)
but especially
that by this divine pledge and sign he may assure us,
that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really,
as we are externally washed with water. (b)
(a) Rev.1:5; Rev.7:14; 1 Cor.6:11. (b) Mark 16:16; Gal.3:27.
Q. 74.
Are infants also to be baptized?
A.
Yes:
for since they,
as well as the adult,
are included in the covenant and church of God; (a)
and since redemption from sin (b)
by the blood of Christ,
and the Holy Ghost,
the author of faith,
is promised to them no less than to the adult; (c)
they must therefore by baptism,
as a sign of the covenant,
be also admitted into the christian church;
and be distinguished from the children of unbelievers (d)
as was done in the old covenant or testament
by circumcision, (e)
instead of which baptism is instituted (f)
in the new covenant.
(a) Gen.17:7. (b) Matt.19:14. (c) Luke 1:15; Ps.22:10;
Isa.44:1-3;
Acts 2:39. (d) Acts 10:47. (e) Gen.17:14. (f) Col.2:11-13.
Of The Holy Supper Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
28 Lord's Day
Q. 75.
How art thou admonished and assured
in the Lord's Supper,
that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ,
accomplished on the cross,
and of all his benefits?
A.
Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers,
to eat of this broken bread,
and to drink of this cup,
in remembrance of him,
adding these promises: (a)
first,
that his body was offered and broken on the cross for me,
and his blood shed for me,
as certainly as I see with my eyes,
the bread of the Lord broken for me,
and the cup communicated to me;
and further,
that he feeds and nourishes my soul
to everlasting life,
with his crucified body and shed blood,
as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister,
and taste with my mouth
the bread and cup of the Lord,
as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.
(a) Matt.26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Cor.10:16,17;
1 Cor.11:23-25; 1 Cor.12:13.
Q. 76.
What is it then
to eat the crucified body,
and drink the shed blood of Christ?
A.
It is not only to embrace with believing heart
all the sufferings and death of Christ
and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin,
and life eternal; (a)
but also, besides that,
to become more and more united
to his sacred body, (b)
by the Holy Ghost,
who dwells both in Christ and in us;
so that we,
though Christ is in heaven (c)
and we on earth,
are notwithstanding "flesh of his flesh
and bone of his bone" (d)
and that we live, and are governed forever
by one spirit, (e)
as members of the same body are by one soul.
(a) John 6:35,40,47-54. (b) John 6:55,56. (c) Col.3:1; Acts 3:21;
1 Cor.11:26. (d) Eph.3:16; Eph.5:29,30,32; 1 Cor.6:15,17,19; 1
John
3:24; 1 John 4:13; John 14:23. (e) John 6:56-58; John 15:1-6;
Eph.4:15,16.
Q. 77.
Where has Christ promised that he will
as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and bleed,
as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?
A.
In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed: (a)
"The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed,
took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and: said:
eat, this is my body, which is broken for you;
this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying:
this cup is the new testament in my blood;
this do ye, as often as ye drink it,
in remembrance of me.
For, as often as ye eat this bread,
and drink this cup,
ye do show the Lord's death till he come."
1 Cor.11:23-26.
This promise is repeated by the holy apostle Paul, where he says
"The cup of blessing
which we bless,
is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break,
is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
For we being many are one bread,
and one body:
for we are all partakers of that one bread."
1 Cor.10:16,17.
(a) 1 Cor.11:23-25; Matt.26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20;
1 Cor.10:16,17.
29 Lord's Day
Q. 78.
Do then the bread and wine become
the very body and blood of Christ?
A.
Not at all: (a)
but as the water in baptism
is not changed into the blood of Christ,
neither is the washing away of sin itself,
being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God;
(b)
so the bread in the Lord's supper
is not changed into the very body of Christ; (c)
though agreeably to the nature and properties of sacraments, (d)
it is called the body of Christ Jesus.
(a) Matt.26:29. (b) Eph.5:26; Tit.3:5. (c) Mark 14:24; 1
Cor.10:16,17,26-28. (d) Gen.17:10,11,14,19;
Exod.12:11,13,27,43,48;
Exod.13:9; 1 Pet.3:21; 1 Cor.10:1-4.
Q. 79.
Why then doth Christ call the bread "his body",
and the cup "his blood", or "the new covenant in his blood";
and Paul the "communion of body and blood of Christ"?
A.
Christ speaks thus, not without great reason,
namely, not only thereby to teach us, that
as bread and wine support this temporal life,
so his crucified body
and shed blood
are the true meat and drink,
whereby our souls
are fed to eternal life; (a)
but more especially
by these visible signs and pledges
to assure us,
that we are as really partakers of his true body and blood
by the operation of the Holy Ghost
as we receive by the mouths of our bodies
these holy signs
in remembrance of him; (b)
and that all his sufferings and obedience
are as certainly ours,
as if we had in our own persons
suffered
and made satisfaction for our sins to God.
(a) John 6:51,55. (b) 1 Cor.10:16,17.
30. Lord's Day
Q. 80.
What difference is there between the Lord's supper
and the popish mass?
A.
The Lord's supper testifies to us,
that we have a full pardon of all sin
by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
which he himself has once accomplished on the cross; (a)
and, that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ, (b)
who, according to his human nature
is now not on earth, but in heaven,
at the right hand of God his Father, (c)
and will there be worshipped by us. (d)
But the mass teaches,
that the living and dead
have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ,
unless Christ is also daily offered
for them by the priests;
and further, that Christ is bodily
under the form of bread and wine,
and therefore is to be worshipped in them;
so that the mass, at bottom,
is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice
and sufferings of Jesus Christ,
and an accursed idolatry. (e)
(a) Heb.7:27; Heb.9:12,25-28; Heb.10:10,12-14; John 19:30;
Matt.26:28;
Luke 22:19,20. (b) 1 Cor.6:17; 1 Cor.10:16. (c) Heb.1:3;
Heb.8:1,2;
John 20:17. (d) Matt.6:20,21; John 4:21-24; Luke 24:52; Acts
7:55,56;
Col.3:1; Philip.3:20,21; 1 Thess.1:10; Heb.9:6-10. (e) Heb.9:26;
Heb.10:12,14,19-31.
Q. 81.
For whom is the Lord's supper instituted?
A.
For those
who are truly sorrowful for their sins,
and yet trust
that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ;
and that their remaining infirmities
are covered by his passion and death;
and who also earnestly desire
to have their faith more and more strengthened,
and their lives more holy;
but hypocrites,
and such as turn not to God with sincere hearts,
eat and drink judgment to themselves. (a)
(a) 1 Cor.10:19-22; 1 Cor.11:28,29.
Q. 82.
Are they also to be admitted to this supper,
who, by confession and life,
declare themselves unbelieving and ungodly?
A.
No;
for by this, the covenant of God would be profaned,
and his wrath kindled against the whole congregation; (a)
therefore it is the duty of the christian church,
according to the appointment of Christ and his apostles,
to exclude such persons,
by the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
till they show amendment of life.
(a) 1 Cor.11:20,34; Isa.1:11-15; Isa.66:3; Jer.7:21-23; Ps.50:16.
31. Lord's Day
Q. 83.
What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
A.
The preaching of the holy gospel,
and christian discipline,
or excommunication out of the christian church;
by these two,
the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers,
and shut against unbelievers.
Q. 84.
How is the kingdom of heaven
opened and shut
by the preaching of the holy gospel?
A.
Thus: when
according to the command of Christ,
it is declared and publicly testified
to all and every believer,
that,
whenever they receive the promise of the gospel
by a true faith,
all their sins are really forgiven them of God,
for the sake of Christ's merits;
and on the contrary,
when it is declared and testified
to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent,
that they stand exposed to the wrath of God,
and eternal condemnation,
so long as they are unconverted: (a)
according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them,
both in this, and in the life to come.
(a) Matt.16:18,19; Matt.18:15-19; John 20:21-23.
Q. 85.
How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened
by christian discipline?
A.
Thus: when
according to the command of Christ,
those, who under the name of christians,
maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith,
and will not,
after having been often brotherly admonished,
renounce their errors and wicked course of life,
are complained of to the church,
or to those,
who are thereunto appointed by the church;
and if they despise their admonition,
are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;
whereby they are excluded from the christian church,
and by God himself from the kingdom of Christ;
and when they promise and show real amendment,
are again received as members of Christ and his church. (a)
(a) Matt.18:15-18; 1 Cor.5:2-5,11; 2 Thess.3:14,15; 2 Cor.2:6-8.
The Third Part - Of Thankfulness
32. Lord's Day
Q. 86.
Since then we are delivered from our misery,
merely of grace,
through Christ,
without any merit of ours,
why must we still do good works?
A.
Because Christ,
having redeemed and delivered us by his blood,
also renews us by his Holy Spirit,
after his own image;
that so we may testify,
by the whole of our conduct,
our gratitude to God for his blessings, (a)
and that he may be praised by us; (b)
also,
that every one may be assured in himself of his faith, (c)
by the fruits thereof;
and that, by our godly conversation
others may be gained to Christ. (d)
(a) Rom.6:13; Rom.12:1,2; 1 Pet.2:5,9,10; 1 Cor.6:20. (b)
Matt.5:16;
1 Pet.2:12; 1 Pet.1:6,7. (c) 2 Pet.1:10; Matt.7:17;
Gal.5:6,22,23. (d)
1 Pet.3:1,2; Rom.14:19.
Q. 87.
Cannot they then be saved, who,
continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives,
are not converted to God?
A.
By no means;
for the holy scripture declares that no unchaste person,
idolater, adulterer, thief,
covetous man, drunkard, slanderer,
robber, or any such like,
shall inherit the kingdom of God. (a)
(a) 1 Cor.6:9,10; Eph.5:5,6; 1 John 3:14.
33. Lord's Day
Q. 88.
Of how many parts
does the true conversion of man consist?
A.
Of two parts;
of the mortification of the old,
and the quickening of the new man. (a)
(a) Rom.6:1,4-6; Eph.4:22-24; Col.3:5-10; 1 Cor.5:7; 2 Cor.7:10.
Q. 89.
What is the mortification of the old man?
A.
It is a sincere sorrow of heart,
that we have provoked God by our sins;
and more and more to hate and flee from them. (a)
(a) Rom.8:13; Joel 2:13; Hos.6:1.
Q. 90.
What is the quickening of the new man?
A.
It is a sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ, (a)
and with love and delight
to live according to the will of God
in all good works. (b)
(a) Rom.5:1; Rom.14:17; Isa.57:15. (b) Rom.6:10,11; Gal.2:20.
Q. 91.
But what are good works?
A.
Only those which proceed from a true faith, (a)
are performed according to the law of God, (b)
and to his glory; (c)
and not such as are founded on our imaginations,
or the institutions of men. (d)
(a) Rom.14:23. (b) Lev.18:4; 1 Sam.15:22; Eph.2:10. (c) 1
Cor.10:31.
(d) Deut.12:32; Ezek.20:18,19; Isa.29:13; Matt.15:7-9.
(continued in part 4...)
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