On Christian faith
Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism Question 21. What is true faith? It is not only a certain knowledge by which I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word, but also a wholehearted trust which the Holy Spirit creates in me through the gospel, that, not only to others, but to me also God has given the forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation, out of sheer grace solely for the sake of Christ’s saving work.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 22. What, then, must a Christian believe? All that is promised us in the gospel, a summary of which is taught us in the articles of the Apostles’ Creed, our universally acknowledged confession of faith.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 24. How are these articles divided? Into three parts: The first concerns God the Father and our creation; the second, God the Son and our redemption; and the third, God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 25. Since there is only one Divine Being, why do you speak of three, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Because God has thus revealed himself in his Word, that these three distinct persons are the one, true, eternal God.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 59. But how does it help you now that you believe all this? That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 60. How are you righteous before God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact that my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have not kept any one of them, and that I am still ever prone to all that is evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of my own, out of pure grace, grants me the benefits of the perfect expiation of Christ, imputing to me his righteousness and holiness as if I had never committed a single sin or had ever been sinful, having fulfilled myself all the obedience which Christ has carried out for me, if only I accept such favor with a trusting heart.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 61. Why do you say that you are righteous by faith alone? Not because I please God by virtue of the worthiness of my faith, but because the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ alone are my righteousness before God, and because I can accept it and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 62. But why cannot our good works be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of it? Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment of God must be absolutely perfect and wholly in conformity with the divine Law. But even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 63. Will our good works merit nothing, even when it is God’s purpose to reward them in this life, and in the future life as well? This reward is not given because of merit, but out of grace.
Heidelberg Catechism Question 64. But does not this teaching make people careless and sinful? No, for it is impossible for those who are ingrafted into Christ by true faith not to bring forth the fruit of gratitude.
Study Catechism
Study Catechism Question 5. What does a Christian believe? All that is promised in the gospel. A summary is found in the Apostles’ Creed, which affirms the main content of the Christian faith.
- John 20:31 “But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”
Thinking, Praying, Living | Apostles' Creed | Previous | Next
