#heidelberg catechism

[rivikah]

Hate

Let’s look at the catechism this week. The last several weeks have had a discussion of human sinfulness and God’s wrath. We’re setting up this week and next to talk about Christ meditating a solution. I’m going to look at this whole section all together. There’s some stuff here that seems right to me, some that seems straight up wrong, and a lot that just seems like a really like it’s focusing…

[biblebloodhound]

Ascension of the Lord (Acts 1:1-11)

Ascension Day often feels like the weird stepchild in the family of church events in the Christian Year. It’s often overlooked without ever really being missed.

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On…

[struckbylightningorsomething]

The Heidelberg Catechism is a very beautiful work. I especially enjoyed part 3, which focuses on Gratitude

[dkcdude]

Enjoying God

On the heels of last week’s thoughts around conversational intimacy with God, this past week I felt God impressing upon my heart how much I enjoy my relationship with Him, and that I should tell you about that. Enjoy God? you may wonder. How is that possible? What does that even look like? These are natural questions, especially in light of the mental image of God we probably all grew up with:…

[minnesotafollower]

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)    

I am a member and non-ruling elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis), which is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination. The latter’s Constitution consists of the following two parts. Part I: The Book of Confessions This Book contains the following confessions: The Nicene Creed (A.D. 381) The Apostles’ Creed (A.D. 180) The Scots Confession (1560) The Heidelberg…

[presbyterianautumn82]

Lord, I Believe! Help My Unbelief!

In Mark 9:14-29, the weakness and limit of men is demonstrated, especially with regard to faith, and so is the answer to men's weakness:

Luke 17:5 (KJV), "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."

Mark 9:24, "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

“A weak faith may also be true faith, when it is otherwise of the right kind. A fire is not at once a bright blazing flame, but it often starts with a single spark.” - Otto Thelemann, An Aid to the Heidelberg Catechism, 79

Hebrews 12:2a, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Notice what the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us, that Christ doesn't just finish or complete it but is the one who gives us the faith to begin with. This is why the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it this way:

Question 86: What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

It is a saving grace, meaning it wholly begins with the gracious act of God, and doesn't begin with man or his acceptance. It is strengthened by Christ who works it in us by His Spirit completing that work at our death.

Praise God, our salvation relies not upon any faith made by the strength of men, but on a faithful Savior who is powerful, mighty, and gracious to save sinners.

[semperreformanda]

What do you like about the Reformed tradition?

Asking as someone who doesn't like Reformed theology, I want to hear the opinion of a Reformed person on its appeal.

Hey! Thanks for asking. :)

Short answer: it is what I find to be consistent with Scripture.

For the long answer:

I appreciate that it is historical and confessional. We know traditions can either be a curse or a blessing for the church. It can be harmful when we treat it as if it has divine authority (Matt. 15:6-9), but it can be beneficial when each generation thoughtfully receives, examines, and passes on what earlier believers learned from the prophetic and apostolic teachings (2 Tim. 2:2). We should look to the “old paths” (Jer. 6:16) to uphold “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

And so, reformed theology informs our faith with long-established Christian doctrinal standards, including the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dort, the Westminster Confession and Catechisms, and the Second London Baptist Confession.

The Bible is upheld in a high manner as it should be since all Scripture is inspired or "breathed out" by God. Sadly, this is not the case in many churches, and I can attest to that as I used to go to a church that did not teach Scripture exegetically.

Reformed theology encompasses the biblical teachings about God’s eternal nature and His works in creation, providence, and governance; the origin and nature of humanity, our fall into sin, and its consequences; the glorious person and natures of Christ, His roles, incarnation, suffering, death, and the resulting glory; the work of the Holy Spirit in creation and redemption; the church, including its structure, mission, and practices; the Christian experience of grace, a life of gratitude and obedience to God’s law, and the practice of prayer; and ultimately, the glorious future that awaits as God fulfills His holy will. Reformed theology aims to communicate “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) as revealed to us (Deut. 29:29).

I like Reformed theology, because, at the heart of it—and the very reason for human existence—is the belief that we were made “to glorify God and enjoy him forever,” as stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

[redeemed-wren]

Heidelberg Catechism questions 16 and 17

16. Why must He be a true and righteous man?

He must be a true man because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned avoid pay for sin.

He must be a righteous man because one who himself is a sinner canno pay for others.

17. Why must He at the same time be true God?

He must be true God so that by the power of His divine nature He might bear in His human nature the burden of God's wrath, and might obtain for us and restore to us righteousness and life.

[apilgrimpassingby]

I've heard it said that the stained glasses in many churches were often ways of telling stories from the bible, and there are paintings in some medieval churches that may also serve in this purpose. Is that something you would consider to be accurate?

Yes, definitely. For starters, the didactic use of images is mentioned in Q&A 98 of the Heidelberg Catechism (even though they're criticising it, being Calvinists and all).

[thebirdandhersong]

popping my head through your window (and possibly shattering the glass woops) to say: I am alive! I've been spending time with family, studying (I can safely say now that Professor Joy is the best and I would 10/10 follow her back to England to take her course at King's College if it weren't for the financial part. She was SO lovely and her class was amazing), preparing for fall classes, chipping away steadily at my essays and my fairy tale novel, hammering out the occasional blog post or poem, cooking, sleeping (or trying to, anyway), doing social things (I had one thing almost every day this week and it just about killed me. Thank God the person I was supposed to meet up with today cancelled, otherwise I'd be pretty much dead), reading TONS (am currently reading Sophie's World, War and Peace, Aggressively Happy, Jamie Smith's On the Road, Gordon Fee's How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, and the Heidelberg Catechism for kicks, as well as working my way through a few class readings), and have caught up with a few stories I meant to catch up with (in other words: went to watch Barbie in the theatres, which was brilliant and not what I expected, and finished The Bear season 2, which.... I don't know, guys, it was a Lot). Things have been BUSY on the school front and many concerning things have been revealed BUT all is well and all shall be well!!

I shall be back in September. At present things are still SUPER busy. But I shall keep y'all in my prayers! Miss you and love you!!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

What are two important aspects of Christian baptism that every believer should know?

“Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins.” The Heidelberg Catechism, first published in 1563, is a highly regarded summary of the Christian faith and has the following to say about the significance of baptism…

[bonkmeonce]

has anyone in the exchristian community studied the heidelberg catechism in depth? it is so disturbing to me that i've looped back around to fascination. i may write some essays about it, so i am trying to understand it as much as i can. there is so so so much to unpack and it's honestly overwhelming.

any perspectives other than my own about this would be much appreciated!

[darkmaga-returns]

On Civil Enforcement of the First Table of the Decalogue

Protestant ethics has historically been articulated through an exposition of the 10 Commandments. John Calvin provides a representative treatment in his Institutes. The confessional standards—usually in the form of authoritative catechisms—of Lutherans (The Larger Catechism), Reformed (Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms), and Reformed Baptists (Keach’s Catechism) have all set forth basic Christian ethics in this way as well.

In the Reformation era, although Protestants were always clear that the civil magistrate’s authority did not extend to the internal governance of the church, they nonetheless argued that the governing authorities in the state should in some way enforce all 10 Commandments by law. This is troubling to most Americans today, because they have grown used to the idea that “spiritual” matters should not, indeed cannot, be addressed by the state in any way whatsoever. Only those things that have to do with interpersonal relations are thought to be matters subject to the jurisdiction of the magistrate.

In the midst of preparing to teach on the 10 Commandments in a class on ethics, I thought it would be interesting to look into how, or even whether, commandments 1–4 (the first table of the law) had ever been enforced by the magistrate in America. The first table was certainly enforced in colonial America, even if it was not always done so quite as stringently as in the Reformation-era Europe. Did things change radically after the American Revolution? It turns out the answer is no, at least in terms of the basic approach.

[battleforgodstruth]

Heidelberg Catechism Q60 Westminster Larger Catechism Q77 Gospel Gold - Pastor Patrick Hines Podcast

Heidelberg Catechism Q60 Westminster Larger Catechism Q77 Gospel Gold – Pastor Patrick Hines Podcast Q & A 60Q. How are you righteous before God? A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.1 Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments,of never having kept any of them,2and of still being inclined toward all evil,3 nevertheless, without any merit…

[rivikah]

Belong

The first question and answer in the Heidelberg Catechism is intended as an introduction, setting the tone and the context for all that is to follow. So it talks about comfort and belonging. The rest of the catechism is going to be broken up into three sections, those are outlined in the second question and answer, and it’s going to be heavy going. The first section is all about sin. But before…

[wisdomfish]

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ!

~ Heidelberg Catechism [1563]