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NOTES ON THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

Introduction

These outlines were developed initially in preparation for the Adult Catechism class of the Oceanside United Reformed Church. I have also used some of this material as part of courses in the Three Forms of Unity and Reformed Confessions at Westminster Seminary California.

Catechism Translation

I have used and modified where necessary the following editions: The 1863 translation found in Schaff's Creeds of Christendom vol.3; The translation published in the 1959 Psalter-Hymnal (CRC) and the translation published in 1978 by the Reformed Church in the US.

Using These Notes

Since these notes are a preliminary step toward a possible larger, more complete published commentary on the Catechism, please restrict your use of them. You are welcome to use them for Christian education courses or for other like uses. If you use them, please give appropriate acknowledgment. This outline will be updated as the body of notes grows.

Part 1: Guilt (Law)

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

That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,1 am not my own,2 but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ,3 who with His precious blood 4 has fully satisfied for all my sins, 5 and redeemed me from all the power of the devil;6 and so preserves me,7 that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; 8 indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation.9 Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,10 and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.11

1 Romans 14:7,8. 2 I Corinthians 6:19. 3 I Corinthians 3:23. 4 I Peter 1:18,19.5 I John 1:7. I John 2:2. 6 I John 3:8. 7 John 6:39. 8 Matthew 10:29,30. Luke 21:18. 9 Romans 8:28. 10 II Corinthians 1:21,22. Ephesians 1:13,14. Romans 8:16. 11 Romans 8:1.

  1. Introduction
    1. Catechism not a confession
    2. It is suitably personal
    3. It begins with Gospel
    4. The Gospel is for Me (pro me)
  2. Not My Own (Rom 14:7-8; 1 Cor 6:19-20)
    1. Body & Soul
    2. Life and Death
  3. Belong to My Faithful Savior & Substitute;
    1. Redeemed From Hell.
    2. Sovereignly Preserved (John 6:39)
    3. The Son Agrees with the Father (pactum salutis)
    4. Works All Things for My Salvation.
  4. Assured By the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:20-2)
    1. Of Eternal Life
    2. Ready and Willing
    3. To Live for him

2.How many things are necessary for you to know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

Three things: first, the greatness of my sin and misery;1 second, how I am redeemed from all my sins and misery;2 third, how I am to be thankful to God for such redemption.3

1 Rom 3:9-10; 1 Jn 1:10; 2 Jn 17:3; Acts 4:12, 10:43; 3 Mt 5:16; Rom 6:13; Eph 5:8-10; 1 Pt 2:9-10

1.       Introduction

1.       The Structure of the Faith.

1.       Luther's Recovery

2.       Calvin's Correction

2.       Guilt, Grace and Gratitude v. Spirit/Matter Dualism.

2.       Law/Guilt (Rom 1; 3:9-10; 1 Jn 1:10; Eph 2:1-4)

1.       Pelagius & Finney Were Wrong

2.       Augustine, Luther and Calvin were right.

3.       The Three Uses of the Law

1.       Pedagogical

2.       Civil

3.       Normative

3.       Gospel/Grace (Rom 3; 4; Eph 2:8-10; Gal 3; Jn 17:3; Acts 4:12, 10:43)

1.       The Gospel is "Outside You"

1.       1. It is Christ's Story

2.       2. Christ For Us

2.       Mission Accomplished

3.       Favor v. Medicine/Magic.

4.       For Christians Too.

4.       Gratitude (Gal 2:17-21; 5:13-Mt 5:16; Rom 6:13; Eph 5:8-10; 1 Pt 2:9-10)

1.       Gratitude Flows From Gospel

2.       It Must Not Remain Outside!

3.       It Drives us to Christ Again

3. From where do you know your sins and misery?

From the Law of God.1

1 Rom 3:20

4. What does the Law of God require of us?

Christ teaches us in sum in Matthew 22: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.1 This is the first and great commandment; and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."2

1Deut 6:5; 2 Lev 19:18

5. Can you keep all this perfectly?

No,1 for I am by nature inclined to hate God and my neighbor.2

1 Rom 3:10, 23; 1 Jn 1:8, 10; 2 Gen 6:5, 8:21; Jer 17:9; Rom 7:23, 8:7; Eph 2:3; Tit 3:3

1.       Introduction

1.       The Threefold Division of the Law

1.       Civil

2.       Ceremonial

3.       Moral

2.       B. The Abrogation of the Penalties of the Law.

3.       C. The Three Uses of the Law

1.       Pedagogical

2.       Civil

3.       Normative

4.       The Knowledge of Sin (Rom 3.20)

1.       To Those "Under the Law;"

2.       The Whole World "Held Accountable…;"

3.       "By the Works of the Law" No One Justified;

4.       "Through the Law Comes the Knowledge of Sin."

5.       A Relentless Master (Gal 3.10)

1.       "Cursed is everyone who does not continue…"

2.       "…To do Everything Written in the Book of the Law…"

6.       The Deadly Combination with Sin (Rom 3.23; 1 Cor 15.56)

1.       "The Wages of Sin is Death."

2.       "The Sting of Death is Sin, and the Power of Sin is the Law."

6. Did God, then, create man thus wicked and perverse?

No,1 but God created man good and after His own image,2 that is, in righteousness and true holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness, to praise and glorify Him.3

1 Genesis 1:31. 2 Genesis 1:26,27. 3 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24.

1.       Introduction 

1.       Ancient Anthropological Heresies

1.       Image v. Likeness

2.       Trichotomy

3.       Pelagianism

4.       Non-Christian Dualism

2.       The Modern Doctrine of Man

1.       Neo-Pelagianism

1.       Freedom of the will

2.       Human autonomy

2.       Universal Paternity of God and Fraternity of Men

2.       The Doctrine of Creation

1.       "And God Said"

2.       "It was Good"

3.       Doctrine of Man

1.        In the Image of God

1.       Moral Not Ontological Analogy

2.       Just

3.       Holy

2.       Knowing God

4.       The Covenant of Works

1.       Legal

2.       Personal

3.       Federal

4.       Eschatological

5.       Conclusion

1.       We were good

2.       We were just

3.       We were in covenant

4.       Before the fall

Heidelberg Catechism Q.6 (Excursus)

WCF 7.2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.

The Covenant of Works

1.       Legal

1.       GE 2:8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

2.       GE 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

3.       HOS 6:7 Like Adam, they have broken the covenant--they were unfaithful to me there.

4.       GAL 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."

5.       RO 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."

2.       Personal

1.       "You shall surely die…."

2.       GAL 3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

3.       Federal

1.       RO 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

2.       2 Cor 15:45 1st Adam...2nd Adam

4.       Eschatological

1.       Gen 29 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

2.       And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

3.       Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

4.       Rev 22:2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4

5.       REV 22:14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

6.       19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

7. From where then comes this depraved nature of man?

From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,1 whereby our nature became so corrupt that we are all conceived and born in sin.2

1 Genesis 3 (all). Romans 5:12,18,19. 2 Psalm 51:5 * Psalm 14:2,3.

1.       Introduction

1.       The Patristic and Medieval View of Sin

2.       Whatever Became of Sin?

3.       The Moral and Legal (forensic) Nature of Sin

2.       The Source & Place of Sin (Gen 3)

1.       The original will to sin

2.       God's Temple

3.       The Imputation of Sin (Rom 5.12-21)

1.       Adam for us

2.       We in Adam

4.       The Consequences of Sin (Rom 1-3; Eph 2.1-4; Rom 3.23; 6.23)

1.       Corruption in nature

2.       Universal pravity

5.       Conclusion

1.       Our lost estate

2.       Our Lost Consciousness of the gravity of sin

3.       Our lost consciousness of the legal implications of sin.

8. But are we so depraved, that we are wholly incapable of any good and prone to all evil?

Yes,1 unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.2

1 John 3:6; Genesis 6:5; Job 14:4; Isaiah 53:6. 2 John 3:5. * Genesis 8:21. * 2 Corinthians 3:5. * Romans 7:18. * Jeremiah 17:9.

1.       Introduction

1.       The Remonstrants on Sin (Arminian Articles);

2.       The Revivalists on Sin;

3.       "Regeneration" Before and After Dort;

4.       Modernity on Sin.

2.       The Remedy for the Spiritual Effects of Sin (Ez 36:24-7; 37:1-10)

1.       "Clean Water and You Will Be Clean;"

2.       The Spirit and Dry Bones

3.       The Spirit of Regeneration (John 3:3-8; 2 Cor 3:6).

1.       "Born of the Spirit" and "Spirit and Water;"

2.       "Spirit and Letter" and "Law and Gospel."

4.       III. The Means of Regeneration (Rom 10:5-15)

1.       The Preaching of the Word (HC 65)

2.       Word and Spirit

9. Does not God then do injustice to man by requiring of him in His Law that which he cannot perform?

No, for God so made man that he could perform it,1 but man, through the instigation of the devil, by willful disobedience deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.2

1 Ephesians 4:24. 2 Romans 5:12.

10. Will God suffer such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?

By no means,1 but He is terribly displeased with our inborn as well as our actual sins, and will punish them in just judgment in time and eternity, as He has declared: "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them."2

1 Hebrews 9:27. 2 Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10; * Romans 1:18. * Matthew 25:41.

11. Is then God not also merciful?

God is indeed merciful,1 but He is likewise just;2 His justice therefore requires that sin which is committed against the most high Majesty of God, be also punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment both of body and soul.

1 Exodus 34:6,7. 2 Exodus 20:5. Psalm
5:5,6. II Corinthians 6:14-16. * Revelation 14:11.

1.       Introduction

1.       The Justice of God's Law

2.       Before and After the Fall

3.       Balancing Divine Attributes: Mercy, Justice; Immutability and Simplicity

2.       Is God Unjust?

1.       Job 40:2

2.       Rom 9:14-23

3.       Our Created State

1.       Gen 1:26-8; 2:25

2.       Eph 4:24; able to sin, able not to sin.

3.       The Instigation of the Devil

4.       The Penalty of Disobedience

1.       Rom 6:23

2.       James 1:13-5

5.       Inborn & Actual

1.       Ps 51:5; Rom 5:12 ; Jn 9:34

2.       Rom 3:9-18

6.       Time and Eternity

1.       Ps 39:11; Rom 1:18

2.       Heb 9:27

7.       C. Dt 27:26; Gal 3:10

8.       God is Merciful

1.       "Showing Mercy to a Thousand Generations" (Ex 20:6)

2.       His name is "Compassionate, Gracious, Slow to Anger" (Ex 34:6-7)

9.       God is Just

1.       Ex 20:5 "I am a jealous God".

2.       Ex 34:7 "He does not leave the guilty unpunished"

3.       Sin Must Be Punished

1.       Mt 25:45-6 "least of these"

2.       Gen 2:17

Part 2: Grace (Gospel)

12. Since then by the righteous judgment of God we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, how may we escape this punishment and be again received into favor?

God wills that His justice be satisfied;1 therefore we must make full satisfaction to the same, either by ourselves or by another.2

1 Exodus 20:5. Exodus 23:7. 2 Romans 8:3,4.

13. Can we ourselves make this satisfaction.

By no means, on the contrary, we daily increase our guilt.1

1 Job 9:2,3. Job 15:15,16. Matthew 6:12. * Matthew 16:26.

14. Can any mere creature make satisfaction for us?

None, for first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man committed;1 and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin2 and redeem others from it.

1 Hebrews 2:14-18. 2 Psalm 130:3.

1.       Introduction

1.       Balancing Divine Attributes (simplicity, immutability, justice & mercy)

2.       Appreciating Grace in the Light of Justice

2.       God's Justice Will Be Satisfied

1.       Ex 20:5 "Punishing the children".

2.       Ex 23:7 "I will not acquit the guilty."

3.       Personal Obligation

1.       Ex 34:7

2.       Ez 18.4,20

3.       2 Thess 1:8-10

4.       Our Inability

1.       Ps 130.3 "If you keep a list"

2.       Rom 3.9-20

5.       The Inability of Creatures

1.       Heb 2:14-18

2.       Heb 10:4

6.       Our Substitute

1.       Rom 8:3-4

2.       Rom 5:8

15. What kind of a mediator and redeemer then must he seek?

One who is a true1 and righteous man,2 and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, One who is also true God.3

1 I Corinthians 15:21,22,25,26. 2 Jeremiah 33:16. Isaiah 53:11. II Corinthians 5:21. Hebrews 7:15,16. 3 Isaiah 7:14. Hebrews 7:26

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

Because the justice of God requires1 that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin, but one who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.2

1 Romans 5:15. 2 Isaiah 53:3-5.

17. Why must he also be true God?

That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God's wrath,1 and so obtain for2 and restore to us righteousness and life.3

1 Isaiah 53:8. Acts 2:24. 2 John 3:16. Acts 20:28. 3 I John 1:2.

18. But who now is that Mediator, who in one person is true God and also a true and righteous man?

Our Lord Jesus Christ,1 who is freely given unto us for complete redemption and righteousness.2

1 Matthew 1:23. I Timothy 3:16. Luke 2:11. 2 I Corinthians 1:30. * Acts 4:12.

1.       Introduction

1.       Two Natures of Christ

1.       Lutheran

2.       Reformed

2.       Mediator and Redeemer

1.       Mediator: 1 Tim 2:25; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24

2.       Redeemer: Goel (Isa 41:14)

3.       True & Righteous Man as Substitute

1.       1 Cor 15:21-6

2.       Jer 33:16; Isa 53:11

3.       Rom 5:15

4.       Isa 53:3-5

4.       True God As Sin-bearer

1.       Isa 7:14

2.       Heb 7:26

3.       Isa 53:8; Acts 2:24

4.       Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 1:2

5.       Who?

1.       Mt 1:23

2.       1 Cor 1:30

19. From where do you know this?

From the Holy Gospel, which God Himself revealed first in Paradise;1 afterwards proclaimed by the holy Patriarchs2 and Prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;3 and finally fulfilled by His well-beloved Son.

1 Genesis 3:15. 2 Genesis 22:18. Genesis 49:10,11. Romans 1:2. Hebrews 1:1. Acts 3:22-24. Acts 10:43. 3 John 5:46. Hebrews 10:7. 4 Romans 10:4. Galatians 4:4,5. * Hebrews 10:1.

20. Are all men then saved by Christ as they perished in Adam?

No, only those who by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits.1

1 John 1:12,13. I Corinthians 15:22. Psalm 2:12. Romans 11:20. Hebrews 4:2,3. Hebrews 10:39

21. What is true faith?

True faith is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word;1 but also a hearty trust,2 which the Holy Spirit 3 works in me by the Gospel,4 that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God,5 merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.6

1 James 1:6. 2 Romans 4:16-18. 3 II Corinthians 4:13. Philippians 1:19,20. 4 Romans 1:16. Romans 10:17. 5 Hebrews 11:1,2. Romans 1:17. 6 Ephesians 2:7-9. Romans 3:24,25. Galatians 2:16. * Acts 10:43.

1.       Introduction

1.       Objective v. Subjective

2.       Public v. Private

3.       Finished v. Unfinished

4.       Christ-Centered v. self-centered.

2.       The Source of Saving Knowledge

1.       The History of Salvation

2.       In Scripture

1.       In Paradise

2.       In the Patriarchs

3.       In the Prophets

4.       In Types & Shadows (Col 2.17; Heb 8.5)

3.       The Extent of Saving Knowledge

1.       Universalism v. Particularism

2.       The "All" in Adam v. "Many" in Christ (Rom 5.12-21)

3.       The Necessity of True Faith

4.       The Necessity of Union with Christ

4.       The Sum of Saving Knowledge

1.       Cognitio, Assensus et Fiducia

2.       God's Word: The Beginning of Knowledge

3.       Assurance

4.       Grounded in the History of Redemption

5.       Applied by the Holy Spirit

22. What then is necessary for a Christian to believe?

All that is promised us in the Gospel,1 which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in sum.

1 John 20:31. Matthew 28:20. * II Peter 1:21. * II Timothy 3:15

23. What are these articles?

I believe in God the Father, almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit , born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit , the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

24. How are these Articles divided?

Into three parts: the first is of God the Father and our creation; the second of God the Son and our redemption; the third, of God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.1

1 I Peter 1:2. * I John 5:7.

1.       Introduction

1.       Credo, "I Believe"

2.       Credimus, "We believe"

3.       Confessions in the Scriptures (Deut 6.4; 1 Tim 1.15; 3.1, 16; 4.9; 2 Tim 2.11; Titus 3.8)

4.       12 Articles

5.       The Organization

2.       The Object of Faith

1.       Everything Promised Us in the Gospel

1.       What is the Gospel?

2.       What is Promised Us in the Gospel?

3.       What is Not Promised Us in the Gospel?

2.       The Ground of the Gospel

1.       God’s Justice

2.       Christ’s Obedience

3.       The Substance of the Faith

1.       The Articles (of the Creed)

1.       Its History

2.       Its Utility

3.       Its Questions

4.       Holy

1.       Catholic Faith

1.       In All Times and Places (All that is Roman is not catholic)

2.       Received Not Invented/Discovered

2.       Undoubted

1.       The Authority of Creeds Relative to Scripture

2.       Assurance of Faith and Assurance of the Faith

5.       The Trinitarian Structure of the Faith

1.       The Three Parts of the Faith

2.       Economy of Creation and Redemption

1.       Father-Creation (Law/Guilt)

2.       Son-Redemption (Gospel/Grace)

3.       Spirit-Sanctification (Gratitude)

25. Since there is but one Divine Being,1 why do you speak of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit?2

1Because God has so revealed Himself in His Word,2 that these three distinct persons are the one, true, eternal God.

1 Deuteronomy 6:4. 2 Isaiah 61:1. Psalm 110:1. Matthew 3:16,17 Matthew 28:19. I John 5:7.

1.       Introduction

1.       A. The History of the Doctrine of the Trinity

2.       The Council of Nicea

3.       The Athanasian Creed

1.       Contra Unitarianism

2.       Contra Modalism

3.       Contra Adoptionism

4.       Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity

5.       The Necessity of the Doctrine of the Trinity

6.       Apprehension v. Comprehension

7.       One Substance in Three Subsistences

2.       We Believe One Tri-Personal God

1.       One (Gen 1.1; Deut 6.4)

2.       Tri-Personal (Matt 28.18-20; 2 Cor 13.14)

3.       Perichoresis

3.       Father (John 6.31)

4.       Son (Ps 110; Gen 16.9)

5.       Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1.10-12)

26. What do you believe when you say: "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of nothing made heaven and earth with all that in them is,1 who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence,2 is for the sake of Christ, His Son, my God and my Father,3 in whom I so trust, as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul;4 and further, that whatever evil He sends upon me in this vale of tears, He will turn to my good;5 for He is able to do it, being almighty God,6 and willing also, being a faithful Father.7

1 Genesis 1:31. Psalm 33:6. * Colossians 1:16. * Hebrews 11:3. 2 Psalm 104:2-5.