Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Baptism

I realize that it has been quite a while since we discussed the Heidelberg Catechism, but we must finish what we started.  Here is the last section that contains the introduction to the section on the sacraments.  Today, the topic is Baptism.

 Of Holy Baptism

26. Lord's Day

Question 69. How are you admonished and assured by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to you?

Answer: Thus: That Christ appointed this external washing with water, (Matthew 28:19) adding thereto this promise, (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Matthew3:11; Mark 16:16; John 1:33; Romans 6:3-4) that I am as certainly washed by his blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, (1 Peter 3:21; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3) as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away.

This is the notion of not only atonement, but expiation of sin.  Sin is completely wiped clean, through the Blood of Jesus and His meritorious work on the Cross.

Question 70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?

Answer: 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; (Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:5, 7:14; Zechariah 13:1; Ezekiel 36:25) 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. (John 1:33, 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:11, 12:13; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

This section is thick with talking points.  Starting with the Hebrews, 1 Peter and Ezekiel quotes, we have wonderful scripture for those who insist that sprinkling is not Biblical.  Hmmm.   Maybe, just maybe, sprinkling is, in fact, Biblical.  Next we have the wonderful Revelation 1:5 quote that uses the words firstborn of the dead.  We see that Jesus is the firstborn of those who will receive resurrection bodies.  He is the first to be whole and complete.  He will usher in the Age to Come, but through Him, the Age to Come is already bleeding through into this current evil Age.  That's some two kingdom stuff for you.  The second set of quotes includes language about us dying with Christ through Baptism and being raised with Him through faith.  This gets to the heart of the sacrament.

Question 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?

Answer: 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." (Matthew 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. (Titus 3:5, Acts 22:16)

The little verse from Mark is not trivial.  This verse is a problem for the Lutheran view of Baptism, and this is why I prefer the Covenantal  view on Baptism.  Here Mark says something very similar to what Paul says to the Galatians concerning circumcision.  In essence, the argument is that if you take the covenant seal of Baptism, believers are saved.  But by the same mechanism, unbelievers seal their doom.  All will, of course, be sorted out on Judgment Day, but accepting the Seal of the New Covenant without true faith in the meritorious work of Christ on our behalf is as much as seal of doom as it is a seal of faith for the believer.  This is tough teaching.  It means that there are souls who are Baptized and in our pews who are doomed.

27. Lord's Day

Question 72. Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?

Answer: Not at all: (Matthew 3:11; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 5:26-27) for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin. (1 John 1:7; 1 Corinthians 6:11)

More interesting stuff from 1 Corinthians.  This verse states that justification and sanctification are both instantaneous and conferred at Baptism to the believer.  While many passages discuss the process of Sanctification, the reformation argument is that Sanctification is both instantaneous and a process.  This is a difficult concept at first, but the point is that sanctification will never be complete during this lifetime.  We make only small steps towards it.  But our faith freely given to us by the Holy Spirit confers both justification and sanctification instantly.  It is because our bodies remain IN Adam, that we require a process while we are still IN Adam. 

Question 73. Why then does the Holy Ghost call baptism "the washing of regeneration," and "the washing away of sins"?

Answer: 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; (Revelation 1:5,7:14; 1 Corinthians 6:11) 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. (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27)

No new stuff here.  We do get the image of "putting on Christ" from the Galatians passage, which meshes well with the idea of being clothed in His righteousness.

Question 74. Are infants also to be baptized?

Answer: Yes: for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church of God; (Genesis 17:7) and since redemption from sin (Matthew19:14) by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult; (Luke 1:15; Psalms 22:10; Isaiah 44:1-3;Acts 2:39) 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 (Acts 10:47) as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision, (Genesis 17:14) instead of which baptism is instituted (Colossians2:11-13) in the new covenant.

Just when you thought that it was safe to go into the water, someone let the kids come to the party.  The best argument for infant Baptism, of course, is the covenant argument.  The Colossians passage hammers home the point concerning covenant, while the other passages bring the children into the discussion.  Of particular interest in the discussion of circumcision taking place on or after the eighth day after birth.  This truly opens the door for Baptism as the New Covenant Seal.

Baptism has the potential to spark tremendous debate.  This section of the Heidelberg Catechism does an excellent job of outlining the Covenant argument for this sacrament.  In the next post, we will examine the other sacrament: Holy Communion.

--Troll--

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Sacraments

I guess it is time to continue on with Heidelberg.  This is the beginning of a very important section concerning the Sacraments.  The questions before us are what is a sacrament and what does this mean?

Of The Sacraments

25. Lord's Day

Question 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence does this faith proceed? 

Answer: From the Holy Ghost, (Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 6:23; John 3:5; Philippians 1:29) who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 1:22-23)

And therefore, the first important answer of the day is that it is by faith alone that we are made partakers of Christ.  We are made partakers, we do not make ourselves partakers.  This faith comes from the Holy Ghost.  This is the job of the Holy Spirit, to give us faith in Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on the Cross. 

Question 66. What are the sacraments? 

Answer: The sacraments are holy visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof, he may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, viz., that he grants us freely the remission of sin, and life eternal, for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross. (Genesis 17:11; Romans 4:11; Deuteronomy 30:6; Leviticus 6:25; Hebrews 9:7-9, 24; Ezekiel 20:12; Isaiah 6:6-7, 54:9)

This section is full of covenant language.  Signs and seals imply the New Covenant in Christ.  So, therefore, if the sacraments are the signs and seals of the New Covenant, they must be for the Covenant members.  This issue will be addressed later.

Question 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? (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27)

Answer: 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.

This is pretty straight forward.  The word and sacraments point to the cross.  Our faith and our salvation is based upon Christ's work on the cross.

Question 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?

Answer: Two: namely, holy baptism, and the holy supper.

And so, you will expect the next two sections to be about these two sacraments.  At this point, it is worth mentioning that there is a difference here between the Lutheran view and the Confessional Reformed view of sacraments.  The Lutherans believe that the Sacraments actually deliver what they promise.  In other words, the seal of the covenant delivers the promise of the covenant.  It is a very straight forward position, but it runs into practical problems with antinomian behavior, Romans 6 notwithstanding.  The Confessional Reformed view is that there is both a visible church of those within the Covenant community and an invisible church of those who are of true faith.  The external benefits of the covenant are for all visible church members, but the eternal and invisible benefits are for the true believers, the elect, the invisible church.  This is the position that I hold because it makes practical sense of the empyrical observation that not all baptized people are true believers.

--Troll-- 

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Righteousness

While this may not look like much, this section is the meat of Christianity.  The passages in this section are extremely dense.  While you may not have followed all of the links in the past, and the whole Catechism should be read with an open Bible as the verses are given as a part of the catechism, this is a section that is all the more vital in that regard.  Justification is the declaration that we are righteous before God through Jesus Christ by virtue of our faith in Him, alone and apart from works.  The catechism gives you the doctrine, but the verses demonstrate beyond any doubt that the text yields the doctrine.  We are not imposing our own thought on the text, but rather, we are attempting to summarize and organize what is already there. 

21. Lord's Day

Question 54. What do you believe concerning the "holy catholic church" of Christ?

Answer: That the Son of God (Ephesians 5:26; John 10:11; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-13) from the beginning to the end of the world, (Psalms 71:17-18; Isaiah 59:21; 1 Corinthians 11:26) gathers, defends, and preserves (Matthew 16:18; John 10:28-30; Psalms 129:1-5) to himself by his Spirit and word, (Isaiah 59:21; Romans 1:16,10:14-17; Ephesians 5:26) out of the whole human race, (Genesis 26:4; Revelation 5:9) a church chosen to everlasting life, (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:10-13) agreeing in true faith; (Acts 2:46, Ephesians 4:3-5) and that I am and forever shall remain, (Psalms 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; John 10:28; 1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 1:5) a living member thereof. (1 John 3:14,19-21; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 8:10)

Question 55. What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?

Answer: First, that all and every one, who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, partakers of him, and of all his riches and gifts; (1 John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 6:17) secondly, that everyone must know it to be his duty, readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members. (1 Corinthians 12:21, 13:1, 5; Philippians 2:4-8)

Question 56. What do you believe concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?

Answer: That God, for the sake of Christ's satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; (1 John 2:2, 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21) but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ, (Jeremiah 31:34; Psalms 103:3-4, 10, 12; Micah 7:19; Romans 7:23-25) that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God. (Romans 8:1-4; John 3:18, 5:24)

We could spend a long time discussing the implication of being of one body with Christ and the substance of the body that is implied with that statement.  The idea of substance concerning the sacrament of the Eucharist is of similar type.  The covenant context, however, is sufficient for understanding of the Body of Christ in this place.

22. Lord's Day

Question 57. What comfort does the "resurrection of the body" afford thee?

Answer: That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its head; (Luke 16:22, 23:43; Philippians 1:21, 23) but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:53-54; Job 19:25-26; 1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21)

Question 58. What comfort do you take from the article of "life everlasting"?

Answer: That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, (2 Corinthians 5:2-3) after this life, I shall inherit perfect salvation, which "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man" to conceive, and that to praise God therein forever. (1 Corinthians 2:9; John 17:3)

A lot of interesting issues come from this section.  You  might be surprised to hear that there are vast numbers of professing Christians who have the very Greek idea of the soul going to heaven and the body never being reunited with the soul on the Last Day.  It is interesting how this part of the faith seems to be glossed over without much of a discussion.  The old German Lutherans understand this to the nth degree, but have little faith in God's ability to mend resurrected bodies to the perfection that we were intended in the same way that He justifies us to perfection in terms of righteousness.  

23. Lord's Day

Question 59. But what does it profit you now that you believe all this?

Answer: That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; John 3:36)

Question 60. How are thou righteous before God?

Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; (Romans 3:21-25, 28, 5:1-2; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9) so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, (Romans 3:9) and am still inclined to all evil; (Romans 7:23) notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, (Titus 3:5; Deuteronomy 9:6; Ezekiel 36:22) but only of mere grace, (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8) grants and imputes to me, (Romans 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:19) the perfect satisfaction, (1 John 2:2) righteousness and holiness of Christ; (1 John 2:1) even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (2 Corinthians 5:21) inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. (Romans 3:22; John 3:18)

Question 61. Why do you say, that you are righteous by faith only?

Answer: Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God; (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2:2) and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only. (1 John 5:10)

Vegan warning:  questions #59-64 are the meat!  Notice the density of the references in Question #60.  This is heavy on Romans, but really, a lot of Paul is used here.  It is interesting where the Prophets are woven into the catechism.  If you have doubts that the Old Testament testifies to Christ, these sections should put an end to that stuff.

24. Lord's Day

Question 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole, or part of our righteousness before God?

Answer: Because, that the righteousness, which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect, (Galatians 3:10; Deuteronomy 27:26) and in all respects conformable to the divine law; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin. (Isaiah 64:6)

Question 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?

Answer: This reward is not of merit, but of grace. (Luke 17:10)

Question 64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?

Answer: By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness. (Matthew 7:18; John 15:5)

Truly fantastic stuff.  This is outline of Romans 3-8 without mentioning Romans 3-8.  This may be a relatively brief section, but it is theologically dense.

We have seen in this section the basis of our righteousness before a Just and Holy God.  The next section is on the Sacraments.  I'll post on the definition of sacrament and Baptism in the next post, and then we'll tackle the Lord's Supper afterwards.

--Troll--

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Of God the Holy Ghost

Given the mysticism and heavy Anabaptist influence of our day, this is disappointingly brief.  The most interesting things are the references.  The passages included all ground the Spirit to the Son.  Acts 2 and 4 and 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 are all noticeably absent from the list.  Interesting how Calvin, and subsequently Heidelberg, saw this so differently than the Anabaptists.

Of God The Holy Ghost

20. Lord's Day

Question 53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?

Answer: First, that he is true and coeternal God with the Father and the Son; (1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 48:16; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Acts5:3-4) secondly, that he is also given me, (Galatians 4:6; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13) to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all his benefits, (Galatians 3:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:17) that he may comfort me (Acts 9:31; John 15:26) and abide with me forever. (John 14:16; 1 Peter 4:14)

What we have instead are passage after passage that first reiterate that the Holy Ghost is an inseparable portion of the Trinity.  Next, we are given the passages that relate to us that to which the Holy Ghost will testify, named, to the truth of the Words given to us in Scripture, and in particular, to the knowledge of Jesus and His actions both in His life and in His resurrection.  Finally, we are given the means by which we are granted access to these gifts; we are given faith through the work of the Holy Ghost in us in revealing these truths.

The next few Lord’s Days will take up a different topic, but a vitally important one: justification.  Justification and imputation are the gospel according to Paul.  Let’s see what Heidelberg does with those doctrines.

--Troll--

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Of God the Son 3/3

This section contains the historical facts about which the gospel testifies.  This is the basis of the faith.  In these passages, Christianity is laid out for all to see.  It is of some interest that there are any Old Testament verses in this section, but there are a few.  Of course, 1 Corinthians 15 features prominently as do all of the Gospels and Paul.

17. Lord's Day

Question 45. What does the "resurrection" of Christ profit us?

Answer: First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, that he might make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death; (1 Corinthians 15:16; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3) secondly, we are also by his power raised up to a new life; (Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians2:5-6) and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:12, 20-21; Romans 8:11)

As you can see, only one question for this Lord’s Day is offered.  That is probably because this is one of the more important questions.  Just guessing.  Ephesians 2 and 1 Corinthians 15 should be read once a month each in every church.

18. Lord's Day

Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven"?

Answer: That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; (Acts 1:9; Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51) and that he continues there for our interest, (Hebrews 7:25, 4:14, 9:24; Romans 8:34; Ephesians4:10; Colossians 3:1) until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. (Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30)

Question 47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he has promised? (Matthew 28:20)

Answer: Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his human nature, he is no more on earth; (Hebrews 8:4; Matthew 26:11; John 16:28, 17:11;Acts 3:21) but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us. (John 14:17-19, 16:13; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 4:8, 12)

Question 48. But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

Answer: Not as all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and omnipresent, (Acts 7:49; Jeremiah 23:24) it must necessarily follow that the same is beyond the limits of the human nature he assumed, (Colossians 2:9; John3:13, 11:15; Matthew 28:6) and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.

Question 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?

Answer: First, that he is our advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven; (1 John 2:1; Romans 8:34) secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members; (John 14:2, 17:24, 20:17; Ephesians 2:6) thirdly, that he sends us his Spirit as an earnest, (John 14:16, 16:7; Acts 2:1-4, 33; 2 Corinthians 1:22,5:5) by whose power we "seek the things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God, and not things on earth." (Colossians 3:1; Philippians3:14)

While this whole section is important, these last two questions speak specifically to a couple of ancient heresies.  The Greeks loved to separate things into this world and the spiritual world.  Question #48 points out that Jesus remains both God and human even after the resurrection.  Question #49 ties the troublesome passages in Acts 2 concerning the Holy Spirit to Jesus in His role as our Advocate.  I wrote on this topic in the word study on perichoresis and paraclete.  This is also a great link to the next section on the Holy Spirit.  BTW, the quoted version of Acts 2:4 is great:  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

19. Lord's Day

Question 50. Why is it added, "and sits at the right hand of God"?

Answer: Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might appear as head of his church, (Ephesians 1:20-21, 23; Colossians 1:18) by whom the Father governs all things. (Matthew 28:18; John 5:22)

Question 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?

Answer: First, that by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly graces upon us his members; (Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) and then that by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies. (Psalms 2:9, 110:1-2; John 10:28;Ephesians 4:8)

Question 52. What comfort is it to thee that "Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead"?

Answer: That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: (Luke 21:28; Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians4:16) who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, (2 Thessalonians1:6, 8-10; Matthew 25:41-43) but shall translate me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory. (Matthew 25:34; 2 Thessalonians 1:7)

I actually expected to find some OT prophets and some Revelation in this section.  It just goes to show you that eschatology is found throughout the New Testament, not just in the last book.

We have now covered the first two parts of the Trinity.  In the next section, we will be looking at the Holy Spirit.

--Troll--

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Of God the Son 2/3

In this second section on the Son, we end up with that controversial topic of Hell.  But before that excitement, we go through the incarnation, the passion, the death and burial.

14. Lord's Day

Question 35. What is the meaning of these words "He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary"?

Answer: That God's eternal Son, who is, and continues (Romans 1:4,9:5) true and eternal God, (1 John 5:20; John 1:1, 17:3; Romans 1:3, Colossians1:15) took upon him the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, (Galatians 4:4, Luke 1:31, 42-43) by the operation of the Holy Ghost; (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35) that he might also be the true seed of David, (Psalms 132:11; Romans 1:3; 2 Samuel 7:12; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30) like unto his brethren in all things, (Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14, 17) sin excepted. (Hebrews 4:15)

Question 36. What profit do you receive by Christ's holy conception and nativity?

Answer: That he is our Mediator; (Hebrews 7:26-27, 2:17) and with His innocence and perfect holiness, covers in the sight of God, my sins, wherein I was conceived and brought forth. (1 Peter 1:18-19, 3:18; 1 Corinthians1:30-31; Romans 8:3-4; Isaiah 53:11; Psalms 32:1)

This section was clearly about the incarnation.  The importance of God becoming human is perhaps lost.  In order to fulfill the Law, a human had to do it, a human under the covenant curse of Adam.  This was the first reason that Jesus condescended to become man.

15. Lord's Day

Question 37. What do you understand by the words, "He suffered"?

Answer: That he, all the time that he lived on earth, but especially at the end of his life, sustained in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind: (Isaiah 53:4; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:6) that so by his passion, as the only propitiatory sacrifice, (Isaiah 53:10, 12;Ephesians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 John 2:2, 4:10; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:28,10:14) he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, (Galatians3:13, 1:13; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19) and obtain for us the favor of God, righteousness and eternal life. (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16,6:51; Hebrews 9:15, 10:19)

Question 38. Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate, as judge"?

Answer: That he, being innocent, and yet condemned by a temporal judge, (John 18:38; Matthew 27:24; Acts 4:27-28; Luke 23:14-15; John 19:4) might thereby free us from the severe judgment of God to which we were exposed. (Psalms 69:4; Isaiah 53:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13)

Question 39. Is there anything more in his being "crucified", than if he had died some other death?

Answer: Yes there is; for thereby I am assured, that he took on him the curse which lay upon me; (Galatians 3:13) for the death of the cross was accursed of God. (Deuteronomy 21:23)

While most of this section is about His passion, the word propitiating appears in the answer to question #37.  While the four places in the New Testament that this word appears I have documented in the past, there is one Old Testament reference as well.  The Isaiah 53 passage you will have noticed has been cited multiple times already.

16. Lord's Day

Question 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even "unto death"?

Answer: Because with respect to the justice and truth of God, (Genesis2:17) satisfaction for our sins could be made no otherwise, than by the death of the Son of God. (Romans 8:3-4; Hebrews 2:9, 14-15)

Question 41. Why was he also "buried"?

Answer: Thereby to prove that he was really dead. (Matthew 27:59-60;Luke 23:52-53; John 19:38-42; Acts 13:29)

Question 42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

Answer: Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, (Mark 8:37, Psalms49:7) but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal life. (John 5:24,Philippians 1:23, Romans 7:24)

Question 43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

Answer: That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead and buried with him; (Romans 6:6) that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us; (Romans 6:6-8, 11-12; Colossians 2:12) but that we may offer ourselves unto him a sacrifice of thanksgiving. (Romans 12:1)

Question 44. Why is there added, "he descended into hell"?

Answer: That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, (Psalms 18:5-6, 116:3; Matthew 26:38 Hebrews 5:7 Isaiah 53:10Matthew 27:46) but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell. (Isaiah 53:5)

This is a great section up to Question #44.  I'll be posting on Hell soon.

The next post will be on the remainder of the questions concerning the Son.

--Troll--

Heidelberg Catechism: The Second Part--Of God the Son 1/3

One of the more interesting aspects of this section is that all of major verses that people quote will appear as citations.  These come from all over the Bible.  The Old Testament citations come primarily from the prophets, while the whole New Testament is cited.  I have broken this section on the Son into three parts for easier consumption.  Here is part one.

Of God The Son

11. Lord's Day

Question 29. Why is the Son of God "Jesus" called a Savior?

Answer: Because He saves us, and delivers us, from our sins; (Matthew1:21, Hebrews 7:24-25) and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can we find, salvation in any other. (Acts 4:12, John 15:4-5; 1 Timothy 2:5; Isaiah43:11; 1 John 5:11)

Question 30. Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?

Answer: They do not; for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior; (1 Corinthians 1:13,30-31; Galatians 5:4) for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior; or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation. (Hebrews 12:2,Isaiah 9:6, Colossians 1:19-20, 2:10; 1 John 1:7; John 1:16)

Sola Christus.  In addition, we see true faith again.  All of the components of the Reformed tradition will be brought out over the next week.

12. Lord's Day

Question 31. Why is he called "Christ", that is anointed?

Answer: Because he is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, (Psalms 45:8, Hebrews 1:9, Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18) to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, (Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22, 7:37; Isaiah 55:4) who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; (John 1:18, 15:15) and to be our only High Priest, (Psalms 110:4) who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, (Hebrews 10:12, 14,9:12, 14, 28) and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; (Romans 8:34,Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1; Romans 5:9-10) and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in that salvation, he has purchased for us. (Psalms 2:6, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5, Luke1:33, Matthew 28:18, John 10:28, Revelation 12:10-11)

Question 32. But why art thou called a Christian? (Acts 11:26)

Answer: Because I am a member of Christ by faith, (1 Corinthians 6:15) and thus am partaker of his anointing; (1 John 2:27, Acts 2:17) that so I may confess his name, (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:10, Mark 8:38) and present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him: (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation5:8, 10, 1:6) and also that with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 6:12-13; Galatians 5:16-17, Ephesians6:11; 1 Timothy 1:18-19) and afterwards I reign with him eternally, over all creatures. (2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 24:34)

If you missed it, question 31 spells out the three offices of Christ:  Prophet, Priest and King.  This is important because the expectations of the Jews for the messiah were different.  Mostly, they wanted a king with military might to out the Romans.  But also, they did not expect a prophet, priest and king all in one person.  They had encountered all of the above in their past, but never all in the same person.

Question 32 is about sola fide, but also about Christian Living.  The accusations concerning reformed and practical application abound, so there it was, the first section on Christian living.  The Reformed believe that if you get the doctrine right, the Christian living flows obviously from it.  It really isn't that hard to find practical application.  But getting the doctrine correct is fundamentally essential.  Remember, Paul always answers questions about Christian living by first reviewing the doctrine.  Perhaps, Paul is right about this.

13. Lord's Day

Question 33. Why is Christ called the "only begotten Son" of God, since we are also the children of God?

Answer: Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; (John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9; Romans 8:32) but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for his sake. (Romans 8:15-17; John 1:12,Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:5-6)

Question 34. Wherefore calls thou him "our Lord"?

Answer: Because he hath redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with silver or gold, but with his precious blood, and has delivered us from all the power of the devil; and thus has made us his own property. (1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:9; 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; 1 Timothy 2:6; John20:28)

We were due the Trinitarian statement, but this is more than that.  The idea of adoption is going to be huge, particularly for we Gentiles.  In this particular context, however, the role of adoption is linked to propitiation and imputation concerning salvation.

As we move through the next two sections, keep this first section on the Son in mind.

--Troll--