Heidelberg Catechism, Week 20

Lord’s Day 20

53. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Spirit?”

First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son.¹ Second, that He is also given unto me:² by true faith makes me a partaker of Christ and all His benefits,³ comforts me,⁴ and shall abide with me forever.⁵

¹ Gen 1:1-2; Isa 48:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; ² 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13; ³ 1 Cor 6:17; Gal 3:14; 1 Pt 1:2; ⁴ Jn 15:26; Acts 9:31; ⁵ Jn 14:16-17; Rom 15:13; 1 Pt 4:14; 1 Jn 4:13

Heidelberg, Week 19

Lord’s Day 19

50. Why is it added: “And sits at the right hand of God?”

Because Christ ascended into heaven for this end, that He might there appear as the Head of His Church,¹ by whom the Father governs all things.²

¹ Eph 1:20-23; Col 1:18; ² Ps 110:1; Mt 28:18; Jn 5:22-23; 1 Pt 3:22

51. What does this glory of Christ, our Head, profit us?

First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly gifts upon us, His members;¹ then, that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.²

¹ Acts 2:33; Eph 4:7-12; ² Ps 2:9, 110:1-2; Jn 10:27-30; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 15:25-26; Rev 19:11-16

52. What comfort is it to you that Christ “shall come to judge the living and the dead?”

That in all my sorrows and persecutions, I, with uplifted head, look for the very One, who offered Himself for me to the judgment of God, and removed all curse from me,¹ to come as Judge from heaven,² who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,³ but shall take me with all His chosen ones to Himself into heavenly joy and glory.⁴

¹ Lk 21:28; Rom 8:22-25; Php 3:20-21; Tit 2:13-14; ² Lk 21:28; Rom 8:23-24; Php 3:20-21; Tit 2:13; ³ Mt 25:41; 1 Thes 4:16-18; 2 Thes 1:6, 10; ⁴ Mt 25:31-46; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thes 4:16-17; 2 Thes 1:6-10; Heb 9:28

(Source)

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 14

Lord’s Day 14

35. What is the meaning of “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?”

That the eternal Son of God, who is and continues true and eternal God,¹ took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,² by the operation of the Holy Spirit;³ so that He might also be the true seed of David,⁴ like unto His brethren in all things,⁵ except for sin.⁶

¹ Jn 1:1-4, 10:30-36; Rom 1:3-4, 9:5; Col 1:15-17; 1 Jn 5:20; ² Mt 1:18-23; Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:14; ³ Mt 1:18-20; Lk 1:35; ⁴ 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32; Rom 1:3; ⁵ Php 2:7; Heb 2:17; ⁶ Heb 4:15, 7:26-27

36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?

That He is our Mediator,¹ and with His innocence and perfect holiness² covers, in the sight of God, my sin,³ wherein I was conceived.⁴

¹ 1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 2:16-17, 9:13-15; ² Rom 8:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4-5; 1 Pt 1:18-19; ³ Ps 32:1; 1 Jn 1:9; ⁴ Ps 51:5

As always, the full catechism can be found here.

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 12

Lord’s Day 12

31. Why is He called “Christ,” that is, Anointed?

Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit¹ to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,² who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;³ and our only High Priest,⁴ who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us,⁵ and ever lives to make intercession for us with the Father;⁶ and our eternal King,⁷ who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.⁸

¹ Ps 45:7 [Heb 1:9]; Isa 61:1 [Lk 3:21-22, 4:18]; ² Deut 18:15 [Acts 3:22]; ³ Jn 1:18, 15:15; ⁴ Ps 110:4 [Heb 7:17, 21]; ⁵ Heb 9:12, 10:11-14; ⁶ Rom 5:9-10, 8:34; Heb 9:24; 1 Jn 2:1; ⁷ Zech 9:9 [Mt 21:5]; Lk 1:33; ⁸ Ps 2:6; Isa.61:1-2; Mt 28:18-20; Jn 10:28; 1 Pt 2:24; Rev 12:10-11, 19:16

32. But why are you called a Christian?

Because by faith I am a member of Christ¹ and thus a partaker of His anointing,² in order that I also may confess His Name,³ may present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him,⁴ and with a free conscience may fight against sin and the devil in this life,⁵ and hereafter in eternity reign with Him over all creatures.⁶

¹ Acts 11:26; 1 Cor 12:12-27; 1 Jn 2:20, 27; ² Joel 2:28 [Acts 2:17]; 1 Jn 2:27; ³ Mk 8:38, 10:32; Rom 10:9-10; Heb 13:15; ⁴ Rom 12:1; 1 Pt 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6, 5:8, 10; ⁵ Gal 5:16-17; Eph 6:11; 1 Tim 1:18-19; ⁶ Mt 25:34; Eph 6:12; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 3:21

(from  URC Learning)

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 11

Lord’s Day 11

29. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” that is, Savior?

Because He saves us from all our sins,¹ and because salvation is not to be sought or found in any other.²

¹ Mt 1:21; Heb 7:25; ² Isa 43:11; Lk 2:10-11; Jn 15:4-5; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Tim 2:5

30. Do those also believe in the only Savior Jesus, who seek their salvation and welfare from “saints,” themselves, or anywhere else?

No; although they make their boast of Him, yet in their deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus;¹ for either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith receive this Savior, must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.²

¹ 1 Cor 1:12-13, 30-31; Gal 5:4; ² Isa 9:7; Mt. 23:28; Jn 1:16; Col 1:19-20, 2:10; 1 Jn 1:7

(fromURC Learning

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 10

Lord’s Day 10

27. What do you understand by the providence of God?

The almighty, everywhere-present power of God,¹ whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures,² and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought,³ fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,⁴ health and sickness,⁵ riches and poverty,⁶ indeed, all things come not by chance,⁷ but by His fatherly hand.⁸

¹ Jer 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28; ² Heb 1:3; ³ Jer 5:24; ⁴ Acts 14:15-17; ⁵ Jn 9:3; ⁶ Job 1:21; Ps 103:19; Prov 22:2; Rom 5:3-5; ⁷ Prov 16:33; ⁸ Mt 10:29; Eph 1:1

28. What does it profit us to know that God created, and by His providence upholds, all things?

That we may be patient in adversity,¹ thankful in prosperity,² and for what is future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love,³ since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.⁴

¹ Job 1:21-22; Ps 39:10; Rom 5:3; Jas 1:3; ² Deut 8:10; 1 Thes 5:18; ³ Ps 55:22; Rom 5:3-5, 8:35, 38-39; ⁴ Job 1:12, 2:6; Ps 71:7; Prov 21:1; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Cor 1:10

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 9

Lord’s Day 9

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 troubled life, 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 Gen 1-2; Ex 20:11; Job 38-39; Ps 33:6; Isa 44:24; Acts 4:24, 14:15; Col 1:16; Heb 11:3; ² Ps 104:2-5, 27-30, 115:3; Mt 6:30, 10:29-30; Acts 17:24-25; Eph 1:11; Heb 1:3; ³ Mt 6:8; Jn 1:12-13; Rom 8:15-16; Gal 4:4-7; Eph 1:5, 3:14-16; ⁴ Ps 55:22, 90:1-2; Mt 6:25-26; Lk 12:22-31; ⁵ Acts 17:27-28; Rom 8:28; ⁶ Gen 18:14; Rom 8:31-39, 10:12; ⁷ Num 23:19; Mt 6:32-33, 7:9-11

(source: URC Learning)