A Lesson from the Heidelberg Catechism

Everybody seeks consolation—not simply within the sense of fabric prosperity but in addition within the sense of assurance, stability, or, maybe chief of all, happiness. The search for happiness is common, transcending boundaries of race and geography and time. And lots of regard it as an everlasting quest, an unanswerable query.

What’s the nature of this happiness? As a result of life might be harmful, folks wish to safe their well-being—that’s, security. As a result of a lot of life might be deemed menial, folks need a sense that their lives depend for one thing—that’s, significance. As a result of life is troublesome, folks wish to expertise the peace of mind that somebody cares for them—that’s, sympathy. And since life is tarnished and complex by transgressions, they wish to expertise freedom from their sense of guilt—that’s, forgiveness.

In 1563, whereas the Protestant Reformation was nonetheless younger, pastors and theologians within the German metropolis of Heidelberg printed a catechism—a textbook of the fundamentals of Christian religion organized in a question-and-answer format. The primary query and reply endure as one of many nice articulations of the Gospel’s provision for human happiness, expressed within the language of the Scriptures. Central to this provision is that happiness is to not be present in ourselves however fairly in our relationship to our Creator.

The catechism was created to be a useful resource for church buildings and households in order that youngsters could be introduced as much as articulate (and consider!) a solution to the query “What’s your solely consolation in life and in dying?” They’d say,

That I’m not my very own, however belong—physique and soul, in life and in dying—to my devoted Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has totally paid for all my sins with His valuable blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the satan. He additionally watches over me in such a method that not a hair can fall from my head with out the desire of my Father in heaven; in reality, all issues should work collectively for my salvation.

As a result of I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of everlasting life and makes me wholeheartedly keen and prepared any further to stay for Him.

To belong to our Savior means safety even from the jaws of dying, which couldn’t maintain Him (Acts 2:24), can not shock Him (Matt. 10:29–31; Luke 21:16–18), and doesn’t finish His relationship with us (1 Thess. 4:16).

To belong to our Savior means significance as we discover our id in Him (1 Cor. 6:19) and that we stay by and for Him (Col. 1:16).

To belong to our Savior means sympathy as we take consolation in His faithfulness (2 Tim. 2:13) and His self-emptying love (Phil. 2:6–7).

And to belong to our Savior means forgiveness from each sin by the fee of His blood (1 Peter 1:18–19), which “could make the foulest clear.”

The reply to the primary query of the Heidelberg Catechism is thus a wealthy useful resource for a Christian’s meditation and memorization. It’s a succinct and exquisite reminder that the hunt for happiness has its reply incomparably within the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it’s a clear framework to undergird the reply we give to those that would ask the explanation for the hope inside us (1 Peter 3:15).

This text was tailored from the sermon “Privileges” by Alistair Begg.