3 Important Questions

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

That I,

    • with body and soul,
    • both in life and in death,1Romans 14:7,8
    • am not my own,21 Corinthians 6:19

but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ,31 Corinthians 3:23 who with His precious blood41 Peter 1:18,19

    • has fully satisfied for all my sins,51 John. 1:7. 1 John 2:2
    • and redeemed me from all the power of the devil;61 John 3:8
    • and so preserves me,7John 6:39

that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head;8Matthew 10:29, 30; Luke 21:18 indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation.9Romans 8:28

Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit,

    • He also assures me of eternal life,102 Corinthians 1:21, 22; Ephesians 1:13,14; Romans 8:16
    • and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.11Romans 8:1

2. How are you righteous before God?

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ;12Romans 3:21-25; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9

that is, although my conscience accuses me,

    • that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God,
    • and have never kept any of them,13Romans 3:9-10
    • and am still prone always to all evil;14Romans 7:23

yet God, without any merit of mine,15Titus 3:5 of mere grace,16Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8

    • grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,171 John 2:2 righteousness, and holiness of Christ,181 John 2:1; Romans 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:19
    • as if I had never committed – nor had – any sin,
    • and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;192 Corinthians 5:21

if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.20John 3:18; Romans 3:28; Romans 10:10

 

3. 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;21James 1:6
    • but also a hearty trust,22Romans 4:16-18; 5:1

which the Holy Spirit232 Corinthians 4:13; Philippians 1:19, 29 works in me by the gospel,24Romans 1:16; 10:17 that

    • not only to others,
    • but to me also,
    • forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation

are freely given by God,25Hebrews 11:1-2; Romans 1:17 merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.26Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 2:16; Acts 10:43

These questions are taken from The Heidelberg Catechism, Questions & Answers 1, 60, and 21, respectively.

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