The Heidelberg Catechism

LORD’S DAY 1

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

That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,¹am not my own,² but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ,³ who with His precious blood⁴ 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

2. How many things are necessary for you to know, that in this comfort you may live and die happily?

Three things:¹² First, the greatness of my sin and misery.¹³ Second, how I am redeemed from all my sins and misery.¹⁴ Third, how I am to be thankful to God for such redemption.¹⁵

The First Part – Of The Misery Of Man

LORD’S DAY 2

3. From where do you know your misery?

From the Law of God.¹⁶

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

Christ teaches us in sum, Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”¹⁷

5. Can you keep all this perfectly?

No¹⁸, for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbor.¹⁹

LORD’S DAY 3

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

No,²⁰ but God created man good and after His own image,²¹ 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.²²

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

From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,²³ whereby our nature became so corrupt that we are all conceived and born in sin.²⁴

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

Yes,²⁵ unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.²⁶

LORD’S DAY 4

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,²⁷ but man, through the instigation of the devil, by willful disobedience deprived himself and all his descendants of those divine gifts.²⁸

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

By no means,²⁹ 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 everyone who continues not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them.”³⁰

11. Is not God then also merciful?

God is indeed merciful,³¹ but He is likewise just;³² 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.

The Second Part – Of Man’s Deliverance

LORD’S DAY 5

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;³³ therefore, we must make full satisfaction to that justice, either by ourselves or by another.³⁴

13. Can we ourselves make this satisfaction?

By no means, on the contrary, we daily increase our guilt.³⁵

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;³⁶ and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin³⁷ and redeem others from it.

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

One who is a true³⁸ and righteous man,³⁹ and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, One who is also true God.⁴⁰

LORD’S DAY 6

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

Because the justice of God requires⁴¹ that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin, but one who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.⁴²

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,⁴³ and so obtain for⁴⁴ and restore to us righteousness and life.⁴⁵

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,⁴⁶ who is freely given unto us for complete redemption and righteousness.⁴⁷

19. From where do you know this?

From the Holy Gospel, which God Himself revealed first in Paradise;⁴⁸ afterwards proclaimed by the holy patriarchs⁴⁹ and prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law,⁵⁰ and finally fulfilled by His well-beloved Son.⁵¹

LORD’S DAY 7

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.⁵²

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;⁵³ but also a hearty trust,⁵⁴ which the Holy Spirit⁵⁵ works in me by the gospel,⁵⁶ that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God,⁵⁷ merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.⁵⁸

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

All that is promised us in the gospel,⁵⁹ which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in summary.

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 there 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.

Amen.

LORD’S DAY 8

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.⁶⁰

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

Because God has so revealed Himself⁶¹ in His Word,⁶² that these three distinct persons are the one, true, eternal God.

OF GOD THE FATHER

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 is in them,⁶³ who likewise upholds, and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence,⁶⁴ is for the sake of Christ, His Son, my God and my Father,⁶⁵ in whom I so trust as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul;⁶⁶ and further, that whatever evil He sends upon me in this valley of tears, He will turn to my good;⁶⁷ for He is able to do it, being Almighty God,⁶⁸ and willing also, being a faithful Father.⁶⁹

LORD’S DAY 10

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

The almighty and everywhere present power of God,⁷⁰ whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds heaven and earth with all creatures,⁷¹ and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,⁷² health and sickness,⁷³ riches and poverty,⁷⁴ indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His Fatherly hand.

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,⁷⁵ thankful in prosperity,⁷⁶ and for what is future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love,⁷⁷ since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.⁷⁸

OF GOD THE SON

LORD’S DAY 11

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

Because He saves us from our sins,⁷⁹ and because salvation is not to be sought or found in any other.⁸⁰

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 deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus,⁸¹ 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.⁸²

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 Spirit⁸³ to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,⁸⁴ who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;⁸⁵ and to be our only High Priest,⁸⁶ who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us, and ever lives to make intercession for us with the Father;⁸⁷ and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by His Word and Spirit and defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.⁸⁸

32. But why are you called a Christian?

Because by faith I am a member of Christ⁸⁹ and thus a partaker of His anointing,⁹⁰ in order that I also may confess His Name,⁹¹ may present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him,⁹² and that with a free conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life,⁹³ and hereafter in eternity reign with Him over all creatures.⁹⁴

LORD’S DAY 13

33. Why is Christ called God’s “only begotten Son,” since we also are the children of God?

Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; but we are children adopted of God,⁹⁵ by grace, for His sake.⁹⁶

34. Why do you call Him “our Lord”?

Because He has redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with His precious blood, and has delivered us from all the power of the devil; and thus has made us his own property.⁹⁷

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 is⁹⁸ and continues true and eternal God,⁹⁹ took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,¹⁰⁰ by the operation of the Holy Spirit;¹⁰¹ so that He might also be the true seed of David,¹⁰² like His brothers in all things,¹⁰³ sin excepted.¹⁰⁴

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

That He is our Mediator,¹⁰⁵ and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God, my sin, wherein I was conceived.¹⁰⁶

LORD’S DAY 15

37. What do you understand by the word “suffered”?

That all the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, He bore, in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race;¹⁰⁷ in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice,¹⁰⁸ He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.

38. Why did He suffer “under Pontius Pilate” as judge?

That He, being innocent, might be condemned by the temporal judge,¹⁰⁹ and thereby deliver us from the severe judgment of God, to which we were exposed.¹¹⁰

39. Is there anything more in His having been “crucified” than if He had suffered some other death?

Yes, for thereby I am assured that He took upon Himself the curse which lay upon me;¹¹¹ because the death of the cross was accursed of God.¹¹²

LORD’S DAY 16

40. Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer “death”?

Because the justice and truth¹¹³ of God required that satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.¹¹⁴

41. Why was He “buried”?

To show thereby that He was really dead.¹¹⁵

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

Our death is not a satisfaction for our sin, but only a dying to sin and an entering into eternal life.¹¹⁶

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

That by virtue thereof our old man is crucified, dead, and buried with Him;¹¹⁷ so that the evil lusts of the flesh may no more reign in us,¹¹⁸ but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.¹¹⁹

44. Why is it added: “He descended into hell”?

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, but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.¹²⁰

LORD’S DAY 17

45. What benefit do we receive from the resurrection of Christ?

First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of the righteousness which He has obtained for us by His death.¹²¹ Second, by His power we are also now raised up to a new life.¹²² Third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.¹²³

46. What do you understand by the words: “He ascended into heaven”?

That Christ, in the sight of His disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven;¹²⁴ and that he continues there for our interest¹²⁵ until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.¹²⁶

47. But is Christ then not with us even unto the end of the world, as He has promised?¹²⁷

Christ is true man and true God. According to His human nature, He is now not on earth,¹²⁸ but according to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit, He is at no time absent from us.¹²⁹

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?

Not at all; for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and everywhere present,¹³⁰ it must follow that the same is not limited with the human nature He assumed, and yet remains personally united to it.¹³¹

LORD’S DAY 18

49. What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven?

First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in Heaven.¹³² Second, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge, that He as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself.¹³³ Third, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest,¹³⁴ by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and not things on earth.¹³⁵

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,¹³⁶ by whom the Father governs all things.¹³⁷

LORD’S DAY 19

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;¹³⁸ then, that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.¹³⁹

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, 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,¹⁴⁰ who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,¹⁴¹ but shall take me with all His chosen ones to Himself, into heavenly joy and glory.¹⁴²

OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

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.¹⁴³ Second, that He is also given unto me,¹⁴⁴ to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits,¹⁴⁵ that He may comfort me¹⁴⁶ and abide with me forever.¹⁴⁷

LORD’S DAY 21

54. What do you believe concerning the “holy catholic church”?

That, out of the whole human race,¹⁴⁸ from the beginning to the end of the world,¹⁴⁹ the Son of God,¹⁵⁰ by His Spirit and Word,¹⁵¹ gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself to everlasting life a chosen communion¹⁵² in the unity of the true faith;¹⁵³ and that I am and forever shall remain a living member of this communion.¹⁵⁴

55. What do you understand by the “communion of saints”?

First, that believers, one and all, as members of the Lord Jesus Christ, are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts;¹⁵⁵ second, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members.¹⁵⁶

56. What do you believe concerning the “forgiveness of sins”?

That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction,¹⁵⁷ will no more remember my sins, nor the sinful nature with which I have to struggle all my life long;¹⁵⁸ but graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may nevermore come into condemnation.¹⁵⁹

LORD’S DAY 22

57. What comfort does the “resurrection of the body” afford you?

That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head;¹⁶⁰ but also, that this my body, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like the glorious body of Christ.¹⁶¹

58. What comfort do you receive from the article of “life everlasting”?

That, inasmuch as I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy,¹⁶² I shall after this life possess complete blessedness, such as “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man,”¹⁶³ therein to praise God forever.¹⁶⁴

LORD’S DAY 23

59. What does it help you now, that you believe all this?

That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.¹⁶⁵

60. How are you righteous before God?

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ;¹⁶⁶ 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,¹⁶⁷ and am still prone always to all evil;¹⁶⁸ yet God, without any merit of mine,¹⁶⁹ of mere grace,¹⁷⁰ grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,¹⁷¹ righteousness, and holiness of Christ,¹⁷² as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;¹⁷³ if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.¹⁷⁴

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

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;¹⁷⁵ and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only. ¹⁷⁶

LORD’S DAY 24

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

Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment seat of God must be perfect throughout and entirely conformable to the divine law,¹⁷⁷ but even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.¹⁷⁸

63. Do our good works merit nothing, even though it is God’s will to reward them in this life and in that which is to come?

The reward comes not of merit, but of grace.¹⁷⁹

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

No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.¹⁸⁰

OF THE SACRAMENTS

LORD’S DAY 25

65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, where does this faith come from?

From the Holy Spirit, who works faith in our hearts¹⁸¹ by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments.¹⁸²

66. What are the sacraments?

The sacraments are visible holy signs and seals appointed by God for this end, that by their use He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel, namely, that of free grace He grants us the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life for the sake of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.¹⁸³

67. Are both the Word and the sacraments designed to direct our faith to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?

Yes, truly, for the Holy Spirit teaches in the Gospel and assures us by the holy sacraments, that our whole salvation stands in the one sacrifice of Christ made for us on the cross.¹⁸⁴

68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the New Testament?

Two, namely, holy baptism and the holy supper.

OF HOLY BAPTISM

LORD’S DAY 26

69. How is it signified and sealed to you in Holy Baptism, that you have part in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

Thus: that Christ instituted this outward washing with water¹⁸⁵ and joined to it this promise:¹⁸⁶ that I am washed with His blood and Spirit from the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as certainly as I am washed outwardly with water, whereby commonly the filthiness of the body is taken away.¹⁸⁷

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

It is to have the forgiveness of sins from God through grace, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which He shed for us in His sacrifice on the cross;¹⁸⁸ and also to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified to be members of Christ, so that we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblamable lives.¹⁸⁹

71. Where has Christ promised that we are as certainly washed with His blood and Spirit as with the water of Baptism?

In the institution of Baptism, which says: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.¹⁹⁰ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”¹⁹¹ This promise is also repeated where Scripture calls Baptism the washing of regeneration,¹⁹² and the washing away of sins.¹⁹³

LORD’S DAY 27

72. Is then the outward washing with water itself the washing away of sins?

No,¹⁹⁴ for only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sin.¹⁹⁵

73. Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism the “washing of regeneration” and the “washing away of sins”?

God speaks thus not without great cause, namely, not only to teach us thereby that just as the filthiness of the body is taken away by water, so our sins are taken away by the blood and Spirit of Christ;¹⁹⁶ but much more, that by this divine pledge and token He may assure us, that we are as really washed from our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water.¹⁹⁷

74. Are infants also to be baptized?

Yes, for since they, as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God;¹⁹⁸ and through the blood of Christ¹⁹⁹ both redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to their parents,²⁰⁰ they are also by Baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be engrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers,²⁰¹ as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,²⁰² in place of which in the New Testament Baptism is appointed.²⁰³

OF THE HOLY SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

LORD’S DAY 28

75. How is it signified and sealed to you in the Holy Supper that you partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?

Thus: that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, and has joined therewith these promises:²⁰⁴ First, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that with His crucified body and shed blood He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.

76. What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?

It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and life eternal;²⁰⁵ but moreover, also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Spirit,²⁰⁶ who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He is in heaven²⁰⁷ and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone,²⁰⁸ and live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by one soul.²⁰⁹

77. Where has Christ promised that He will thus feed and nourish believers with His body and blood as certainly as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?

In the institution of the Supper, which says: “The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”²¹⁰

And this promise is also repeated by the apostle Paul, where he says, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, so we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.”²¹¹

LORD’S DAY 29

78. Do then the bread and the wine become the real body and blood of Christ?

No, but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, nor becomes the washing away of sins itself, being only the divine token and assurance thereof;²¹² so also in the Lord’s Supper the sacred bread²¹³ does not become the body of Christ itself, though agreeably to the nature and usage of sacraments it is called the body of Christ.²¹⁴

79. Why then does Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood, and the Apostle Paul, the “communion of the body and the blood of Christ”?

Christ speaks thus not without great cause, namely, not only to teach us thereby, that like as the bread and wine sustain this temporal life, so also His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink of our souls unto life eternal;²¹⁵ but much more, by this visible sign and pledge to assure us, that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood by the working of the Holy Spirit, as we receive by the mouth of the body these holy tokens in remembrance of Him;²¹⁶ and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly our own, as if we ourselves had suffered and done all in our own person.

LORD’S DAY 30

80. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the popish Mass?

The Lord’s Supper testifies to us, that we have full forgiveness of all our sins by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself once accomplished on the cross;²¹⁷ and that by the Holy Spirit we are ingrafted into Christ,²¹⁸ who, with His true body, is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father,²¹⁹ and is there to be worshipped.²²⁰ But the Mass teaches, that the living and the dead do not have forgiveness of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is still daily offered for them by the priests, and that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and is therefore to be worshipped in them. And thus the Mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ,²²¹ and an accursed idolatry.

81. Who are to come to the table of the Lord?

Those who are displeased with themselves for their sins, yet trust that these are forgiven them, and that their remaining infirmity is covered by the suffering and death of Christ; who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to amend their life. But the impenitent and hypocrites eat and drink judgment to themselves.²²²

82. Are they then also to be admitted to this Supper who show themselves by their confession and life to be unbelieving and ungodly?

No, for thereby the covenant of God is profaned and His wrath provoked against the whole congregation;²²³ wherefore the Christian church is bound, according to the order of Christ and His Apostles, to exclude such persons by the Office of the Keys until they amend their lives.

LORD’S DAY 31

83. What is the Office of the Keys?

The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline; by these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers.²²⁴

84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the Holy Gospel?

In this way: that, according to the command of Christ, it is proclaimed and openly witnessed to believers, one and all, that as often as they accept with true faith the promise of the gospel, all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ’s merits; and on the contrary, to all unbelievers and hypocrites, that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation abide on them so long as they are not converted.²²⁵ According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge men both in this life and in that which is to come.

85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?

In this way: that, according to the command of Christ, if any under the Christian name show themselves unsound either in doctrine or in life, and after several brotherly admonitions do not turn from their errors or evil ways, they are complained of to the church or to its proper officers; and, if they neglect to hear them also, are by them denied the holy sacraments and thereby excluded from the Christian communion, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and if they promise and show real amendment, they are again received as members of Christ and His Church.²²⁶

The Third Part – Of Thankfulness

LORD’S DAY 32

86. Since then we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image, that with our whole life we show ourselves thankful to God for His blessing,²²⁷ and also that He be glorified through us;²²⁸ then also, that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by the fruits thereof;²²⁹ and by our godly walk win also others to Christ.²³⁰

87. Can they then not be saved who do not turn to God from their unthankful, impenitent life?

By no means, for, as the Scripture says, no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like shall inherit the kingdom of God.²³¹

LORD’S DAY 33

88. In how many things does true repentance or conversion consist?

In two things: the dying of the old man,²³² and the making alive of the new.

89. What is the dying of the old man?

Heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more.²³³

90. What is the making alive of the new man?

Heartfelt joy in God through Christ,²³⁴ causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.²³⁵

91. What are good works?

Those only which proceed from true faith,²³⁶ and are done according to the law of God,²³⁷ unto His glory;²³⁸ and not such as rest on our own opinion²³⁹ or the commandments of men.²⁴⁰

LORD’S DAY 34

92. What is the Law of God?

God spoke all these words, saying:

I. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.

II. You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations of those who hate me; and showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

III. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

V. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

VI. You shall not murder.

VII. You shall not commit adultery.

VIII. You shall not steal.

IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

93. How are these commandments divided?

Into two tables:²⁴¹ the first of which teaches, in four commandments, what duties we owe to God; the second, in six, what duties we owe to our neighbor.²⁴²

94. What does God require in the first commandment?

That, on peril of my soul’s salvation, I avoid and flee all idolatry,²⁴³ sorcery, enchantments,²⁴⁴ invocation of saints or of other creatures;²⁴⁵ and that I rightly acknowledge the only true God,²⁴⁶ trust in Him alone,²⁴⁷ with all humility²⁴⁸ and patience²⁴⁹ expect all good from Him only,²⁵⁰ and love,²⁵¹ fear,²⁵² and honor²⁵³ Him with my whole heart; so as rather to renounce all creatures than to do the least thing against His will.²⁵⁴

95. What is idolatry?

Idolatry is to conceive or have something else in which to place our trust instead of, or besides, the one true God who has revealed Himself in His Word.²⁵⁵

LORD’S DAY 35

96. What does God require in the second commandment?

That we in no way make any image of God,²⁵⁶ nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded us in His Word.²⁵⁷

97. May we not make any image at all?

God may not and cannot be imaged in any way; as for creatures, though they may indeed be imaged, yet God forbids the making or keeping of any likeness of them, either to worship them or to serve God by them.²⁵⁸

98. But may not pictures be tolerated in churches as books for the people?

No, for we should not be wiser than God, who will not have His people taught by dumb idols,²⁵⁹ but by the lively preaching of His Word.²⁶⁰

LORD’S DAY 36

99. What is required in the third commandment?

That we must not by cursing,²⁶¹ or by false swearing,²⁶² nor yet by unnecessary oaths,²⁶³ profane or abuse the name of God; nor even by our silence and connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and in summary, that we use the holy name of God in no other way than with fear and reverence,²⁶⁴ so that He may be rightly confessed²⁶⁵ and worshipped²⁶⁶ by us, and be glorified in all our words and works.²⁶⁷

100. Is the profaning of God’s name, by swearing and cursing, so grievous a sin, that His wrath is kindled against those also who do not help as much as they can to hinder and forbid it?

Yes, truly,²⁶⁸ for no sin is greater and more provoking to God than the profaning of His name; wherefore He even commanded it to be punished with death.²⁶⁹

LORD’S DAY 37

101. But may we swear reverently by the Name of God?

Yes, when the magistrate requires it, or when it may be needful otherwise, to maintain and promote fidelity and truth to the glory of God and our neighbor’s good; for such an oath is grounded in God’s Word,²⁷⁰ and therefore was rightly used by the saints in the Old and New Testaments.²⁷¹

102. May we swear by “the saints” or by any other creatures?

No, for a lawful oath is a calling upon God, that He, as the only searcher of hearts, may bear witness to the truth, and punish me if I swear falsely;²⁷² which honor is due to no creature.²⁷³

LORD’S DAY 38

103. What does God require in the fourth commandment?

In the first place, God wills that the ministry of the gospel and schools be maintained,²⁷⁴ and that I, especially on the day of rest, diligently attend church,²⁷⁵ to learn the Word of God,²⁷⁶ to use the holy sacraments,²⁷⁷ to call publicly upon the Lord,²⁷⁸ and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian.²⁷⁹ In the second place, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, allow the Lord to work in me by His Spirit, and thus begin in this life the everlasting Sabbath.²⁸⁰

LORD’S DAY 39

104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?

That I show all honor, love and faithfulness to my father and mother,²⁸¹ and to all in authority over me;²⁸² submit myself with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction, and also bear patiently with their infirmities, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.²⁸³

LORD’S DAY 40

105. What does God require in the sixth commandment?

That I do not revile, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor either in thought, word, or gesture, much less in deed, whether by myself or by another,²⁸⁴ but lay aside all desire of revenge;²⁸⁵ moreover, that I do not harm myself, nor willfully run into any danger.²⁸⁶ Wherefore also to restrain murder the magistrate is armed with the sword.²⁸⁷

106. Does this commandment speak only of killing?

No, but in forbidding murder, God teaches us that He abhors its very root, namely: envy,²⁸⁸ hatred,²⁸⁹ anger,²⁹⁰ and desire of revenge; and that in His sight all these are hidden murder.²⁹¹

107. But is this all that is required, that we do not kill our neighbor?

No, for in condemning envy, hatred, and anger, God requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves,²⁹² to show patience, peace, meekness,²⁹³ mercy,²⁹⁴ and kindness²⁹⁵ toward him, and to prevent his hurt as much as possible;²⁹⁶ also, to do good even unto our enemies.²⁹⁷

LORD’S DAY 41

108. What does the seventh commandment teach us?

That all unchastity is accursed of God,²⁹⁸ and that we should therefore loathe it with our whole heart,²⁹⁹ and live chastely and modestly,³⁰⁰ whether in holy wedlock or in single life.³⁰¹

109. Does God forbid nothing more in this commandment than adultery and such gross sins?

Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Spirit, it is His will that we keep both pure and holy. Therefore, He forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words,³⁰² thoughts, desires,³⁰³ and whatever may entice thereto.³⁰⁴

LORD’S DAY 42

110. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?

God forbids not only such theft³⁰⁵ and robbery³⁰⁶ as are punished by the government, but God views as theft also all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we seek to get our neighbor’s goods, whether by force or by deceit,³⁰⁷ such as unjust weights,³⁰⁸ lengths, measures,³⁰⁹ goods, coins, usury,³¹⁰ or by any means forbidden of God; also all covetousness³¹¹ and the misuse and waste of His gifts.³¹²

111. But what does God require of you in this commandment?

That I further my neighbor’s good where I can and may, deal with him as I would have others deal with me,³¹³ and labor faithfully, so that I may be able to help the poor in their need.³¹⁴

LORD’S DAY 43

112. What does the ninth commandment require?

That I bear false witness against no one,³¹⁵ twist no one’s words,³¹⁶ be no backbiter or slanderer,³¹⁷ join in condemning no one unheard or rashly;³¹⁸ but that on pain of God’s heavy wrath, I avoid all lying and deceit³¹⁹ as the very works of the devil;³²⁰ and that in matters of judgment and justice and in all other affairs, I love, speak honestly, and confess the truth;³²¹ also, in so far as I can, defend and promote my neighbor’s good name.³²²

LORD’S DAY 44

113. What does the tenth commandment require?

That not even the least inclination or thought against any commandment of God ever enter our heart, but that with our whole heart we continually hate all sin and take pleasure in all righteousness.³²³

114. Can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?

No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience;³²⁴ yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the commandments of God.³²⁵

115. Why then does God so strictly enjoin the Ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them?

First, that as long as we live we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature,³²⁶ and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ;³²⁷ second, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life.³²⁸

OF PRAYER

LORD’S DAY 45

116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?

Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us,³²⁹ and because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who earnestly and without ceasing ask them of Him, and render thanks unto Him for them.³³⁰

117. What belongs to such prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear?

First, that with our whole heart³³¹ we call only upon the one true God, who has revealed Himself to us in His Word,³³² for all that He has commanded us to ask of Him;³³³ second, that we thoroughly know our need and misery,³³⁴ so as to humble ourselves in the presence of His divine Majesty;³³⁵ third, that we be firmly assured,³³⁶ that notwithstanding our unworthiness, He will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer,³³⁷ as He has promised us in His Word.³³⁸

118. What has God commanded us to ask Him?

All things necessary for soul and body,³³⁹ which Christ our Lord comprised in the prayer, which He Himself taught us.

119. What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.³⁴⁰

LORD’S DAY 46

120. Why did Christ command us to address God thus: “Our Father?”

To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer that childlike reverence for and trust in God, which are to be the ground of our prayer, namely, that God has become our Father through Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in faith than our parents refuse us earthly things.³⁴¹

121. Why is it added: “in heaven”?

That we might have no earthly thought of the heavenly majesty of God,³⁴² and from His almighty power expect all things necessary for body and soul.³⁴³

LORD’S DAY 47

122. What is the first petition?

“Hallowed be Your name,” that is, grant us first, rightly to know You,³⁴⁴ and to hallow, magnify, and praise You in all Your works, in which Your power, goodness, justice, mercy, and truth shine forth;³⁴⁵ and further, that we so order our whole life, our thoughts, words, and deeds, that Your name may not be blasphemed but honored and praised on our account.³⁴⁶

LORD’S DAY 48

123. What is the second petition?

“Your kingdom come,” that is, so govern us by Your Word and Spirit, that we submit ourselves to You always more and more;³⁴⁷ preserve and increase Your Church;³⁴⁸ destroy the works of the devil, every power that exalts itself against You, and all wicked devices formed against Your Holy Word,³⁴⁹ until the fullness of Your kingdom come,³⁵⁰ wherein You shall be all in all.³⁵¹

LORD’S DAY 49

124. What is the third petition?

“Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” that is, grant that we and all men renounce our own will,³⁵² and without disputing obey Your will which alone is good;³⁵³ that so every one may fulfill his office and calling as willingly and faithfully³⁵⁴ as the angels do in heaven.³⁵⁵

LORD’S DAY 50

125. What is the fourth petition?

“Give us this day our daily bread,” that is, be pleased to provide for all our bodily need,³⁵⁶ so that we may thereby acknowledge you to be the only fountain of all good,³⁵⁷ and that without Your blessing neither our care and labor, nor Your gifts can profit us;³⁵⁸ that we may therefore withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it alone in You alone.³⁵⁹

LORD’S DAY 51

126. What is the fifth petition?

“And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” that is, be pleased, for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us miserable sinners our manifold transgressions, nor the evil which always clings to us;³⁶⁰ as we also find this witness of Your grace in us, that it is our full purpose heartily to forgive our neighbor.³⁶¹

LORD’S DAY 52

127. What is the sixth petition?

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” that is, since we are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment,³⁶² and besides, our deadly enemies, the devil,³⁶³ the world,³⁶⁴ and our own flesh,³⁶⁵ assail us without ceasing, be pleased to preserve and strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may make firm stand against them and not be overcome in this spiritual warfare,³⁶⁶ until finally complete victory is ours.³⁶⁷

128. How do you close this prayer?

“For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever,” that is, all this we ask of You, because as our King, having power over all things, You are willing and able to give us all good;³⁶⁸ and that thereby not we, but Your holy name may be glorified for ever.³⁶⁹

129. What is the meaning of the word “Amen”?

“Amen” means: so shall it truly and surely be. For my prayer is much more certainly heard of God than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.³⁷⁰

Zacharias Ursinus & Caspar Olevianus, 1563

Background on the Three Forms of Unity