---

From The Heidelberg Catechism:

 

2. How are you righteous before God?

 

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ;¹²

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,¹³
• and am still prone always to all evil;¹⁴

yet God, without any merit of mine,¹⁵ of mere grace,¹⁶

• grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,¹⁷ righteousness, and holiness of Christ,¹⁸
• as if I had never committed – nor had – any sin,
• and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;¹⁹

if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.²⁰