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Heidelberg Catechism
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This catechism is fully based on the scriptures. The references to scripture are indicated in parentheses with a letter. For example, the letter (a) points to the texts placed after the answer, also indicated with the letter (a).
Part 1 - Of the Misery of Man
3. Whence do you know your misery?
Out of the law of God. (a)
(a) Rom.3:20.
4. What does the law of God require of us?
Christ teaches us that briefly, Matt. 22:37-40, “You shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, You shalt love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (a)
a) Deut.6:5; Lev.19:18; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27.
5. Can you keep all these things perfectly?
In no wise; (a) for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbor.(b)
(a) Rom.3:10,20,23; 1 John 1:8,10. (b) Rom.8:7; Eph.2:3; Tit.3:3; Gen.6:5; Gen.8:21; Jer.17:9; Rom.7:23.
6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
By no means; but God created man good, (a) and after his own image, (b) in true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love him and live with him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise him. (c)
(a) Gen.1:31. (b) Gen.1:26,27. (c) Col.3:9,10; Eph.4:23,24; 2 Cor.3:18.
7. Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?
From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in paradise; (a) hence our nature is become so corrupt, that we are all conceived and born in sin. (b)
(a) Gen.3; Rom.5:12,18,19. (b) Ps.51:5; Gen.5:3.
8. Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?
Indeed we are; (a) except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. (b)
(a) Gen.8:21; John 3:6; Gen.6:5; Job 14:4; Job 15:14,16,36; Is.53:6. (b) John 3:3,5; 1 Cor.12:3; 2 Cor.3:5.
9. Does not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law, that which he cannot perform?
Not at all; (a) for God made man capable of performing it; but man, by the instigation of the devil, (b) and his own wilful disobedience, (c) deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.
(a) Eph.4:24; Ecc.7:29. (b) John 8:44; 2 Cor.11:3; Gen.3:4. (c) Gen.3:6; Rom.5:12; Gen.3:13; 1 Tim.2:13,14.
10. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
By no means; but is terribly displeased (a) with our original as well as actual sins; and will punish them in his just judgment temporally and eternally, (b) as he has declared, “Cursed is every one that continues not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” (c)
(a) Gen.2:17; Rom.5:12. (b) Ps.5:5; Ps.50:21; Nahum.1:2; Ex.20:5; Ex.34:7; Rom.1:18; Eph.5:6; Heb.9:27. (c) Deut.27:26; Gal.3:10.
11. Is not God then also merciful?
God is indeed merciful, (a) but He is also just; (b) therefore His justice requires, that sin which is committed against the most high majesty of God, be also punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul.
(a) Ex.34:6,7; Ex.20:6. (b) Ps.7:9; Ex.20:5; Ex.23:7; Ex.34:7; Ps.5:5,6; Nahum.1:2,3.
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