The first job of the HB is to call attention to the Heidelberg Catechism, an outstanding Reformed catechism published in 1563 in the Palatinate, the capital of which was Heidelberg. Composed of 129 questions and answers about the Christian faith beginning with “my only comfort in life and in death” and concluding with “what is the meaning of the word ‘Amen’?” In between the Reformed churches confess and explain the nature of sin, grace, and gratitude by explaining the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. The Heidelberg Catechism is beloved by millions and has been translated into many different languages. Its appeal is so universal that it was once reprinted and distributed by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. So, it was great fun to talk with the Regular Reformed Guys about the catechism, about the gospel, and about some of the challenges to the gospel faced by the Reformed and the evangelical churches at the moment.
Here is the episode on the RRG site.
RESOURCES
The HB Library on the Heidelberg Catechism
It is very interesting that the Reformed Baptist interviewer seemed to agree with the Reformed theology of the Heidelberg Catechism, except on baptism! Many Baptists seem to have a cut and paste approach to Reformed theology. I suspect that is because they do not understand how the bloody new covenant sign of infant initiation was central to the ratification of the new covenant of grace with Abraham, and changed to water baptism with its fulfilment by that bloody Sacrifice that once and for all accomplished all righteousness for us, as God covenanted with Abraham when God alone walked through the pieces, and that Christ’s Sacrificial life and death inaugurated the progressive fulfilment of the new covenant, by making good the promise to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, all those who believe as Abraham.