Heidelberg Catechism

A Commentary On The Heidelberg Catechism

Heidelberg 64: Sanctification By Grace Versus Sanctification By Scolding (1)

by on May 9, 2015 | 2 Comments

Usually, if a boss wants greater efficiency and productivity from her employees, she sets up a system of incentives for her employees. If the boss is of the ordinary, uncreative sort, those incentives are likely to be negative. Fail to meet this goal and x (e.g., loss of pay, demotion etc) shall happen. A more creative boss might set up a series of positive incentives: meet this target and you shall receive y reward (e.g., extra paid vacation, flexible scheduling, company car etc). Whatever the nature of the incentive, the very structure is a covenant of works. Continue reading →

Heidelberg 63: Rewards Merited For Us By Christ And Given Freely To Believers

by on May 8, 2015 | 4 Comments

When the medieval church thought about rewards, it thought about merit. They distinguished between two kinds or aspects of merit. That which we most frequently discuss was called “condign merit” (meritum de condigno). Condign merit is intrinsically worthy. The second category was “congruent . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (3)

by on May 7, 2015

Neither Holy Baptism nor the Holy Supper create the realities they signify and seal but they are gospel sacraments. They are promises of good news to believers. Faith receives what they promise. Faith knows, assents, and trusts and receives all that they promise. The sacraments do not replace faith. They supplement faith. They confirm faith the way a registered letter embossed or stamped with a government seal confirms a declaration. Continue reading →

Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (2)

by on May 6, 2015 | 2 Comments

65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence comes this faith? The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, and confirms it by the use of the . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (1)

by on May 5, 2015 | 1 Comment

65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence comes this faith? The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the Holy Gospel, and confirms it by the use of the . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 62: Works No Part Of Our Justification

by on April 23, 2015 | 8 Comments

Because the popular rhetoric in evangelical and even in confessional Protestant circles has frequently been that the medieval (or the Roman communion) taught justification by works and the Reformers taught justification by grace well-meaning but misguided Christians sometimes conclude that so long . . . Continue reading →

Why Is Sola Fide So Important?

by on April 16, 2015 | 1 Comment

The primary purpose of the Heidelblog is to explain the Heidelberg Catechism (1563). The catechism was written primarily by Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83) at the behest of the Elector Palatinate, Frederick III (1515–76). It was adopted by the German Reformed Church and by . . . Continue reading →

Muddying The Distinction Between Justification And Salvation (2)

by on April 15, 2015

…although they make their boast of Him, yet in deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus, 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. Continue reading →

Heidelberg 60: Only By True Faith (4)

by on April 3, 2015

“Yet God without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me…” Continue reading →

Heidelberg Catechism: Only By True Faith (2)

by on March 14, 2015

60. How are you righteous before God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, although my conscience accuse me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them, and am still prone always . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 60: Only By True Faith

by on March 11, 2015 | 2 Comments

60. How are you righteous before God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, although my conscience accuse me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them, and am still . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 59: What Good Is Faith?

by on March 2, 2015 | 7 Comments

One of the more disturbing aspects of the reaction to antinomianism in recent years, whether that antinomianism is real or perceived does not matter for the purposes of this discussion, is how quickly some have been willing to write, speak, and act . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 57: The Comfort Of Resurrection And Glorification

by on February 5, 2015

The European Enlightenment(s) posed as world-expanding, mind-expanding movements. They promised to free us from the shackles of a benighted, narrow view of the world. Ironically, however, the Enlightenments did just the opposite. Whether through rationalism (what the human intellect cannot comprehend cannot . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 56: In The Church: The Forgiveness Of Sins

by on January 30, 2015 | 5 Comments

There are few things more difficult than forgiving when one has been wronged. First, when a wrong has been done, quite apart from its effect for us (and its affect in us), justice itself has been violated. Second, to be wronged is . . . Continue reading →

On Profession Of Faith And Communion

by on January 29, 2015 | 54 Comments

James writes to ask about when children should make profession of faith and receive communion. He has observed young children being admitted to the table and wonders whether that is proper, whether children are really professing faith or merely parroting what they . . . Continue reading →