(Heidelberg Catechism, extended... part 4)
Of God The Son
11. Lord's Day
Q. 29.
Why is the Son of God called "Jesus", that is a Saviour?
A.
Because he saveth us,
and delivereth us from our sins; (a)
and likewise, because we ought not to seek,
neither can find salvation in any other. (b)
(a)
Matt.1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Heb.7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood.
Heb.7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them.
(b)
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye
can do nothing.
1 Tim.2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;
Isa.43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son.
Q. 30.
Do such then believe in Jesus the only Saviour,
who seek their salvation and welfare
of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?
A.
They do not;
for though they boast of him in words,
yet in deeds they deny
Jesus the only deliverer and Saviour; (a)
for one of these two things must be true,
that either Jesus is not a complete Saviour;
or that they, who by a true faith receive this Saviour,
must find all things in him
necessary to their salvation. (b)
(a)
1 Cor.1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Cor.1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor.1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him
glory in the Lord.
Gal.5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
(b)
Heb.12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Isa.9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
Col.1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness
dwell;
Col.1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him
to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col.2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for
grace.
12. Lord's Day
Q. 31.
Why is he called "Christ", that is anointed?
A.
Because he is ordained of God the Father,
and anointed with the Holy Ghost, (a)
to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, (b)
who has fully revealed to us
the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; (c)
and to be our only High Priest, (d)
who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, (e)
and makes continual intercession
with the Father for us; (f)
and also to be our eternal King,
who governs us by his word and Spirit,
and who defends and preserves us in that salvation,
he has purchased for us. (g)
(a)
Ps.45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of
the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
Heb.1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore
God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above
thy fellows.
Isa.61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
(b)
Deut.18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the
midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall
hearken;
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the
Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him
shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel,
A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Isa.55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a
leader and commander to the people.
(c)
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth
not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things
that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
(d)
Ps.110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest
for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
(e)
Heb.10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins
for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb.10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
Heb.9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
Heb.9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb.9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.
(f)
Rom.8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us.
Heb.9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now
to appear in the presence of God for us:
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous:
Rom.5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through him.
Rom.5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life.
(g)
Ps.2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Zech.9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having
salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of
an ass.
Matt.21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto
thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of
his kingdom there shall be no end.
Matt.28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Rev.12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of
his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which
accused them before our God day and night.
Rev.12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death.
Q. 32.
But why art thou called a Christian? (a)
A.
Because I am a member of Christ by faith, (b)
and thus am partaker of his anointing; (c)
that so I may confess his name, (d)
and present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him: (e)
and also that with a free and good conscience
I may fight against sin and Satan in this life (f)
and afterwards I reign with him eternally, over all creatures. (g)
(a)
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And
it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the
church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.
(b)
1 Cor.6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?
shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of
an harlot? God forbid.
(c)
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in
you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I
will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams:
(d)
Matt.10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Rom.10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of
man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the
holy angels.
(e)
Rom.12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
1 Pet.2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to
God by Jesus Christ.
1 Pet.2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Rev.5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them
harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of
saints.
Rev.5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall
reign on the earth.
Rev.1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to
him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(f)
1 Pet.2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Rom.6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom.6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God.
Gal.5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh.
Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Eph.6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
1 Tim.1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to
the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest
war a good warfare;
1 Tim.1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put
away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
(g)
2 Tim.2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him,
he also will deny us:
Matt.24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till
all these things be fulfilled.
13. Lord's Day
Q. 33.
Why is Christ called the "only begotten Son" of God,
since we are also the children of God?
A.
Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; (a)
but we are children adopted of God,
by grace, for his sake. (b)
(a)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Heb.1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb.1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because
that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him.
Rom.8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
(b)
Rom.8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
Rom.8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God:
Rom.8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Gal.4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Eph.1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph.1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved.
Q. 34.
Wherefore callest thou him "our Lord"?
A.
Because he hath redeemed us,
both soul and body,
from all our sins,
not with silver or gold,
but with his precious blood,
and has delivered us from all the power of the devil;
and thus has made us his own property. (a)
(a)
1 Pet.1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet.1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
1 Pet.2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Cor.6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Cor.7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1 Tim.2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
14. Lord's Day
Q. 35.
What is the meaning of these words
"He was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary"?
A.
That God's eternal Son,
who is,
and continues (a)
true and eternal God, (b)
took upon him the very nature of man,
of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, (c)
by the operation of the Holy Ghost; (d)
that he might also be the true seed of David, (e)
like unto his brethren in all things, (f)
sin excepted. (g)
(a)
Rom.1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the
spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Rom.9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh
Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
(b)
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us
an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Rom.1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of
the seed of David according to the flesh;
Col.1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature:
(c)
Gal.4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his
Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring
forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
(d)
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
Matt.1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his
mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matt.1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of
David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall
be called the Son of God.
(e)
Ps.132:11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn
from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Rom.1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of
the seed of David according to the flesh;
2 Sam.7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with
thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed
out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the
Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David:
Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
(f)
Philip.2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Heb.2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil;
Heb.2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people.
(g)
Heb.4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as
we are, yet without sin.
Q. 36.
What profit dost thou receive
by Christ's holy conception and nativity?
A.
That he is our Mediator; (a)
and with His innocence and perfect holiness,
covers in the sight of God,
my sins,
wherein I was conceived and brought forth. (b)
(a)
Heb.7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb.7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up
sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this
he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb.2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people.
(b)
1 Pet.1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet.1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
1 Pet.3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for
the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Cor.1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor.1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him
glory in the Lord.
Rom.8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom.8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Isa.53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their iniquities.
Ps.32:1 <> Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
15. Lord's Day
Q. 37.
What dost thou understand by the words, "He suffered"?
A.
That he, all the time that he lived on earth,
but especially at the end of his life,
sustained in body and soul,
the wrath of God
against the sins of all mankind: (a)
that so by his passion,
as the only propitiatory sacrifice, (b)
he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, (c)
and obtain for us the favour of God,
righteousness and eternal life. (d)
(a)
Isa.53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet
we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
1 Pet.2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
1 Pet.3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for
the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Tim.2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time.
(b)
Isa.53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see
his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD
shall prosper in his hand.
Isa.53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his
soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he
bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Eph.5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given
himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.
1 Cor.5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed
for us:
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Rom.3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God;
Heb.9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.
Heb.10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
(c)
Gal.3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on
a tree:
Col.1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Heb.9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
1 Pet.1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet.1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
(d)
Rom.3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God;
2 Cor.5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any
man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I
will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Heb.9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,
that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that
were under the first testament, they which are called might receive
the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb.10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(continued in part 5...)
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