Heidelberg Catechism A summary

What is your only comfort in life and death? A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Sin and Misery God’s law requires us to love and obey God. God created us good – in his image to love and enjoy a relationship with him. Mankind rebelled against God and rejected him as king. All men and women as a result are poisoned and sinful by nature – mankind now inclined to hate God and his neighbour. God will not allow sin to go unpunished – the punishment for sin is eternal death. God’s justice demands that all sin must be punished – sin cannot simply be forgiven. Deliverance The punishment our sins deserve must be paid either by us or by someone else. Only someone who is fully human and fully God can stand in our place. Jesus Christ is this mediator – by faith in his redeeming work, we can be delivered from the punishment we deserve if we believe all that is promised in the gospel: God the Father Almighty – the Architects of Creation, redemption and consummation. God the Son – the accomplisher of God’s redemption plan. God the Spirit – the helper who brings God’s work to completion. Sacraments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper – signs and seals of God’s promises. Gratitude Having been delivered by God from our sin – we do good works in response. All those who have genuinely repented and believe will do good works. The Ten Commandments as a summary of God’s will for my life – to be obeyed in gratitude. A life prayer with certain access to God knowing God hears our prayers and seeking to glorify God with our requests and life.

Sin and Misery God’s law requires us to love and obey God. God created us good – in his image to love and enjoy a relationship with him. Mankind rebelled against God and rejected him as king. All men and women as a result are poisoned and sinful by nature – mankind now inclined to hate God and his neighbour. God will not allow sin to go unpunished – the punishment for sin is eternal death. God’s justice demands that all sin must be punished – sin cannot simply be forgiven. Deliverance The punishment our sins deserve must be paid either by us or by someone else. Only someone who is fully human and fully God can stand in our place. Jesus Christ is this mediator – by faith in his redeeming work, we can be delivered from the punishment we deserve if we believe all that is promised in the gospel: God the Father Almighty – the Architects of Creation, redemption and consummation. God the Son – the accomplisher of God’s redemption plan. God the Spirit – the helper who brings God’s work to completion. Sacraments of Baptism and Lord’s Supper – signs and seals of God’s promises. Gratitude Having been delivered by God from our sin – we do good works in response. All those who have genuinely repented and believe will do good works. The Ten Commandments as a summary of God’s will for my life – to be obeyed in gratitude. A life prayer with certain access to God knowing God hears our prayers and seeking to glorify God with our requests and life. TOTAL DEPRAVITY UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION LIMITED ATONEMENT IRRESISTIBLE GRACE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

TULIP T – Total Depravity U – Unconditional Election L – Limited Atonement I – Irresistible Grace P – Perseverance of the Saints

Salvation is of the LORD God’s great and first design, in and by the gospel, is eternally to glorify himself, his wisdom, his goodness, his love, his grace, his righteousness and his holiness by Jesus Christ. Christianity is not about ‘me’ it’s about God. God alone is the author of salvation.

Modern day gospel tells us: ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Follow these steps and you can be saved’. Man takes central place in salvation. Biblical gospel tells us: ‘You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin and rebellion, you do not even realise you need life much less can you make yourself alive. You are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you can never do’. Salvation is of the LORD.

Exodus 33:19 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Salvation is of the LORD.

Daniel 4:34-35 I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” Salvation is of the LORD

God ordained for his own glory and the display of his attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation – and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation. (Calvin – Institutes – Book 3 – Chapter 23)

Salvation is of the LORD

Revelation 5 See a Lamb in heaven standing! See him there as though once slain! From the throne he reigns triumphant, Where the elders form his train, Where the living creatures gather Round the Lamb whose horns and eyes Are God’s Spirit in his fullness, Sent where earth’s far limit lies.

Revelation 5 Then the scroll by God is given To the Lamb, while all around Creatures and the elders worship, Bowing low towards the ground, Raising high their bowls of incense, Fragrant with believers’ prayers, Sounding forth their harps’ sweet music, As their new song fills the air.

Revelation 5 “You O Lord alone are worthy To unfasten seals and scroll By your death your blood has purchased Men for God and made them whole, From all nations, tongues and peoples; You have made them priests for God, Called to be his faithful servants, Kings through all the earth abroad.”

Revelation 5 See! The heavenly choir is singing, Thousands and ten thousands strong, Angel round the throne where elders And the living creatures throng. Loud their voices sing together: “Worthy is the Lamb once slain To receive wealth, power and glory, Wisdom, honour strength and fame.”

Revelation 5 Listen now as all the creatures Who to heaven and earth belong, In the depths and on the waters, Join in one harmonious song: “Praise and honour, power and glory, Be to God enthroned as King. To the Lamb be praise forever.” “Amen”, let the creatures sing!

Salvation is of the LORD Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Know that the Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.