The Heidelberg Catechism

A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their deeds they deny the only savior and deliverer, Jesus.1 Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation.2 1 1 Cor. 1:12-13; Gal. 5:4

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit1 to be our chief prophet and teacher2 who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance;3 our only high priest4 who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body,5 and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;6 and our eternal king7 who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.8

A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ1 and so I share in his anointing.2 I am anointed to confess his name,3 to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,4 to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil in this life,5 and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity.6 1 1 Cor. 12:12-27

A. Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God.1 We, however, are adopted children of God- adopted by grace through Christ.2 1 1 John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Heb. 1

A. Because- not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood-1 he has set us free from sin and from the tyranny of the devil,2 and has bought us, body and soul, to be his very own.3 1 1 Pet. 1:18-19

A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God,1 took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit,2 from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,3 a truly human nature so that he might become David”s true descendant,4 in all things like us his brothers5 except for sin.6

A. So that, by the power of his divinity, he might bear the weight of God”s anger in his humanity and earn for us and restore to us righteousness and life.1

A. I believe in God, the Father, almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; I believe a holy catholic church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

A. Everything God promises us in the gospel.1 That gospel is summarized for us in the articles of our Christian faith- a creed beyond doubt, and confessed throughout the world.

A. True faith is not only a knowledge and conviction that everything God reveals in his Word is true;1 it is also a deep-rooted assurance,2 created in me by the Holy Spirit3 through the gospel,4 that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,5 not only others, but I too,6 have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with God, and have been granted salvation.7