The Heidelberg Catechism

A. No. Only those are saved who by true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his blessings.1

A. The holy gospel tells me. God himself began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise;1 later, he proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs2 and prophets,3 and portrayed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;4 finally, he fulfilled it through his own dear Son.5

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ,1 who was given us to set us completely free and to make us right with God.2

A. God”s justice demands it: man has sinned, man must pay for his sin,1 but a sinner can not pay for others.2

A. He must be truly human1 and truly righteous,2 yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, he must also be true God.3

A. No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for man”s guilt.1 Besides, no mere creature can bear the weight of God”s eternal anger against sin and release others from it.2

A. God requires that his justice be satisfied.1 Therefore the claims of his justice must be paid in full, either by ourselves or by another.2

A. Certainly not. Actually, we increase our guilt every day.1

A. God is certainly merciful,1 but he is also just.2 His justice demands that sin, committed against his supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty- eternal punishment of body and soul.3

A. Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity.1 He has declared: “Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.”2