The Heidelberg Catechism

A. It is to be genuinely sorry for sin, to hate it more and more, and to run away from it.1

A. Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the coming-to-life of the new.1

A. By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like is going to inherit the kingdom of God.1 1 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-20; 1 John 3:14

A. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by his blood. But we do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God for all he has done for us,1 and so that he may be praised through us.2 And we do good so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,3 and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.4

A. According to the command of Christ: If anyone, though called a Christian, profess unchristian teachings or lives an unchristian life, if after repeated brotherly counsel, he refuses to abandon his errors and wickedness, and, if after being reported to the church, that is, to its officers, he fails to respond also to their admonition- such a one the officers exclude from the Christian fellowship by withholding the sacraments from him, and God himself excludes him from the kingdom of Christ.1 Such a person, when he promises and demonstrates genuine reform, is received again as a member of Christ and of his church.2

A. According to the command of Christ: The kingdom of heaven is opened by proclaiming and publicly declaring to each and every believer that, as often as he accepts the gospel promise in true faith, God, because of what Christ has done, truly forgives all his sins. The kingdom of heaven is closed, however, by proclaiming and publicly declaring to unbelievers and hypocrites that, as long as they do not repent, the anger of God and eternal condemnation rest on them. God”s judgment, both in this life and in the life to come, is based on this gospel testimony.1

A. The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline toward repentance. Both preaching and discipline open the kingdom of heaven to believers and close it to unbelievers.1

A. God has good reason for these words. He wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ wash away our sins just as water washes away dirt from our bodies.1 But more important, he wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that the washing away of our sins spiritually is as real as physical washing with water.2 1 1 Cor. 6:11; Rev. 1:5; 7:14

A. No, only Jesus Christ”s blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins.1

A. No, that would dishonor God”s covenant and bring down God”s anger upon the entire congregation.1 Therefore, according to the instruction of Christ and his apostles, the Christian church is duty-bound to exclude such people, by the official use of the keys of the kingdom, until they reform their lives. 1 1 Cor. 11:17-32; Ps. 50:14-16; Isa. 1:11-17