The Heidelberg Catechism in Questions and Answers (16)

Lord's Day 22

57. What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee?

That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ.

1. What does the catechism say regarding the soul after death?

It states that the soul of God's people shall immediately be taken up to Christ its Head.

2. What is it that is clearly confessed here?

That the soul is immortal.

3. What is expressed by the word “immediately”?

That there is no purgatory. “To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.”

4. To what do the words, “also, that this my body,” refer? That the same body which dies is raised again.

5. By what means will the resurrection of the body take place?

By the power of Christ.

6. What will the situation of the bodies of the ungodly be?

They shall arise to an eternal horror.

7. What about those of the righteous?

They shall be conformed to the glorious image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

58. What comfort takest thou from the article of “life everlasting”?

That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I shall inherit perfect salvation, which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man” to conceive, and that, to praise God therein for ever.

1. When does eternal life begin? At the time of regeneration, when the dead sinner is made alive.

2. In what way is eternal life already experienced here? By the feeling of the beginning of eternal joy in the heart.

3. Of what is this beginning of eternal joy a pledge?

It is a pledge of the perfect salvation which shall be received after this life.

4. What does the catechism say of the perfect salvation? That it is a salvation which no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and which has never entered into the heart of man to conceive.

5. For what purpose is this all granted?

In order to thank and praise God there forever.

Lord's Day 23

59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this?

That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life.

1. For what is the catechism asking here?

It asks for the fruit of saving faith.

2. What is that fruit?

It is that I am righteous before God in Christ and an heir of eternal life.

3. What does God's Word mean by the expression, “being declared righteous” [or justified]?

It signifies acquittal and is the opposite of condemnation.

4. How was man created?

He was created in the image of God, which consisted in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.

5. What did man become because of the fall?

He became guilty before God, because in Adam he transgressed.

6. What benefits do God's people receive in Christ?

They receive acquittal from guilt and punishment and a right to eternal life.

60. How art thou righteous before God?

Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin; yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me, inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.

1. Who justifies the sinner? God the Father, as Judge.

2. Who is he that is justified? An ungodly sinner, who deserves eternal death and is still inclined to all evil.

3. How does he become justified?

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