The Heidelberg Catechism in Questions and Answers (17)

Lord's Day 24

62. But why cannot our good /works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?

Because that the righteousness, which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects conformable to the divine law; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.

1. What does the catechism teach us in this Lord's Day?

That our good works are not meritorious before God.

2. What are good works?

They are works which proceed from a true faith and are performed according to the law of God and to His glory.

3. Who are those that maintain that good works are meritorious?

Pelagians, Roman Catholics, and Modernists.

4. Why cannot good works have any merit?

Because the righteousness which has value before God must be absolutely perfect before God, and the best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.

63. What! Do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?

This reward is not of merit, but of grace. 1. What argument is used to defend the claim that good works do have merit?

It is that God's Word often speaks of rewards; for example, see Genesis 15:1 and Matthew 6:1.

2. How must this then be understood?

It must not be understood as a reward because of merit, but as a reward of grace.

3. Why can no mention ever be made of reward because of merit?

It is because man is obliged to obey God perfectly, and an obligation does not merit.

4. What must then be said of this?

It must be said that the Lord by free grace rewards good works in this and in a future life.

64. But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?

By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.

1. By whom is this doctrine of justification by faith misused?

By Antinomians, or those who oppose the preaching of the law.

2. What do they maintain?

They say, “Let us sin that grace may abound.”

3. What is the accusation which is presented?

That the doctrine of justification by faith only makes men careless and profane.

4. How is this accusation refuted?

By the fact that it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by a true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.

5. What does God's Word say regarding this?

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

Lord's Day 25

65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?

From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacrament.

1. What is asked here?

It asks who works saving faith.

2. Can we ourselves, our parents, or another person work this faith?

No, for faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

3. Who then works this faith?

The Holy Ghost. “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

4. By what means does the Holy Ghost work this faith in the heart?

By the preaching of the gospel.

5. What is here meant by the gospel?

The entire Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

6. Does the Holy Ghost only work faith?

No, He also strengthens faith by the Word and the use of the sacraments.

66. What are the sacraments?

The sacraments are holy visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, namely, that He grants us freely the remission of sin and life eternal for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.

1. What are sacraments?

Signs and seals of God's grace.

2. What does the answer tell us regarding the sacraments?

That they are holy, visible, and appointed of God.

3. Why did the Lord give the sacraments to His church?

That by the use of them the promise of the gospel might be more fully declared and sealed.

4. In what does the promise of the gospel consist?

That He, for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross, freely grants the remission of sin and life eternal.

67. Are both Word and sacraments, then, ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?

Yes, indeed, for the Holy Ghost teaches us in the gospel, and assures us by the sacraments, that the whole of our salvation depends upon that one sacrifice of Christ which He offered for us on the cross.

1. Mention certain things in which Word and sacraments are distinguished.

a. The Word is audible; the sacraments are visible;

b. The Word works and strengthens faith; the sacraments only strengthen it;

c. The Word is indispensable for salvation; the sacraments are not.

2. In what aspects are they similar?

Both are given by God, both direct us to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation.

3. May the Word and the sacraments be separated from each other?

No, for the Holy Ghost teaches by the Word and assures by the sacraments.

68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?

Two, namely, holy baptism and the holy supper.

1. What are the sacraments of the Old Testament?

Circumcision and the Passover.

2. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

Holy baptism and the holy supper.

3. When was the holy supper instituted?

In the night when Jesus was betrayed.

4. When was holy baptism instituted?

Shortly before Christ's ascension: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).

5. What is the similarity of the sacraments of the Old and New Testaments?

They both direct to the one sacrifice of Christ.

6. What distinction is there between them?

Those of the Old Testament were bloody, and those of the New Testament were not.

— to be continued —

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