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The Heidelberg Catechism (32) (Explained for Children)

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The Heidelberg Catechism (32) (Explained for Children)

5 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

This Lord’s Day begins the part of the catechism regarding thankfulness. You will remember from Lord’s Day 1 that the catechism speaks first about misery, then about deliverance, and finally about thankfulness.

Question 86: Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

Answer: Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image; that so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude to God for His blessings, and that He may be praised by us; also, that every one may be assured in himself of his faith by the fruits thereof; and that by our godly conversation others may be gained to Christ.

God’s children are delivered from their misery. This was done by Christ. They have not merited it; it is grace alone. But now the question is asked why God’s children must still do good works. You will recall what good works are. Abraham was obedient to God, even when he had to offer Isaac. All God’s children want to do what the Lord wills them to do.

Why is this necessary? Must they do good works in order to be delivered and to be saved? No. Let us first hear what Christ has done. He has purchased His people with His blood. He has set them free, having delivered them from the power of the devil and from sin. But He does more. He gives the Holy Spirit in their heart. The Holy Spirit renews their hearts, and they receive new hearts. Our old hearts are evil and always want to do what we ourselves desire. A person with a new heart asks the question, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”

Do you hear how the person again desires to be obedient to the Lord? And why? It is because he loves the Lord. He wants to live before the Lord in thankfulness, for the Lord has given so many benefits. Is it not a great wonder if you may again be God’s child and that your sins are forgiven? Then you are glad to serve the Lord and give Him the honor. That is what comes forth out of a new heart. This is provided by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore God’s children do not do good works to be delivered, but they do so because they have been delivered. They do so out of thankfulness.

There is something more. How does the person know that he is a child of God? How does he know that he has that true faith? This can be seen by what comes forth from his heart, those things which we have just mentioned. Those things can come only from a new heart. They are the fruits of true faith.

It is like a tree. How do you know whether a tree is good? You can see this by the fruits. If it brings forth good fruit, the tree is good. Thus the fruits show us that the tree is good. Apples grow on an apple tree. That cannot be different. In the same way, the good fruits of faith show that true faith is in the heart. Good works come forth from a new heart. That cannot be any different than with the apple tree.

Finally, there is one thing more. Other people can often see those good works of a child of God, those good fruits of faith. Then it may be that they are jealous. They then say that those people, those children of God, are greatly blessed, and they then ask, “Lord, may I also be so blessed?” They begin to seek that blessing. They seek it with their heart. In this way the Holy Spirit can use these good works to convert others. We then say that by this others are gained for Christ.

Do you also feel that God’s people are greatly blessed? Seek this blessing for yourself.

Question 87: Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God?

Answer: By no means; for the Holy Scripture declares that no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or any such like, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

There are people who live wicked lives. They are never truly thankful, and they do not do good works. They do not turn to the Lord. They desire to continue loving and doing sin. The Bible says that no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or any such like, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

What kind of people are they? You will read this in the Lord’s Days which follow, when the Heidelberg Catechism speaks of the Ten Commandments. You must understand that such people can be saved, for the Bible tells us that the greatest sinner can still be saved, but then they must be converted from their sins. If we continue to love sin and continue in this way, we will not be saved.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 juni 2006

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

The Heidelberg Catechism (32) (Explained for Children)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 juni 2006

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's