(Heidelberg Catechism, extended... part 9)
31. Lord's Day
Q. 83.
What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
A.
The preaching of the holy gospel,
and christian discipline,
or excommunication out of the christian church;
by these two,
the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers,
and shut against unbelievers.
Q. 84.
How is the kingdom of heaven
opened and shut
by the preaching of the holy gospel?
A.
Thus: when
according to the command of Christ,
it is declared and publicly testified
to all and every believer,
that,
whenever they receive the promise of the gospel
by a true faith,
all their sins are really forgiven them of God,
for the sake of Christ's merits;
and on the contrary,
when it is declared and testified
to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent,
that they stand exposed to the wrath of God,
and eternal condemnation,
so long as they are unconverted: (a)
according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them,
both in this, and in the life to come.
(a)
Matt.16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
Matt.16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.
Matt.18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee,
thou hast gained thy brother.
Matt.18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or
two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may
be established.
Matt.18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as
an heathen man and a publican.
Matt.18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven.
Matt.18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on
earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for
them of my Father which is in heaven.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my
Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith
unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them;
and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Q. 85.
How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened
by christian discipline?
A.
Thus: when
according to the command of Christ,
those, who under the name of christians,
maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith,
and will not,
after having been often brotherly admonished,
renounce their errors and wicked course of life,
are complained of to the church,
or to those,
who are thereunto appointed by the church;
and if they despise their admonition,
are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;
whereby they are excluded from the christian church,
and by God himself from the kingdom of Christ;
and when they promise and show real amendment,
are again received as members of Christ and his church. (a)
(a)
Matt.18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee,
thou hast gained thy brother.
Matt.18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or
two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may
be established.
Matt.18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as
an heathen man and a publican.
Matt.18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven.
1 Cor.5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1 Cor.5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so
done this deed,
1 Cor.5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered
together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Cor.5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Cor.5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any
man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an
idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an
one no not to eat.
2 Thess.3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note
that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Thess.3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother.
2 Cor.2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was
inflicted of many.
2 Cor.2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with
overmuch sorrow.
2 Cor.2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love
toward him.
The Third Part - Of Thankfulness
32. Lord's Day
Q. 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?
A.
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, (a)
and that he may be praised by us; (b)
also,
that every one may be assured in himself of his faith, (c)
by the fruits thereof;
and that, by our godly conversation
others may be gained to Christ. (d)
(a)
Rom.6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God.
Rom.12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom.12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Pet.2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to
God by Jesus Christ.
1 Pet.2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Pet.2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy.
1 Cor.6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
(b)
Matt.5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1 Pet.2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Pet.1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1 Pet.1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
(c)
2 Pet.1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall:
Matt.7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Gal.5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing,
nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal.5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(d)
1 Pet.3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won
by the conversation of the wives;
1 Pet.3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with
fear.
Rom.14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Q. 87.
Cannot they then be saved, who,
continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives,
are not converted to God?
A.
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. (a)
(a)
1 Cor.6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind,
1 Cor.6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph.5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and of God.
Eph.5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because
we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
33. Lord's Day
Q. 88.
Of how many parts
does the true conversion of man consist?
A.
Of two parts;
of the mortification of the old,
and the quickening of the new man. (a)
(a)
Rom.6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace
may abound?
Rom.6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom.6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom.6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.
Eph.4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old
man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph.4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph.4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
Col.3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col.3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children
of disobedience:
Col.3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col.3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col.3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old
man with his deeds;
Col.3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him:
1 Cor.5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed
for us:
2 Cor.7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Q. 89.
What is the mortification of the old man?
A.
It is a sincere sorrow of heart,
that we have provoked God by our sins;
and more and more to hate and flee from them. (a)
(a)
Rom.8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye
through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto
the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Hos.6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and
he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Q. 90.
What is the quickening of the new man?
A.
It is a sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ, (a)
and with love and delight
to live according to the will of God
in all good works. (b)
(a)
Rom.5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom.14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Isa.57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with
him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit
of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(b)
Rom.6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he
liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom.6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal.2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
Q. 91.
But what are good works?
A.
Only those which proceed from a true faith, (a)
are performed according to the law of God, (b)
and to his glory; (c)
and not such as are founded on our imaginations,
or the institutions of men. (d)
(a)
Rom.14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth
not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
(b)
Lev.18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk
therein: I am the LORD your God.
1 Sam.15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold,
to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Eph.2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(c)
1 Cor.10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.
(d)
Deut.12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou
shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Ezek.20:18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye
not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments,
nor defile yourselves with their idols:
Ezek.20:19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my
judgments, and do them;
Isa.29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near
me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have
removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by
the precept of men:
Matt.15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Matt.15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matt.15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.
34. Lord's Day
Q. 92.
What is the law of God?
A.
God spake all these words,
Exodus 20:1-17 and Denteronomy 5:6-21, saying:
I am the LORD thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.
1st commandment:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2nd commandment:
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness
of any thing that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them;
for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,
and keep my commandments.
3rd commandment:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain.
4th commandment:
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:
in it thou shalt not do any work,
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,
thy manservant, nor thy maidservant,
nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day,
and hallowed it.
5th commandment:
Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6th commandment:
Thou shalt not kill.
7th commandment:
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8th commandment:
Thou shalt not steal.
9th commandment:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10th commandment:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife,
nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Q. 93.
How are these commandments divided?
A.
Into two tables; (a)
the first of which teaches us how we must behave towards God;
the second, what duties we owe to our neighbour. (b)
(a)
Exod.34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights;
he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the
tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Deut.4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded
you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two
tables of stone.
Deut.10:3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of
stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two
tables in mine hand.
Deut.10:4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing,
the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out
of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave
them unto me.
(b)
Matt.22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matt.22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Matt.22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.
Matt.22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets.
(continued in part 10...)
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