All Articles For Believing and Confessing

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 12 Question 31. Why is He called Christ, that is, anointed? Answer. Because He is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of His body has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. Previous article in this series: January 1, 2009, p. 151. Lord’s Day 2 Q 3. Whence knowest thou thy misery?  A. Out of the law of God. Q 4. What doth the law of God require of us?  A. Christ teaches us that briefly, Matthew 22:37-40 , “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, Thou...

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10 Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God? Answer. The almighty and everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand. Question 28. What advantage is it to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things? Answer. That we may...

Previos article in this series: June 2010, p. 398. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 6 Question 16. Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous? Answer. Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others. Question 17. Why must He in one person be also very God? Answer. That He might, by the power of His Godhead, sustain in His human nature the burden of God’s wrath; and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and...

Previous article in this series: January 15, 2010, p. 180. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 5 Question 12. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor? Answer. God will have His justice satisfied: and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another. Question 13. Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction? Answer. By no means; but on the contrary we daily increase our debt. Question 14. Can there be found anywhere one who...

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2011, p. 152. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 9  Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”? Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me...

Previous article in this series: November 15, 2010, p. 92. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 8  Question 24. How are these articles divided?  Answer. Into three parts: the first is of God the Father and our creation; the second of God the Son and our redemption; the third of God the Holy Ghost and our sanctification.  Question 25. Since there is but one only divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?  Answer. Because God hath so revealed Himself in His Word, that these three distinct persons are the one only true and eternal God. A Foundational Truth...

Previous article in this series: August 2010, p. 451. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 7 Question 20. Are all men then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ? Answer. No, only those who are ingrafted into Him, and receive all His benefits, by a true faith. Question 21. What is true faith? Answer. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. Previous article in this series: November 15, 2008, p. 85. Lord’s Day 1 Q. 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death? A. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan.