Confessions and Catechisms
Thabiti Anyabwile Blog | May 17, 2012
The first one would be Lord's Day 1, question 1 from the Heidelberg Catechism.
Q: What is the 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 my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.
Beautiful.
Comments:
May 18, 2012 at 05:58 AM
Thank you Brother Thabiti for posting this.
I was just introduced to the Heidelberg Catechism while studying the 10 Commandments on Logos Bible Software last week and ended up purchasing The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism and it has been such an encouragement to me.
This is the first question I ever read in the Heidelberg and I was hooked! :)
"Question 94
What does God enjoin in the first commandment?
That I, as sincerely as I desire the salvation of my own soul, avoid and flee from all idolatry, sorcery, soothsaying, superstition, invocation of saints, or any other creatures; and learn rightly to know the only true God; trust in him alone, with humility and patience submit to him; expect all good things from him only; love,fear, and glorify him with my whole heart; so that I renounce and forsake all creatures, rather than commit even the least thing contrary to his will."
Coming out of a Charismatic/Pentecostal background 4 years ago and embracing Reformed Theology, I find that these Catechisms and Creeds of the church are a great form of encouragement and strength.
I used to parrot those silly sayings like, "No creed but Christ", or "all you need is the Holy Spirit, doctrine is dead, the Spirit gives life", or even misapply this scripture as if Jesus was speaking to true believers when he said, "you search the scriptures because you think in them you have life but they testify of me but you refuse to come to me that you might have life".
Now I am embarrassed to think of such foolishness. As if the Holy Spirit only guides my words and not the words of the men who wrote the Creeds and Confessions. Lord forgive me of such foolishness.
I find more solid Christ-centered theology and substance in one line of these Creeds and Confessions than I do in hundreds of pages of the subjective writings of many today.
I am blessed to be able to sit at the feet of men who knew God and whose writings are still around hundreds of years later encouraging men and women.
Steve
May 17, 2012 at 06:36 PM
[...] Confessions and Catechisms – Pure Church by Thabiti Anyabwile [...]
May 17, 2012 at 03:37 PM
This is the Catechism I plan on teaching my children even though I'm not in a 'Reformed' denomination.
Tom Herbert
May 31, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Great post, I am glad I found this website you guys have a lot of great posts. I will be checking in a lot more often!
Tom Herbert