Heidelberg Catechism

Method of Instruction in the Christian Religion
As the Same is Taught in the Reformed Churches and Schools

Lord's Days
Lord's Day 1 Lord's Day 2 Lord's Day 3 Lord's Day 4 Lord's Day 5 Lord's Day 6 Lord's Day 7 Lord's Day 8 Lord's Day 9 Lord's Day 10 Lord's Day 11 Lord's Day 12 Lord's Day 13 Lord's Day 14 Lord's Day 15 Lord's Day 16 Lord's Day 17 Lord's Day 18 Lord's Day 19 Lord's Day 20 Lord's Day 21 Lord's Day 22 Lord's Day 23 Lord's Day 24 Lord's Day 25 Lord's Day 26 Lord's Day 27 Lord's Day 28 Lord's Day 29 Lord's Day 30 Lord's Day 31 Lord's Day 32 Lord's Day 33 Lord's Day 34 Lord's Day 35 Lord's Day 36 Lord's Day 37 Lord's Day 38 Lord's Day 39 Lord's Day 40 Lord's Day 41 Lord's Day 42 Lord's Day 43 Lord's Day 44 Lord's Day 45 Lord's Day 46 Lord's Day 47 Lord's Day 48 Lord's Day 49 Lord's Day 50 Lord's Day 51 Lord's Day 52

Lord's Day 2

The First Part - Of The Misery Of Man

Question 3

Whence knowest thou thy misery?

Answer

Out of the law of God. (a)

(a)

Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Question 4

What does the law of God require of us?

Answer

Christ teaches us that briefly, "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 shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (a)

(a)

Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Lev. 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Question 5

Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?

Answer

In no wise; (a) for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbour.(b)

(a)

Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

(b)

Rom. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Eph. 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Tit. 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Rom. 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.