Three Forms of Unity
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
A warm question-and-answer teaching of the Christian faith — misery, redemption, and gratitude — for children, new believers, and the whole church.
Commissioned in Heidelberg by Elector Frederick III and written primarily by Zacharias Ursinus (with Caspar Olevianus and others), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) became one of the most beloved Reformed teaching texts in the world. In its common form it contains 129 questions and answers, often arranged across 52 Lord’s Days for weekly instruction.
Its pastoral shape follows the gospel itself: our sin and misery, our redemption in Christ, and our grateful life of obedience. At MPC it is a supplemental Reformed document for discipleship. Our only secondary doctrinal standard remains the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647).
Lord’s Day 1 · Question 1
Our Only Comfort
The Catechism famously begins not with abstract metaphysics but with comfort — belonging to Christ in life and in death.
“What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong — body and soul, in life and in death — to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1
Scripture: Romans 14:7–9; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 1 Peter 1:18–19; John 10:27–28; Matthew 10:29–31; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Romans 8:15–16.
Part I · Q&A 3–11
Guilt — The Misery of Man
From the law of God we learn how great our sin and misery are. We were created good, yet fell in Adam and are prone by nature to hate God and neighbor — so that we cannot enter God’s kingdom unless we are born again.
“How do you come to know your misery? The law of God tells me.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 3
“But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil? Yes, unless we are born again by the Spirit of God.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 8
Scripture: Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7–10; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3; John 3:3–6; Romans 8:7–8.
Part II · Q&A 12–85
Grace — Our Redemption in Christ
A mediator who is true God and true man must deliver us. The Apostles’ Creed structures this section: God the Father and our creation; God the Son and our redemption; God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. Faith receives Christ and all His benefits. Justification is by grace through faith. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are holy sacraments — signs and seals of the gospel promise.
“What do you believe when you say, ‘I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth’? That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 26
“How are you righteous before God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 60
“How does baptism remind and assure you that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross benefits you personally? In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing and with it promised that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and his Spirit wash away my soul’s impurity, that is, all my sins.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 69
Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14–17; John 1:1, 14; Romans 3:21–28; Romans 4:5; Galatians 2:16; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 2:38–39.
Part III · Q&A 86–129
Gratitude — How We Live for God
Because Christ has redeemed us, we are called to good works — not to earn salvation, but to show gratitude, assure ourselves of faith, and win our neighbors. The Ten Commandments teach the shape of grateful obedience; the Lord’s Prayer teaches how we ask for what we need.
“Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why then should we do good works? Because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, is also restoring us by his Spirit into his image, so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits, so that he may be praised through us, so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 86
“What is the aim of the sixth commandment? That I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor — not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds — and that I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also why government is armed with the sword.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 105
“What does the first request mean? ‘Hallowed be your name’ means: Help us to truly know you, to honor, glorify, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means, Help us to direct all our living — what we think, say, and do — so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 122
Scripture: Romans 6:1–13; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16; Exodus 20:1–17; Matthew 22:37–40; Matthew 6:9–13; 1 John 5:14–15.