The Heidelberg Catechism

Lord's Day 32 (Q & A 86 87)
Lord's Day 33 (Q & A 88 89 90 91)

Part III: Gratitude

Lord's Day 32

Q & A 86

Q. We have been delivered
   from our misery
   by God's grace alone through Christ
   and not because we have earned it:
   why then must we still do good?

A. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by his blood.
   But we do good because
      Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself,
      so that in all our living
      we may show that we are thankful to God
      for all he has done for us,^1
      and so that he may be praised through us.^2

   And we do good
      so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,^3
      and so that by our godly living
      our neighbors may be won over to Christ.^4

   ^1 Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:5-10
   ^2 Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 6:19-20
   ^3 Matt. 7:17-18; Gal. 5:22-24; 2 Pet. 1:10-11
   ^4 Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1-2

Q & A 87

Q. Can those be saved
   who do not turn to God
   from their ungrateful
   and impenitent ways?

A. By no means.
   Scripture tells us that
      no unchaste person,
      no idolater, adulterer, thief,
      no covetous person,
      no drunkard, slanderer, robber,
      or the like
      is going to inherit the kingdom of God.^1

   ^1 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-20; 1 John 3:14

Lord's Day 33

Q & A 88

Q. What is involved
   in genuine repentance or conversion?

A. Two things:
      the dying-away of the old self,
      and the coming-to-life of the new.^1

   ^1 Rom. 6:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10

Q & A 89

Q. What is the dying-away of the old self?

A. It is to be genuinely sorry for sin,
   to hate it more and more,
   and to run away from it.^1

   ^1 Ps. 51:3-4, 17; Joel 2:12-13; Rom. 8:12-13; 2 Cor. 7:10

Q & A 90

Q. What is the coming-to-life of the new self?

A. It is wholehearted joy in God through Christ^1
   and a delight to do every kind of good
      as God wants us to.^2

   ^1 Ps. 51:8, 12; Isa.57:15; Rom. 5:1; 14:17
   ^2 Rom. 6:10-11; Gal. 2:20

Q & A 91

Q. What do we do that is good?

A. Only that which
      arises out of true faith,^1
      conforms to God's law,^2
      and is done for his glory;^3
   and not that which is based
      on what we think is right
      or on established human tradition.^4

   ^1 John 15:5; Heb. 11:6
   ^2 Lev. 18:4; 1 Sam. 15:22; Eph. 2:10
   ^3 1 Cor. 10:31
   ^4 Deut. 12:32; Isa. 29:13; Ezek. 20:18-19; Matt. 15:7-9