To remind myself and others of the timeless beauty and surety of biblical truth, I am planning to post quotes from the Heidelberg Catechism on Mondays. The Catechism is gloriously rich. It helps remind me of our calling to be intentionally redundant and satisfied with Christ and him crucified rather than skill innovators.
In this quote the emphasis is laid upon the imputation of Christ’s perfect righteousness. As a believer in Christ we are to remember and rejoice in all of his obedience for us that is charged to us, ‘only of mere grace’.
QUESTION 60.
How are thou righteous before God?
ANSWER
Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; (a)
so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, (b)
and am still inclined to all evil; (c)
notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, (d)
but only of mere grace, (e)
grants and imputes to me, (f)
the perfect satisfaction, (g)
righteousness and holiness of Christ; (h)
even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (i)
inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. (j)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
(a) Rom.3:21-25,28; Rom.5:1,2; Gal.2:16; Eph.2:8,9; Phil.3:9 (b)
Rom.3:9. (c) Rom.7:23. (d) Tit.3:5; Deut.9:6; Ezek.36:22. (e)
Rom.3:24; Eph.2:8. (f) Rom.4:4,5; 2 Cor.5:19. (g) 1 John 2:2. (h)
1 John 2:1. (i) 2 Cor.5:21. (j) Rom.3:22; John 3:18.
