What We Believe by Pastor Doug

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 32 - Gratitude!   Questions and Answers: 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, and so that He may be praised through us.   And we do good 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.   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 .

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 31 - don't lose your keys!   Questions and answers for this Lord's Day: 83.       Q – What are the keys of the kingdom? A – The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline toward repentance.   Both preaching and discipline open the kingdom of heaven to believers and close it to unbelievers.   84.       Q – How does preaching the gospel open and close the kingdom of heaven? A – According to the command of Christ:   The kingdom of heaven is opened by proclaiming and publicly declaring to all believers, each and every one, that, as often as they accept the gospel promise in true faith, God, because of what Christ has done, truly forgives all their sins.   The kingdom of heaven is closed, however, by proclaiming and publicly declaring to unbelievers and hypocrites that, as long as they do not repent, the anger of God and eternal condemnation rest on them.   Gods judgment, both in this life and in the life to come, is based on th

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 30 = Thanksgiving!   Questions and answers: 80. Q – How does the Lord’s Supper differ from the Roman Catholic mass? A – The Lord’s Supper declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through one sacrifice of Jesus Christ which He Himself finished on the cross once for all. It also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, who with His very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father where He wants us to worship Him. … 81. Q – Who are to come to the Lord’s table? A – Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their continuing weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgment on themselves. 82. Q – Are those to be admitted to the Lord’s Supper who show by wh