Heidelberg Catechism

Question 67. Are both the word and the sacraments, then, intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?

Answer: Yes, indeed. The Holy Spirit teaches us in the gospel and assures us by the sacraments that the whole of our salvation depends upon the one sacrifice of Christ which he offered for us on the cross. (a)

Question 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the New Testament?

Answer: Two: baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Sunday's Hymn: Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending

Lo! he comes, with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

Ev’ry island, sea, and mountain,
Heav’n and earth, shall flee away;
All who hate him must, confounded,
Hear the trump proclaim the day;
Come to judgment! Come to judgment!
Come to judgment, come away!

Now Redemption, long expected,
See in solemn pomp appear!
All his saints, by man rejected,
Now shall meet him in the air:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
See the day of God appear!

Yea, Amen! let all adore thee,
High on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own:
O come quickly, O come quickly:
Alleluia! come, Lord, come.

—John Cennick

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord at The Happy Wonderer
• Be a Gentle Teacher, Lord from Trevin Wax
• Lifting Up Our Hears - 49 at The Upward Call
• Lord’s Day 52, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• No kingdom builders or co-redeemers required at Blogging Theologically
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: “Unimproved and unimprovable” at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Sunday's Hymn: Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
Earth and heav’n before him bow,
And he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath op’ed the heavenly door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!

—Heinrich Suso

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• O Come, All Ye Faithful at The Happy Wonderer
• God On Earth, Man in Heaven, and All Became Mingled Together from Trevin Wax
• Fourth Sunday in Advent at The Upward Call
• Christ’s Two Appearings at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 51, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• When you love the world, you abuse it at Blogging Theologically
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: One sent forth at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.