Heidelberg Catechism

This is an explanation of “he descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed that I’ve never seen anywhere else. What do you think of it?

Question 44. Why is “he descended into hell” added [in the Apostles’ Creed]?

Answer: So that in my greatest temptations, I may be assured and comforted in this: my Lord Jesus Christ, by his unspeakable anguish, pain, terror, and agony, which he endured in all his sufferings, (a) but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Sunday's Hymn: How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

“E’en down to old age all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

—John Rippon

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

• Jesus Paid It All at Graces Daily
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross at The Happy Wonderer
• Help Us Take All Adversity With Goodwill from Trevin Wax
• Stepping Into the Sinner’s Place at Tried With Fire
• Lifting Up Our Hearts - 32 at The Upward Call
• Oh, what a scandal it would be! at Blogging Theologically
• Lord’s Day 28, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: Extirpation 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.

Pactum Salutis

Don’t know what that means? (You could look it up here.)

Or you could just read this morning’s post at Out of the Ordinary. It’s what I’m discussing, although I don’t call it that.