Heidelberg Catechism
Monday, February 24, 2014 at 9:58PM
rebecca in historic church documents

Question 24. How are these articles divided?

Answer: Into three parts: the first is of God the Father, and our creation; the second of God the Son, and our redemption; the third of God the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification.

Question 25. Since there is but one only divine being, (a) why do you speak of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

Answer: Because God has so revealed himself in his word, (b) that these three distinct persons are the one true and eternal God.

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

  • a. Deuteronomy 6:4
  • Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

          Isaiah 44:6

    Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel

    and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

    “I am the first and I am the last;

    besides me there is no god. 

          Isaiah 45:5

    I am the Lord, and there is no other,

    besides me there is no God … .

    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 

    … yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

  • b. Isaiah 61:1
  • The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to bring good news to the poor;

    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim liberty to the captives,

    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

          Luke 4:18

    The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

    He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed … . 

          Genesis 1:2-3

    The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

    And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 

    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … . 

          Isaiah 6:1, 3

    In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

    And one called to another and said:

    “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

    the whole earth is full of his glory!” 

          John 14:26

    But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26, ESV)

          John 15:26

    But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 

    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

          Galatians 4:6

    And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 

    For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

          Titus 3:5-6

    … he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior … . 

    Article originally appeared on Rebecca Writes (http://rebecca-writes.com/).
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