HRCF Catechism

Question 112 Q. What is required in the ninth commandment? A. That I bear false witness against no man, nor falsify any man’s words; that I be no backbiter, nor slanderer; that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly or unheard; but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit as the proper works of the devil, unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in j...

Question 110 Q. What doth God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. God forbids not only those thefts and robberies which are punishable by the magistrate; but He comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbor, whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust weights, ells,...

Question 108 Q. What doth the seventh commandment teach us? A. That all uncleanness is accursed of God; and that therefore we must with all our hearts detest the same, and live chastely and temperately, whether in holy wedlock or in single life. Footnotes Lev. 18:27 Deut. 29:20-23 1 Thes. 4:3, 4 Heb. 13:4. 1 Cor. 7:4-9 Question 109 Q. Doth God forbid in this commandment only adultery and such like...

Lord's Day 40 Question 105 Q. What doth God require in the sixth commandment? A. That neither in thoughts, nor words, nor gestures, much less in deeds, I dishonor, hate, wound, or kill my neighbor, by myself or by another; but that I lay aside all desire of revenge; also, that I hurt not myself, nor willfully expose myself to any danger. Wherefore also the magistrate is armed with the sword t...

Question 104 Q. What doth God require in the fifth commandment? A. That I show all honor, love, and fidelity to my father and mother and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand. Footnotes Eph. 6:1, 2ff. Col. 3:18, 20. Eph. 5...

Question 103 Q. What doth God require in the fourth commandment? A. First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is, on the day of rest,  diligently frequent the church of God, to hear His word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord,  and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that...

Question 101 Q. May we then swear religiously by the name of God? A. Yes; either when the magistrates demand it of the subjects, or when necessity requires us thereby to confirm fidelity and truth to the glory of God and the safety of our neighbor; for such an oath is founded on God’s Word, and therefore was justly used by the saints both in the Old and New Testament. Footnotes Ex. 22:11. Neh. 13:...

Lord's Day 36 Question 99 Q. What is required in the third commandment? A. That we, not only by cursing or perjury, but also by rash swearing, must not profane or abuse the name of God; nor by silence or connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and, briefly, that we use the holy name of God no otherwise than with fear and reverence; so that He may be rightly confessed and wor...

Question 96 Q. What doth God require in the second commandment? A. That we in no wise represent God by images, nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded in His Word. Footnotes Deut. 4:15. Isa. 40:18. Rom. 1:23ff. Acts 17:29 1 Sam. 15:23. Deut. 12:30 Question 97 Q. Are images then not at all to be made? A. God neither can nor may be represented by any means. But as to creatures, though...

Question 92 Q. What is the law of God? A. God spake all these words, Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5, saying: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is i...

Question 88 Q. Of how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist? A. Of two parts: of the mortification of the old, and the quickening of the new man. Footnotes Rom 6:4-6. Eph. 4:22-24. Col. 3:5. 1 Cor. 5:7 Question 89 Q. What is the mortification of the old man? A. It is a sincere sorrow of heart that we have provoked God by our sins, and more and more to hate and flee from them. Footnote...

Question 86 Q. Since then we are delivered from our misery merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works? A. Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image; that so we may testify by the whole of our conduct our gratitude to God for His blessings, and that He may be praised by us; al...

Lord's Day 31 Question 83 Q. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? A. The preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline, or excommunication out of the Christian church; by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers. Footnotes Mat. 16:19 John 20:23 Mat. 18:15-18 Question 84 Q. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preachin...

Question 80 Q. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the popish mass? A. The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have a full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross; and that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ, who according to His human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven at the right hand of...

Question 78 Q. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ? A. Not at all; but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God; so the bread in the Lord’s Supper is not changed into the very body of Christ, though agreeably to the nature and properties o...

Question 75 Q. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s Supper that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross,and of all His benefits? A. Thus:That Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, adding these promises: first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me,...

Question 72 Q. Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? A. Not at all; for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost, cleanse us from all sin. Footnotes Mat. 3:11. 1 Pet. 3:21. 1 John 1:7. 1 Cor. 6:11 Question 73 Q. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration,” and “the washing away of sins”? A. God speaks thus not without great ca...

Question 69 Q. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee? A. Thus: That Christ appointed this external washing with water, adding thereto this promise, that I am as certainly washed by His blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is,  from all my sins, as I am washed externally with water, by whi...

Question 65 Q. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?  A. From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments. Footnotes Eph. 2:8. Eph. 6:23. Phil. 1:29 Mat. 28:19. Rom. 4:11 Question 66 Q. What are the sacraments? A. The sacraments are holy, visible s...

Question 62 Q. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God? A. Because that the righteousness which can be approved of before the tribunal of God must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects conformable to the divine law; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin. Footnotes Gal. 3:10. Deut. 27:26 Isa. 64:6 Question 6...

Question 59 Q. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this? A. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life.1 Footnotes Rom. 5:1. Rom. 1:17. John 3:36 Question 60 Q. How art thou righteous before God? A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept non...

Question 57 Q. What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee? A. That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ. Footnotes Luke 23:43 . Phil. 1:23 1 Cor. 15:53 . Job 19:25 , 26 Question 58 Q. What co...

Question 54 Q. What believest thou concerning the “holy catholic church” of Christ? A. That the Son of God, from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves to Himself by His Spirit and Word, out of the whole human race, a church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am, and for ever shall remain, a living member thereof. Footnotes John 10:11 . G...

Question 53 Q. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost? A. First, that He is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Son; secondly, that He is also given me, to make me, by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits, that He may comfort me and abide with me for ever. Footnotes Gen. 1:2. Isa. 48:16. 1 Cor. 3:16 Mat. 28:19. 2 Cor. 1:22 Gal. 3:14. 1 Pet. 1:2 Acts 9:31 John...

Question 50 Q. Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God”? A. Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that He might appear as Head of His church, by whom the Father governs all things. Footnotes Eph. 1:20-22. Col. 1:18 Mat. 28:18. John 5:22 Question 51 Q. What profit is this glory of Christ, our Head, unto us? A. First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly graces...