Heidelberg Catechism — Lord’s Day 7

20. Are all men, then, saved by Christ as they have perished in Adam?

No, only those who by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits.¹

1. Ps 2:12; Mt 7:14; Jn 1:12-13, 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21; 1 Cor 15:22; Heb 4:2-3, 10:39

21. What is true faith?

True faith is not only a sure knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word,¹ but also a hearty trust,² which the Holy Spirit³ works in me by the Gospel,⁴ that not only to others, but to me also,⁵ forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God,⁶ merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.⁷

1. Jn 17:3, 17; Heb 11:1-3; Jas 1:6, 2:19;
2. Rom 4:16-21, 5:1, 10:10; Heb 4:16;
3. 2 Cor 4:13; Php 1:19, 29;
4. Acts 16:4; Rom 1:16, 10:17; 1 Cor 1:21;
5. Gal 2:20;
6. Rom. 1:17; Heb 10:10, 11:1-2;
7. Acts 10:43; Rom 3:20-26; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:7-10

22. What, then, is necessary for a Christian to believe?

All that is promised us in the Gospel,¹ which the articles of our catholic, undoubted Christian faith teach us in summary.

1. Mt 28:19-20; Jn 20:30-31; 2 Tim 3:15; 2 Pt 1:21

The Apostles’ Creed

23 What are these articles?

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, a holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.