Introduction When you have the key to a building, you can open it to let someone in; or you can lock it to make sure a person stays out. Jesus used this picture about the kingdom of heaven. In Mat. 16:19, Peter had just made the first clearly Christian confession of faith: “You are the … Continue reading The proclamation of the Kingdom (LD 31 q&a 83-84)
Author: arjenvreugd
Educator and Christian minister. Interest and experience in theology, mathematics, science, and linguistics.
Come, eat and drink (LD 30 q&a 81-82)
Introduction The Lord’s Supper is a spiritual banquet. Our host is the Lord himself. The food and drink on the table are the communion with Jesus himself and his sacrifice on the cross. There he gives us strength for our spiritual life and grows our faith. We now consider the guests at the table. In … Continue reading Come, eat and drink (LD 30 q&a 81-82)
Where earth and heaven meet (LD 30 q&a 80)
Introduction Q&a 80 in the Heidelberg Catechism is famous for its explicit criticism of the “mass”, that is, the way the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in the Roman Catholic church. It concludes that the mass is basically … an accursed idolatry. This hard criticism of the Roman Catholic was missing in the first edition of … Continue reading Where earth and heaven meet (LD 30 q&a 80)
A foretaste of the feast (LD 29)
Introduction At the Lord’s Supper we eat the broken body of our Lord and drink his poured-out blood. In this way we take part in his death and his resurrection. We die to sin; and we share in his new life, becoming more and more like him. But the Lord’s Supper has another aspect. It … Continue reading A foretaste of the feast (LD 29)
Eating and drinking Jesus (LD 28)
Introduction The day before he was crucified, Jesus had his last supper with his disciples. He broke bread and handed out wine, telling them to do this from now on as a memorial to him. Ever since, the church has celebrated the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, often also called Eucharist (“Thanksgiving”). Eating and drinking … Continue reading Eating and drinking Jesus (LD 28)
Circumcision of Christ (LD 27)
Introduction In the previous two lessons we discussed baptism. It is a ritual of washing, showing the forgiveness of our sins. And it is a picture of being buried with Christ and rising up into the new life of the Spirit. But there is another aspect, and perhaps you have wondered why it wasn’t brought … Continue reading Circumcision of Christ (LD 27)
Born of water and the Spirit (LD 26, q&a 70)
Introduction In the previous lesson we saw that baptism is a symbolic washing. We are impure, dirty because of our sins, and the blood of Jesus makes us clean, that is, our sins are forgiven because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. But the gospel is not only about the cross of Jesus, … Continue reading Born of water and the Spirit (LD 26, q&a 70)
Washed clean (LD 26a)
Introduction Our Lord Jesus gave us two sacraments, two sacred rituals that highlight the gospel in a visible and tangible way. The first of these sacraments is baptism. When the water of baptism is sprinkled or poured on a person, this is clearly a symbolic action. It is a sign and seal of a spiritual … Continue reading Washed clean (LD 26a)
The source of faith (LD 25)
Introduction In Christianity, faith is extremely important. That is why the catechism talks about it often. In Lord’s Day 7, it said that only those are saved who by a true faith are grafted into Christ. Then it defined what faith is: knowing that God’s promises are true, and being confident that they are for … Continue reading The source of faith (LD 25)
Do good works count? (LD 24)
Introduction How are we right with God? Last time we said that the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ is imputed to us. Christian believers are saved in the only way possible: by the grace of God, who gave his only Son to sacrifice himself on our behalf. At the same time, … Continue reading Do good works count? (LD 24)