Lord's Days 45-52: 10 Q&As from the Heidelberg Catechism Every Christian Should Know

Faith
Written By BCL

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In parts one, two, three, four, five, and six of this series, we shared questions and answers from Lord’s Days 1-45 of the Heidelberg Catechism. The seventh post (the final one of the series) covers Lord’s Days 45-52.

According to historical theologian R. Scott Clark, “The Heidelberg Catechism is justly regarded as one of the finest summaries of the Christian faith ever written. First published in 1563, the catechism is used by more than a million Christians globally.”

The Heidelberg Catechism contains 129 questions and answers, divided over 52 sections (for each Sunday of the year) called Lord's Days, and consists of three main parts:

  • Our sin & misery (Q&A 1-11)

  • Our deliverance from sin (Q&A 12-85)

  • Our thankfulness to God for such deliverance (Q&A 86-129)

In this final installment of 10 Q&As from the beloved Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Days 45-52, the focus is on the Lord’s Prayer:

Q&A 117: What belongs to a prayer which pleases God and is heard by him?

First, we must from the heart call upon the one true God only, who has revealed himself in his Word, for all that he has commanded us to pray.

Second, we must thoroughly know our need and misery, so that we may humble ourselves before God.

Third, we must rest on this firm foundation that, although we do not deserve it, God will certainly hear our prayer for the sake of Christ our Lord, as he has promised us in his Word. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 117; Lord’s Day 45)

Q&A 119: What is the Lord’s prayer?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 119; Lord’s Day 45)

Q&A 120: Why has Christ commanded us to address God as our Father?

To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer that childlike reverence and trust toward God which should be basic to our prayer: God has become our Father through Christ and will much less deny us what we ask of him in faith than our fathers would refuse us earthly things. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 120; Lord’s Day 46)

Q&A 121: Why is there added, in heaven?

These words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty in an earthly manner, and to expect from his almighty power all things we need for body and soul. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 121; Lord’s Day 46)

Q&A 122: What is the first petition?

Hallowed be your name.

That is: Grant us first of all that we may rightly know you, and sanctify, glorify, and praise you in all your works, in which shine forth your almighty power, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth. Grant us also that we may so direct our whole life –our thoughts, words, and actions – that your name is not blasphemed because of us but always honoured and praised. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 122; Lord’s Day 47)

Q&A 123: What is the second petition?

Your kingdom come.

That is: So rule us by your Word and Spirit that more and more we submit to you. Preserve and increase your church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against you, and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do all this until the fullness of your kingdom comes, wherein you shall be all in all. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 123; Lord’s Day 48)

Q&A 124: What is the third petition?

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

That is: Grant that we and all men may deny our own will, and without any murmuring obey your will, for it alone is good. Grant also that everyone may carry out the duties of his office and calling as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 124; Lord’s Day 49)

Q&A 125: What is the fourth petition?

Give us today our daily bread.

That is: Provide us with all our bodily needs so that we may acknowledge that you are the only fountain of all good, and that our care and labour, and also your gifts, cannot do us any good without your blessing. Grant, therefore, that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it only in you. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 125; Lord’s Day 50)

Q&A 126: What is the fifth petition?

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

That is: For the sake of Christ's blood, do not impute to us, wretched sinners, any of our transgressions, nor the evil which still clings to us, as we also find this evidence of your grace in us that we are fully determined wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbour. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 126; Lord’s Day 51)

Q&A 127: What is the sixth petition?

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

That is: In ourselves we are so weak that we cannot stand even for a moment. Moreover, our sworn enemies – the devil, the world, and our own flesh – do not cease to attack us. Will you, therefore, uphold and strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that in this spiritual war we may not go down to defeat, but always firmly resist our enemies, until we finally obtain the complete victory. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 127; Lord’s Day 52)

You can find the entire Heidelberg Catechism along with more related resources at heidelberg-catechism.com.

To learn more about the history and composition of the Heidelberg Catechism, be sure to check out this Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism by historical theologian R. Scott Clark from the heidelblog.net.

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BCL
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