What is your only
comfort, in life and in death?
That I belong - body and soul, in life and in death - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost
of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me
from the dominion of the devil; that He protects me so well that without the
will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that
everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy
Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly
willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
How many things
must you know that you may live and die in the blessedness of this comfort?
Three. First, the greatness of my sin and wretchedness.
Second, how I am freed from all my sins and their wretched consequences.
Third, what gratitude I owe to God for such redemption.
I. God Values Believers
A. Jesus purchased believers at the cost of His own life.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,
as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from
your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot: (1
Peter 1:18‑19)
B. God redeems totally. But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(1 John 1:7)
C. No evil force can resist the Savior. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:8)
II. God Directs the Lives of Believers
A. Salvation is personal, providential, and permanent.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35) along with And this is the Father's will which hath sent
me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day. (John
6:39)
B. Everything in life conforms to God's interest in my welfare.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not
fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are
all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:29‑31)
C. Through God's Providence
there is always meaning in all of life's events. And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
III. Believers Inevitably Respond to God
A. The Holy Spirit cultivates assurance in believers.
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us,
is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. (2 Corinthians
1:21-22)
B. Through the Holy Spirit believers become wholeheartedly committed to
serving God. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God. (Romans 8:14) along
with And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. (Romans 8:17)
IV. Three Truths Enable a Christian
To Find Comfort in Sovereign Grace
A. Sin and wretchedness are enormously great. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice
and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and
love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should
be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful
saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which
have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are
good and profitable unto men. (Titus
3:3-8)
B. God frees His people from all their sins. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent. (John 17:1-3)
+ Let nothing be done through
strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:3-11)
C. Believers owe an enormous debt of gratitude to God for redemption. But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
+ For ye were sometimes darkness,
but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of
the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians
5:8-10)
Heidelberg Catechism
Lord’s Day 1
Questions 1 and 2
Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr.
File: Lord’s Day 001
