THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

Question 21. What is true faith?
Answer. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel, in my heart; that not only the others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.

Question 22. What is then necessary for a christian to believe?
Answer. All things promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our catholic undoubted christian faith briefly teach us.

Question 23. What are these articles?
Answer.
1 I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2 And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3 Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4 Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried: *He descended into hell:
5 The third day he rose again from the dead:
6 He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7 From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8 I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9 I believe an holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10 The forgiveness of sins:
11 The resurrection of the body:
12 And the life everlasting. AMEN.

* Question 44. Why is there added, "he descended into hell"?
Answer. That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.



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