Outline.
Lesson 20. (The Heidelberg Catechism and the Basis for Christian Comfort)

Intro.

The use of Confessions and their ability to strengthen faith, and comfort the hearts of the elect. 

i. To strengthen faith.
By reminding us what we are to believe, and how we are to live. When our lives don’t align with the words of these documents and scripture, we are strictly commanded to mortify.
ii. To comfort our hearts. 
In an afflicted state. 
In an evil generation.

Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
i. Historical background. 
It was commissioned by Frederick III who is credited with the authorship of the Preface, and although officially the product of many Reformers from all over the continent, it was chiefly the work of Zacharius Ursinus, and Caspar Olevianus.
(for further reading, see Ursinus’ commentary) 

ii. Ursinus.
Ursinus studied at Wittenberg under Melanchthon, and was also closely acquainted with Calvin and Beza who encouraged him in his ministry. Calvin gave him a copy of his works. He was called to Heidelberg to continue the Reformation in Germany after the death of Melanchthon, and before the death of Frederick. After the death of Frederick, he was exiled by the successor, who wanted to establish Lutheranism in place of the Reformed doctrine of Ursinus. He then helped to establish a theological school under the protection of John Casimir another German prince elector, where he taught and labored faithfully until he died in 1583 at only 48.

iii. Olevianus. 
The second principal author Caspar Olevianus who studied in Paris, was put in prison for his zealous preaching of the gospel until he was released by Frederick in 1560 and called to Heidelberg to counsel Frederick in ecclesiastical matters and assist in the work on the catechism.

Reminder that most of these historical documents were directly commissioned or occasioned by influential magistrates. 

Inform. App.
God uses princes as swords and liberators. In Acts 12 both are recorded for us.

Philip Schaff notes that, “Olevianus was inferior to Ursinus in learning, but his superior in the pulpit and church government.”
Subsequent app. God gives his ministers diversity of gifts, whether preaching or teaching or administration or rebuking or comforting, that we might not make our boast in men but in God who is the fountain of all good. Eph. 4:11-13

He wrote a catechetical work on the covenant of grace and labored with only moderate success to establish a Presbyterian form of church government modeled after Geneva.

iv. Theological observations. 
The catechism is the most personal of all Reformed confessions and authoritative documents as it begins with the question, “What is thy only comfort” which is a breviary of all the doctrine and practice contained in Christianity. Perhaps the best of all brief statements of the faith as a whole.
It is structured according to the threefold principle, Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude. 
Guilt – to see our sinfulness. 
Grace – to believe in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. 
Gratitude – to live in obedience to God’s law in sincerity and not for self justification. 

Two reigning principles in the conscience.
1. God
2. Self. 
To obey the law for justification has self at its end. 
To believe that we are justified for Christ’s sake and therefore obey is for the glory of God. 
To believe in free will is to take up human merit and hope to obtain justification by your own works and therefore to destroy the gospel.

Read Q. 1-8 as a demonstration of its theological structure, and section I from Ursinus’ Prolegomena. What is the doctrine of the church. (What does the true church of Christ believe and confess) 
(Recommended reading, the whole catechism and the prologue to the commentary, called Prolegomena)

Conclusion.
Our only comfort in life and death is to belong to Christ by faith, confessing that doctrine which is delivered to us in the scriptures and confessions, and not in the success of religion in the world, since the whole Reformed church is swallowed up in ignorance and heresy, (the free offer of the gospel, fellowship with Arminians, universal atonement) and the nation is swallowed up in diverse other heresies (Arminians, Baptists, Catholics, Dispensationalists, Pentecostals, liberals)
But Christ will come and liberate His people from the oppression of the world.
John 16:33, Rom. 8:31-39

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/5xXyBUbm168