Catechism Challenge -L.D. 16

Study Questions – L.D. 16

Q. 40 Why did Christ have to go all the way to death?

A. Because God's justice and truth demand it: only the death of God's Son could pay for our sin.

Q. 41 Why was he "buried"?

A. His burial testifies that he really died.

Q. 42 Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?

A. Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.

Q. 43 What further advantage do we receive from Christ's sacrifice and death on the cross?
A. Through Christ's death our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may dedicate ourselves as an offering of gratitude to him.

Q. 44 Why does the creed add, "He descended to hell"?

A. To assure me in times of personal crisis and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, especially on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.

1. What is the consequence for your disobeying God’s Word? (Gen. 2:17)

2. Why did Christ have to die? (Rom. 8:3-4; Heb. 2:9, 14, 15)

3. Why did Jesus Christ have to be buried? (Isa. 53:9; 1 Cor. 15:3-4)

4. Can our death pay the debt of another or our own? (Psalm 49:7-8)

5. If Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die? (Phil. 1:21-23)

6. What benefit do we receive Christ’s crucifixion and death? (Rom 6:5-14)

7. How does Christ death on the cross change you? (Rom 12:1; Eph. 5:1-2)

8. Why does the Apostles Creed add, “He descended to hell”? (Is. 53; Matt 26: 36-46; 27:45-36; Heb. 5:7-10)

9. What comfort does Christ descent into hell bring you? (Rom. 8:1)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism L.D. 16

Catechism Challenge - L.D. 15

Study Questions – L.D. 15

Q. 37 What do you understand by the word "suffered"?
A. That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life.
Q. 38 Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate" as judge?
A. So that he, though innocent, might be condemned by a civil judge, and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.
Q. 39 Is it significant that he was "crucified" instead of dying some other way?
A. Yes. This death convinces me that he shouldered the curse which lay on me, since death by crucifixion was accursed by God.
1. What do you understand by the words, “He suffered”? (Isa. 53; I Pet. 2:24)
2. What does it mean that Christ’s sacrifice of Himself on the cross was atoning or propitiatory? (Rom. 3:25; I John 2:2)
3. What did Jesus set our souls and bodies free from? (Rom 8:1-4; Gal 3:13)
4. What did Christ’s atoning sacrifice gain for us? (Rom. 3:24-26; 5:15-17; John 3:16)
5. Why was it important that Jesus be declared innocent before Pilate? (John 18:28-19:15; 2 Cor. 5:21)
6. Is it significant that Jesus Christ was crucified instead of dying some other way? Why? (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:10-13)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism L.D. 15

Catechism Challenge - L.D. 14

Study Questions – Lord’s Day 14

Q. 35 What does it mean that he "was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary"?
A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might become David's true descendant, like his brothers in every way except for sin.
Q. 36 How does the holy conception and birth of Christ benefit you?
A. He is our mediator, and with his innocence and perfect holiness he removes from God's sight my sin—mine since I was conceived.

1. What do we mean when we confess: “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”? (Luke 1: 34, 35; John 1:14; Heb. 2:14)
2. What does it mean that the Son of God took upon Him the flesh and blood of Mary? (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20; Gal. 4:4; John 1:14; Heb. 2:14)
3. How could Jesus be called David’s true descendant?
(2 Sam. 7:12-16; Luke 1:26-33)
4. How is Jesus Christ our “brother in every way”? (Heb. 2:14-18; Phil. 2:7)
5. How is Jesus Christ fundamentally different then us in his humanity? (Hebrews 4:15)
6. What does it mean that Christ had no sin? (2 Cor. 5:21; I Peter 2:22)
7. What profit then do you receive by Jesus Christ holy conception and birth? (Heb. 9:13-15; Heb. 2:14-18; Rom 8:3-4)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism - L.D. 14

Catechism Challenge - L.D. 13

Lord’s Day 13 – Study Notes

Q. 33 Why is he called God's "only Son" when we also are God's children?

A. Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God. We, however, are adopted children of God—adopted by grace through Christ.

Q. 34 Why do you call him "our Lord"?

A. Because—not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood—he has set us free from sin and from the tyranny of the devil, and has bought us, body and soul, to be his very own.

1. Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God? (John 1:14, 18; Heb 1:1-2)

2. Why are we called the children of God? (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7)

3. How are we adopted by God to be His children? (Jn 1:12; Rom. 5:9-10; Eph. 1:5-6)

4. Why do we call Christ our Lord? (1 Pet. 1:18-19)

5. With what did Christ redeem us from all our sins? (1 Pet. 1:18-19; Acts 20:28)

6. Who and what did Christ set us free from? (Col. 1:13-14; Heb. 2:14-15)

7. What is Christ “Lord” over? (Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 17:14; 19:16)

8. When did our Lord become the great Ruler of heaven and earth? (Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism L.D. 13