Heidelberg’s Deep Well

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

There is a reason why Christians of previous generations were more stalwart in the face of life’s troubles. They drank deeply from the well of good, gospel-driven theology. They were not content to skim the surface or merely dabble in doctrine, but dug deep into the truth of Christ and rooted their whole life in it. We would do well to learn from their example.

Our spiritual ancestors pondered the truths of Scripture, distilling their essential teachings into many creedal and catechetical statements, that were designed for recitation and memorization. For example, consider the richness of opening question and answer of 16th century Heidelberg Catechism:

Q: What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A: 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.

Such statements are not only beautiful, but they also serve as a bulwark for troubled times.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

~ Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)