I. Des articles de la foi — Le 11e dimanche
The Fruits of Christ's Death
The death of Christ provides both the objective satisfaction for our sins and the subjective transformation of our inner lives.
The fruit and power of the death of Jesus Christ are in four points. 71. Minister: Can we clearly gather from this what fruit we receive from the death of Jesus Christ? Student: Yes, certainly. And first, we see that it is a sacrifice by which he has made satisfaction for us before God's judgment, and so has appeased God's wrath toward us, and has reconciled us to him. For the second: that his blood is the washing by which our souls have been purged of every stain.✦1 Finally: that by this death our sins are wiped away so that they will not come into remembrance before God, and so that the obligation that stood against us is abolished.✦✦ 72. M: Don't we also receive some other benefit from it? Elder: Yes, we do; specifically this: if we are true members of Christ, our old self is crucified and our flesh is put to death, so that evil desires no longer reign in us.
The Victory of the Resurrection
Christ's resurrection on the third day marks his definitive triumph over death, sin, and the power of the devil.
73. Minister: State the next article. Student: It is that "on the third day he rose again." In this he showed himself conqueror of death and of sin, for by his resurrection he swallowed up death, broke the devil's bonds, and destroyed all his power (1 Peter 3:21).✦✦2
The Benefits of Rising with Christ
The resurrection of Christ secures our justification, guarantees our future immortality, and empowers our present life of holiness.
The benefit of the resurrection in three points 74. M: In how many ways does this resurrection benefit us? E: The first is that righteousness has been fully secured for us through it (Romans 4:24).3 The second is that it serves as a sure pledge that we will one day rise again in glorious immortality (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). The third is that if we truly share in it, we already rise again now into a new life, to serve God and live holy lives according to his good pleasure (Romans 6:4).
Read the original Latin
Le fruit et la vertu de la mort de Jésus-Christ est en quatre points 71. M : Pouvons-nous pas bien déduire de cela quel fruit nous recevons de la mort de Jésus-Christ? E : Oui bien. Et premièrement nous voyons que c'est un sacrifice pour lequel il a satisfait pour nous au jugement de Dieu, et ainsi a apaisé l'ire de Dieu envers nous, et nous a réconciliés avec lui. Pour le second, que son sang est le lavement par lequel nos âmes ont été purgées de toutes macules. Finalement, que par cette mort nos péchés sont effacés pour ne point venir en mémoire devant Dieu, et ainsi que l'obligation qui était contre nous est abolie.
72. M : N'en avons-nous pas quelque autre utilité? E : Si avons ; c'est que, si nous sommes vrais membres de Christ, notre vieil homme est crucifié, notre chair est mortifiée, afin que les mauvaises concupiscences ne règnent plus en nous.
73. M : Déclare l'article suivant. E : C'est que « le troisième jour il est ressuscité ». En quoi il s'est démontré vainqueur de la mort et de péché, car, par sa résurrection, il a englouti la mort et a rompu les liens du diable et détruit toute sa puissance (1 Pierre 3:21).
Le profit de la résurrection en trois points 74. M : En combien de sortes nous profite cette résurrection? E : La première est que la justice nous a été pleinement acquise en icelle (Romains 4:24). La seconde, que ce nous est un certain gage que nous ressusciterons une fois en immortalité glorieuse (1 Corinthiens 15:20-23). La troisième, que si nous communiquons vraiment à icelle, nous ressuscitons dès à présent en nouveauté de vie, pour servir à Dieu et vivre saintement, selon son plaisir (Romains 6:4).
Scripture echoes
- ↩1John.1.7;Rev.1.5;Heb.9.14 — But if we walk in the light, as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. Rev.1.5 — and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth — to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, Heb.9.14 — how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God
- ↩Isa.43.25;Jer.31.34;Heb.8.12 — I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake, and your sins I will not remember. Jer.31.34 — No longer will they teach one another, each saying to his neighbor and each to his brother, 'Know the LORD,' for all of them shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. Heb.8.12 — for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins I will remember no more.
- ↩Col.2.14 — having canceled the written code, the regulations that were against us and stood opposed to us, he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
- ↩1Cor.15.54;Isa.25.8 — But when this perishable puts on imperishability, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' Isa.25.8 — He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
- ↩Heb.2.14 — Since, therefore, the children have shared in blood and flesh, he himself also in like manner partook of the same, so that through death he might destroy the one having the power of death, that is, the devil,
Notes
- 1 ↩French lavement means cleansing/washing here (not the later medical sense); macules = stains/spots on the soul.
- 2 ↩Source has 'de péché' without the expected article ('du péché'); rendered as 'of sin'.
- 3 ↩French justice rendered as righteousness (justification sense), fitting Rom 4:24 and Reformation catechetical usage rather than civic justice.
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit