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Heidelberg Catechism (Heidelbergse Catechismus)/Book 1 · Heidelberger Katechismus
Chapter 19HeidCatech.1.19

Der zweite Teil: Von des Menschen Erlösung — 19. Sonntag

The Present Benefits of Christ's Ascension

Christ, as our ascended Head, actively sustains and empowers His members through the Holy Spirit.

What good does the glory of our head, Christ, do for us? Christ shares the heavenly gifts with us, His members, through His Holy Spirit. He protects and sustains us with His power against all enemies.

The Comfort of the Final Judgment

The return of Christ as Judge provides assurance of vindication and eternal joy for the elect.

What comfort do you find in the return of Christ to judge the living and the dead? In all tribulation and persecution, I can expect the judge from heaven with my head held high, who has previously placed himself before God's judgment for me and taken away all condemnation from me. He will cast all His enemies—who are also my enemies—into eternal damnation, but He will take me and all the elect to Himself into heavenly joy and glory.

Read the original Latin

Was nützt uns diese Herrlichkeit unseres Hauptes Christus? Christus teilt uns, seinen Gliedern, durch seinen Heiligen Geist die himmlischen Gaben aus. Er schützt und erhält uns mit seiner Macht gegen alle Feinde.

Was tröstet dich die Wiederkunft Christi,»zu richten die Lebenden und die Toten«? In aller Trübsal und Verfolgung darf ich mit erhobenem Haupt aus dem Himmel eben den Richter erwarten, der sich zuvor für mich dem Gericht Gottes gestellt und alle Verurteilung von mir genommen hat. Er wird alle seine Feinde, die darum auch meine Feinde sind, in die ewige Verdammnis werfen, mich aber mit allen Auserwählten zu sich in die himmlische Freude und Herrlichkeit nehmen.

Heidelberg Catechism (Heidelbergse Catechismus) 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
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app)