Seeking The Righteousness of His Kingdom
Seeking God….To Grant The Gift of Righteousness
During mid-1500s in Germany, there was no concept of a united effort to SEEK GOD FOR THE CITY as we do here today. Evangelical churches were torn by violen t religious dissension. For nearly 50 years Protestant groups battled each other.
With a view toward uniting the churches, in 1562, Elector Frederick appointed two prominent church leaders to prepare a catechism replacing all other catechisms and confessions which had been used previously. The result was a series of 129 questions and answers, a simple summary of the meaning of the Christian Faith.
The primary theme is stated in the first Q & A, "What is your only comfort in life and death?
That I am not my own, but belong - body and s oul, in life and death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a away that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
With a view toward uniting the churches, in 1562, Elector Frederick appointed two prominent church leaders to prepare a catechism replacing all other catechisms and confessions which had been used previously. The result was a series of 129 questions and answers, a simple summary of the meaning of the Christian Faith.
The primary theme is stated in the first Q & A, "What is your only comfort in life and death?
That I am not my own, but belong - body an
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a away that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures my of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him". Heidelberg Catechism Q/A1.
"The Spirit calls all believers to embrace God's mission in their neighborhoods and in the world: to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and free the prisoner.
We repent of leaving this work to a few, for this mission is central to our being. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." Adapted from Our World Belongs to God 2008.
Earl Dykema
Peace Church
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