how are you righteous?
From the Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
Question 59. But how does it help you now that you believe all this?
A: That I am righteous in Christ before God and an heir to life everlasting.
Question 60. How are you righteous before God?
A: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me—if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.
Question 61. Why do you say that through faith alone you are righteous?
A: Not because I please God by the worthiness of my faith, for only Christ's satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness are my righteousness before God, and I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.
Please, dear reader, please read those questions and answers again.
Slowly.
For there is so much in these questions and answers that would serve as the foundation of your joy, delight, and hope. So much ballast for your little boat when tossed violently by the waves of doubt that would assail your understanding of your true standing before your Holy Father.
So take these words, written by faithful followers of Jesus over 450 years ago, and use them today to bind your heart to Christ. For “only Christ’s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness are [your] righteousness,” and if you come to him, with the empty hands of faith, he will freely grant all this—and more—to you.
Hallelujah, praise Jesus.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13, New Living Translation
