Lord’s Day 32: Q&A 86-87: Why Do Good?

We have now reached the final part of the Heidelberg Catechism: Gratitude/Service. Now, that doesn’t mean that we are almost done by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, this third and final section is the longest at 21 Lord’s Days in length. We’ve talked at length many times about emphasis via time spent on a given subject, and this is no exception. The fairly standard teaching going into this part of the catechism is that the most important thing for the life of a Christian is how we live out our lives as followers of Christ, now that we know who God is and what he has done for us through Jesus. Now granted, from a practical standpoint, this might just be the longest part of the catechism because it goes through the Ten Commandments and every clause of The Lord’s Prayer, but the teaching is still valid.

Regardless, we start this section out by asking a pretty big question: If we are saved by Grace Alone, what’s the point of doing good works? The Apostle James has a lot to say about that, but so do the writers of the catechism. This is why the section is called Gratitude or Service: We do good works, in short, because they are an outpouring and overflowing of our gratitude to God for our salvation.

Lord’s Day 32

Q&A 86 & 87

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:12-13)

Holy and Blameless God,

When we enter your presence

The sin and evil in our lives are clear.

Rather than serve you as our good and loving Father,

We submit ourselves to the slavery of sin and flesh.

You call us to the light,

But we hide in secret and in shame.

Forgive us for our sins God.

Our covetousness, our unchastity, and our idolatry.

Forgive us and set us free

From everything that keeps us in the dark.

Shine the light of glory and righteousness on us today.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Ephesians 5:8, 20)

One: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God. By his blood we are redeemed.

CALL TO GODLY LIVING (1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 5:1, Romans 14:19, Matthew 5:16)

One: You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 

All: that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

One: Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love

All: Doing good works because of what Christ has done for us.

One: Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

All: So that the world may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.

Q&A 86

PARTING BLESSING (Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:1)

Having been redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice, go and be a living sacrifice. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, your neighbors would see the Father’s glory and love through our godly living.