Free Republic

I’ve just returned from Heidelberg, Germany, where I joined brothers and sisters from around the world to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. In addition to illuminating papers and warm fellowship, we enjoyed one of the city’s several museum exhibits celebrating the anniversary. Of special note was the Heidelberg Palace exhibit, “The Power of Faith: 450 Years of the Heidelberg Catechism.” Frederick III, ruler of the Palatinate and imperial elector, was nicknamed “the pious” by fellow princes. Embracing Reformed teaching, he was distressed with the low level of knowledge of even the basics of the Christian faith in...

(Kersten, The Heidelberg Catechism in 52 Sermons, Vol.2, Part 14) God's Watch Over the Life of Man Lord's Day 40 Psalter No. 13 st. 1, 2 Read Ezekiel 33:1-20 Psalter No. 3 st. 3, 4 Psalter No. 428 st. 7 Psalter No. 9 st. 2 Beloved! You have just heard that familiar verse in Ezekiel 33, which was read to you: "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Now the question arises: how can you reconcile this text with what...

(Kersten, The Heidelberg Catechism in 52 Sermons, Vol.2, Part 12) Keeping the Lord's Day Holy Lord's Day 38 Psalter No. 420 st. 1 Read Matthew 11:11-30 Psalter No. 348 st. 1, 2, 3 Psalter No. 227 st. 1 Psalter No. 250 st. 1 & 5 Beloved, In the passage of Scripture which was read to you, the Lord invites those who labor and are heavy laden, saying, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." The Lord did not mean those who labor physically, or those who are laden with external difficulties. This is very clear from the sharp...

(Kersten, The Heidelberg Catechism in 52 Sermons, Vol.2, Part 11) Swearing An Oath Religiously Lord's Day 37 Psalter No. 389 st. 1, 6 Read Isaiah 54 Psalter No. 243 st. 6-9 Psalter No. 428 st. 8 Psalter No. 24 st. 1, 2 Beloved, God cannot lie. He is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Nevertheless, He has not only given us His Word, but also the confirmation of that Word with an oath, so that the power of unbelief might be broken in His people, and the strength of their...