Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 3
Lord's Day 3 of the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that we were created for life with God, to know Him, love Him, and reflect His glory.
Lord's Day 3 of the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that we were created for life with God, to know Him, love Him, and reflect His glory. In other words, the brokenness we experience daily wasn’t part of God’s original design. Instead, it’s the result of humanity’s fall into sin—a condition that now touches every aspect of our being.
This week’s questions turn our focus to both the goodness of God’s creation and the tragedy of sin’s corruption. The catechism teaches us to see this stark contrast clearly, not to leave us in despair, but to deepen our longing for the restoration that only Christ can bring. In Him, we find the renewal of what was lost and the hope of eternal life.
Question 6:
Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse?
No, on the contrary, God created man good1 and in His own image,2 that is, in true righteousness and holiness;3 that he might rightly know God his Creator,4 heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him.5
1 Genesis 1:31; 2 Genesis 1:26-27; 3 Ephesians 4:24; 4 Colossians 3:10; 5 Psalm 8
Question 7:
From where, then, did man’s depraved nature come from?
From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,1 for there our nature became so corrupt2 that we are all conceived and born in sin.3
1 Genesis 3; 2 Romans 5:12, 18-19; 3 Psalm 51:5
Question 8
But are we so depraved, that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined to all evil?
Yes;1 unless we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.2
1 Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Job 14:4; Isaiah 53:6; 2 John 3:3-5
These questions remind us that sin isn’t merely a set of bad actions; it’s a condition of the heart that touches every aspect of our lives. And yet, God’s grace is greater than our sin. Through the Spirit’s work of regeneration, He begins a new creation in us—a foretaste of the eternal restoration He promises through Christ.
A Closing Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We acknowledge the depth of our fall and the corruption of our nature. Forgive us for the times we have lived as though You were distant or irrelevant to our lives. Thank You for creating us in Your image, for loving us even in our sin, and for making a way to restore us through Your Son.
Renew us by the power of Your Spirit. Restore in us a love for Your holiness and a longing to glorify You in all we do. As we go about this week, remind us that though sin runs deep, Your grace runs deeper still. May we trust in Christ’s sufficiency and live in the joy of Your promises.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Daily Bible Readings
Here are two suggested Bible reading plans for 2025:
New Testament in a Year
January 19 - Matthew 13:24-43
January 20 - Matthew 13:44-58
January 21 - Matthew 14:1-21
January 22 - Matthew 14:22-36
January 23 - Matthew 15:1-20
January 24 - Matthew 15:21-39
January 25 - Matthew 16
The Bible in a Year
January 19 - Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:24-43
January 20 - Genesis 49-50; Matthew 13:44-58
January 21 - Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21
January 22 - Exodus 4-6; Matthew 14:22-36
January 23 - Exodus 7-9; Matthew 15:1-20
January 24 - Exodus 10-12; Matthew 15:21-39
January 25 - Exodus 13-15; Matthew 16
