Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 8

Last week, we explored the heart of the gospel: salvation is received by faith alone. We learned that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a personal trust in Christ, resting in His finished work. This brings us to a natural question: What do we believe? What are the essential truths in which saving faith rests?

This week, the catechism turns our attention to the content of our faith, specifically the Apostles' Creed. The Creed is not just a historical document; it is a concise summary of biblical truth, a confession that has united believers across centuries and continents. It shows us that faith is not a blind leap into the unknown but a confident trust in what God has revealed about Himself.

The Apostles’ Creed leads us to confess our belief in the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and the mighty works He has accomplished for our salvation. This is the foundation of Christian faith, a faith that is both personal and communal, rooted in the historic truths proclaimed by the church.

What is True Faith?

True faith is more than just knowing facts about God or nodding in agreement with Christian teachings. The Reformers described saving faith with three Latin terms: notitia, assensus, and fiducia. These three aspects help us understand that faith involves more than mere intellectual assent—it is a personal and transformative trust in Christ.

1. Notitia (Knowledge) – This is the content of our faith. It means knowing the essential truths of the gospel—who God is, what Christ has done, and how we are saved. This is where the Apostles' Creed comes in. It provides a summary of these truths, grounding our faith in the historical facts of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Without knowledge, faith has no foundation. But knowledge alone is not enough.
2. Assensus (Assent) – This is agreeing that what we know is true. It’s more than just being informed; it’s being convinced of the truth of the gospel. It means acknowledging that the facts about Christ are not only historically accurate but also personally relevant. It’s recognizing that Jesus truly is the Savior, that His death truly atoned for sin, and that His resurrection truly defeated death. Yet, even this conviction is not sufficient.
3. Fiducia (Trust) – This is the heart of saving faith. It is not merely agreeing with the facts or acknowledging their truth but personally trusting in Christ alone for salvation. Fiducia is the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. It is leaning your whole weight on Christ, resting in His finished work, and relying on His grace alone. It’s the deep, personal confidence that He is sufficient, and that His righteousness covers you completely.

Saving faith, therefore, is not a vague optimism or a mere acknowledgment of facts—it is a deep and personal trust in Christ alone for salvation. It involves knowing the truth (notitia), agreeing with it (assensus), and trusting in it (fiducia). This is why the catechism emphasizes that faith is both knowledge and assurance—a trust created in us by the Holy Spirit through the gospel.

Question 24

How are these articles divided?

Into three parts: the first is about God the Father and our creation; the second, about God the Son and our redemption; the third, about God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.

Question 25

Since there is only one God,¹ why do you speak of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Because God has so revealed Himself in His Word,² that these three distinct Persons are the one, true, eternal God.

¹ Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6, 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; ² Genesis 1:2-3; Isaiah 61, 63:8-10; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-19; Luke 4:18; John 14:26, 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; Titus 3:5-6

Here we see the beautiful simplicity of the Creed’s structure: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This reflects the very nature of God as Triune—three Persons in one essence, perfectly united in will and purpose. It also shows us that our salvation is a work of the whole Trinity: the Father planned it, the Son accomplished it, and the Spirit applies it.

The doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery beyond full human comprehension, but it is not a contradiction. God is one in essence and three in Person. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father—yet each is fully and eternally God. This is not merely a theological puzzle but the very foundation of our faith and hope. It means that God is relational in His very being, a God of love and communion, inviting us into fellowship with Him.

This week, we are reminded that true faith is anchored in the truth of who God is. We do not believe in an abstract force or an impersonal deity, but in the living, Triune God who has revealed Himself in Scripture and acted in history to redeem us. To confess the Apostles' Creed is to confess the God who created us, saved us, and sanctifies us.

The Necessity of True Faith

Faith is the means by which we are grafted into Christ and receive all His benefits. But it is not a work that earns salvation; it is the open hand that receives the gift. This truth is both humbling and liberating. It means that salvation does not rest on our performance but on Christ’s sufficiency. It means that faith is not about our strength but about His faithfulness.

A Closing Prayer

Holy and Triune God,

We marvel at the mystery of Your being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three Persons. We thank You for revealing Yourself to us, for making Yourself known through Your Word and in history. Deepen our faith and understanding, that we may worship You in spirit and in truth.

Strengthen our confidence in Your promises, and help us to live out the hope we confess.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Daily Bible Readings

New Testament in a Year

February 23 – Mark 2:1-22
February 24 – Mark 2:23-3:12
February 25 – Mark 3:13-35
February 26 – Mark 4:1-20
February 27 – Mark 4:21-41
February 28 – Mark 5:1-20
February 29 – Mark 5:21-43

The Bible in a Year

February 23 – Numbers 21-22; Mark 2:1-22
February 24 – Numbers 23-25; Mark 2:23-3:12
February 25 – Numbers 26-27; Mark 3:13-35
February 26 – Numbers 28-29; Mark 4:1-20
February 27 – Numbers 30-31; Mark 4:21-41
February 28 – Numbers 32-33; Mark 5:1-20
February 29 – Numbers 34-36; Mark 5:21-43