LD 1B - Our Quest for Comfort

This morning we began a year-long study on the Christian faith as summarized by the Heidelberg Catechism.

Our greatest need in a fallen world is true comfort for body and soul in life and death. Everyone believes in something that they believe centers them and helps fight against the afflictions that are so plentiful in our lives. The catechism calls that thing "comfort."

Belonging to Christ is the only way to be truly comforted. The gospel can comfort you so that you can live and die gladly! The study of the Christian faith is a study in joy; a profound happiness that comes from knowing that God is your closest friend because of the gift of Jesus.

And the catechism can help us experience the joy of belonging to Jesus. On the other side of the first question and answer is a study of the Bible's main themes: our misery, God's deliverance, and our gratitude. This format follows the book of Romans. Chapters 1–3 focus on our radical depravity, chapters 4–11 focus on God's deliverance of his people through Jesus, and chapters 12–16 focus on how to live as pleasing sacrifices in light of God's mercy.

Let's better understand the three parts of our quest for comfort.