The True Hope in Life and in Death
This question is the first of the Heidelberg Catechism, which represents an important confession of the Evangelical-Reformed Church.
The Gospel, often referred to as the „good news,“ is more than just a religious teaching. It describes the central message of Christianity: God’s love for humanity and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
When you Google the word „Gospel,“ you find that it refers not only to the Christian message of faith but also to a literary genre that deals with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. However, many sermons in churches, both in state churches and free churches, often fail to convey a deeper hope or meaning. Instead, they are frequently politically influenced or encourage people to remain in their mediocrity without inspiring genuine change.
Most church representatives swear by the confessions of the Reformation, including the Heidelberg Catechism and the Bible. Yet many do not adhere to the principles they are supposed to represent. The result is that many people do not know what true hope in life and in death is. This hope is the central message of the Gospel, which brings healing and redemption to humanity.
Healing means that God heals us and frees us from our injustice. Those who know the answer to the question of hope in life and death and have internalized it have experienced healing from God. You may lead a good life and have some everyday worries, but it is about more than just maintaining a certain economic standard. Because eventually, everyone dies, and life without a deeper meaning has no lasting result.
The question of the meaning of life and death often remains unanswered for most people. The Heidelberg Catechism not only asks about hope but also about comfort in life and in death. Hope and comfort are closely related and can be summarized under the concept of „meaning.“
The Gospel is summarized in John 3:16: „For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“ This verse is a clear summary of the Gospel and explains the solution to life’s problems.
God, the Creator, speaks to us and shares this wonderful message with us. It is a personal message to each individual, regardless of background or status.
God has demonstrated His love through Jesus Christ, who came to Earth as a human. Jesus was born in humble circumstances and lived among people. He lived a perfectly normal yet divinely righteous life and allowed Himself to be crucified for our injustices. Through this, God Himself „paid“ the atonement for each individual.
It is important to make a decision. It is about accepting the atonement that God has made for you and believing that He gave Himself for you.
If you do not make a decision, your life will continue to lack deeper meaning. You may live in a Christian context, but without the decision to accept God’s atonement, you remain unjust before God.
How do you accept the atonement that God suffered for you on the cross? By simply telling God that you accept this atonement. If you do not do this, the question of true hope in life and in death will remain unanswered.