The Heidelberg Catechism, penned in 1563, is a foundational Reformed confession that clarifies Christian doctrine through a question-and-answer format, offering believers comfort and assurance. This article continues our series exploring each Lord’s Day. Read the full series here.

Lord’s Day 22 (Questions 57–58) focuses on the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, highlighting the believer’s eternal hope secured by Christ’s redemptive work. Below, we explore each question, summarizing its significance and tying it to the theme of eternal hope through Christ’s victory.

What Comfort Does the Resurrection of the Body Afford You?

Question 57: What comfort does the resurrection of the body afford you?
Answer: That not only my soul, after this life, shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head, but also that this my body, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like the glorious body of Christ.

Summary: This question offers profound comfort in the promise of bodily resurrection. After death, the believer’s soul is immediately with Christ (Luke 23:43, ESV), and at the last day, their body will be raised and transformed to resemble Christ’s glorified body (Philippians 3:21, ESV). This hope assures us that death is not the end but a gateway to eternal, embodied life with Christ. It ties to the theme of Lord’s Day 22 by anchoring our hope in Christ’s resurrection power, which guarantees our future glory.

What Comfort Does Life Everlasting Afford You?

Question 58: What comfort does life everlasting afford you?
Answer: That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I shall inherit perfect salvation, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, to be with Christ forever in glory.

Summary: This question emphasizes the comfort of eternal life, which begins now through faith and culminates in perfect salvation. Beyond human imagination, this life involves eternal communion with Christ in glory (1 Corinthians 2:9, ESV). The present experience of joy through the Spirit assures believers of their future inheritance. This connects to the theme by highlighting Christ’s redemptive work as the source of our unending life with Him.

For Reflection

Lord’s Day 22 unveils the resurrection and life everlasting as the anchor of our faith. Christ’s victory ensures our bodily renewal and eternal joy, echoing His redemptive promise. Take these truths to heart: pray for strength to trust His resurrection power, rest in His eternal promise, and live for His glory.