Pray for Each Other - Mining the Catechism

The Heidelberg Catechism doesn’t speak much about how we are advocates for each other, but it does speak beautifully about Christ as our advocate. I'm still trying to get my head and heart around the glory of such a truth!

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Q & A 31

Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father
and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit¹

to be our chief prophet and teacher²

who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance;³

our only high priest⁴

who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body,⁵
and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;⁶
and our eternal king⁷

who governs us by his Word and Spirit,
and who guards us and keeps us
in the freedom he has won for us.⁸

¹ Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-19 (Isa. 61:1); Heb. 1:9 (Ps. 45:7)
² Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15)
³ John 1:18; 15:15
⁴ Heb. 7:17 (Ps. 110:4)
⁵ Heb. 9:12; 10:11-14
⁶ Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24
⁷ Matt. 21:5 (Zech. 9:9)
⁸ Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:28; Rev. 12:10-11

Q & A 49

Q. How does Christ’s ascension to heaven
benefit us?

A. First, he is our advocate

in heaven
in the presence of his Father.¹

Second, we have our own flesh in heaven

as a sure pledge that Christ our head
will also take us, his members,
up to himself.²

Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth

as a corresponding pledge.³
By the Spirit’s power

we seek not earthly things
but the things above, where Christ is,

sitting at God’s right hand.⁴

¹ Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1
² John 14:2; 17:24; Eph. 2:4-6
³ John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5
⁴ Col. 3:1-4