Deliver Us from the Evil One - Mining the Catechism

The Heidelberg Catechism, one of our Confessions, points out our total dependence in this petition of the Lord’s Prayer. Despite the clear and present danger, we look forward to the complete victory.  

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Lord’s Day 52

Q & A 127

Q. What does the sixth petition mean?

A. “And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one” 
(Lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one) means:

By ourselves we are too weak
to hold our own even for a moment.¹
And our sworn enemies—

the devil,² the world,³ and our own flesh—⁴

never stop attacking us.

And so, Lord,
uphold us and make us strong

with the strength of your Holy Spirit,

so that we may not go down to defeat

in this spiritual struggle,⁵

but may firmly resist our enemies

until we finally win the complete victory.⁶

¹ Ps. 103:14-16; John 15:1-5
² 2 Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10-13; 1 Pet. 5:8
³ John 15:18-21
⁴ Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17
⁵ Matt. 10:19-20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3-5
⁶ 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23