Q: 1. Who is the first and
best of beings?
A: God is the first and best of beings. (Isaiah
44:6; Psalm 8:1; 97:9)
Q: 2. What is the chief end of
man?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him
forever. (1 Cor. 10:31; Psalm 73:25-26)
Q: 3. How do we know there is
a God?
A: The light of nature in man, and the works of God,
plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only, do
effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation. (Rom. 1:18-20;
Psalm 19:1,2; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:21-24; 1 Cor. 2:9,10)
Q: 4. What is the Word of
God?
A: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given
by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule
of faith and practice. (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Isaiah 8:20)
Q: 5. How do we know that the
Bible is the Word of God?
A: The Bible evidences itself to be
God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its
parts, its power to convert sinners and to edify saints; but the
Spirit of God only, bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in our
hearts, is able fully to persuade us that the Bible is the Word of
God. (1 Cor. 2:6,7,13; Ps. 119:18, 129; Acts 10:43, 26:22; Acts
18:28; Heb 4:12; Ps. 19:7-9; Rom. 15:4; John 16:13,14; 1 John
2:20-27; 2 Cor. 3:14-17)
Q: 6. May all men make use of
the Scriptures?
A: All men are not only permitted, but commanded
and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures. (John
5:39; Luke 16:29; Acts 8:28-30; 17:11)
Q: 7. What do the Scriptures
principally teach?
A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is
to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim.
3:16,17; John 20:31; Acts 24:14; 1 Cor. 10:11; Eccles. 12:13)
Q: 8. What is God?
A: God
is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being,
wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. (John 4:24; Ps.
147:5; Ps. 90:2; James 1:17; Rev. 4:8; Ps. 89:14; Exod. 34:6,7; 1
Tim. 1:17)
Q: 9. Are there more gods than
one?
A: There is but one only, the living and true God. (Deut.
6:4; Jeremiah 10:10)
Q: 10. How many persons are
there in the Godhead?
A: There are three persons in the Godhead,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one
God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory. (1 Cor. 8:6; John
10:30; John 14:9; Acts 5:3,4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)
Q: 11. What are the decrees of
God?
A: The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to
the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory, He has
fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:36; Dan.
4:35)
Q:
12. How does God execute His decrees?
A: God executes His decrees
in the works of creation and providence. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Matt.
6:26; Acts 14:17)
Q: 13. What is the work of
creation?
A: The work of creation is God’s making all things of
nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all
very good. (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3; Ex. 20:11; Gen. 1:31)
Q: 14. How did God create
man?
A: God created man male and female, after His own image, in
knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the
creatures. (Gen. 1:27; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24; Gen. 1:28)
Q: 15. What are God’s works of
providence?
A: God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise,
and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all
their actions. (Neh. 9:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Ps. 103:19; Matt.
10:29,30)
Q: 16. What special act of
providence did God exercise towards man, in the estate wherein he was
created?
A: When God had created man, He entered into a covenant
of works with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding
him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain
of death. (Gen. 2:16,17; Gal. 3:12; Rom. 5:12)
Q: 17. Did our first parents
continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A: Our first
parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the
estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (Gen. 3:6;
Eccles. 7:29; Rom. 5:12)
Q: 18. What is sin?
A: Sin
is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
(1 John 3:4; Rom. 5:13)
Q: 19. What was the sin
whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were
created?
A: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate
wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.
(Gen. 3:6,12,13)
Q: 20. Did all mankind fall in
Adam’s first transgression?
A: The covenant being made with Adam,
not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind, descending
from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in
his first transgression. (1 Cor. 15:21,22; Rom. 5:12,18,19)
Q: 21. Into what estate did
the fall bring mankind?
A: The fall brought mankind into an estate
of sin and misery. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:18,19: Is. 64:6)
Q: 22. Wherein consists the
sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell?
A: The sinfulness of
that estate whereunto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first
sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his
whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with
all actual transgressions which proceed from it. (Rom. 5:19; 3:10;
Eph. 2:1; Is. 53:6; Ps. 51:5; Matt. 15:19)
Q: 23. What is the misery of
that estate whereunto man fell?
A: All mankind, by their fall lost
communion with God, are under His wrath and curse, and so made liable
to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains
of hell forever. (Gen. 3:8,24; Eph. 2:3; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 6:23; Matt.
25:41-46; Ps. 9:17)
Q:
24. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and
misery?
A: God, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity,
having chosen a people to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant
of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to
bring them into an estate of salvation, by a Redeemer. (Eph. 1:3,4; 2
Thess. 2:13; Rom. 5:21; Acts 13:48; Jer. 31:33)
Q: 25. Who is the Redeemer of
God’s elect?
A: The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus
Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was and
continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person,
forever. (Gal. 3:13;1 Tim. 2:5; John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 9:5;
Col. 2:9) Q 26. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Q: 26.
How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A: Christ, the
Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a
reasonable soul; being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in
the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her, yet without sin. (Heb.
2:14; Matt. 26:38; Luke 2:52; John 12:27; Luke 1:31,35; Heb. 4:15;
7:26)
Q: 27.
What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A: Christ, as
our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of
a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation. (Acts 3:22;
Heb. 5:6; Ps. 2:6)
Q: 28.
How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A: Christ
executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by this Word
and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. (John 1:18; 14:26;
15:15)
Q: 29.
How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
A: Christ executes
the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself, a
sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in
making continual intercession for us. (1 Peter 2:24; Heb. 9:28; Eph.
5:2; Heb. 2:17; 7:25; Rom. 8:34)
Q: 30.
How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A: Christ executes
the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and
defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our
enemies. (Ps. 110:3; Matt. 2:6; 1 Cor. 15:25)
Q: 31.
Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A: Christ’s humiliation
consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition, made under
the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and
the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under
the power of death for a time. (Luke 2:7; Gal. 4:4; Is. 53:3; Luke
22:44; Matt. 27:46; Phil. 2:8; Matt. 12:40; Mark 15:45,46)
Q: 32.
Wherein consists Christ’s exaltation?
A: Christ’s exaltation
consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in
ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the
Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (1 Cor.
15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31)
Q: 33.
How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A:
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the
effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6;
Titus 3:5,6)
Q: 34.
How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by
Christ?
A: The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by
Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in
our effectual calling. (Eph. 2:8; 3:17)
Q:
35. What is effectual calling?
A: Effectual calling is the work of
God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,
enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our
wills, He does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely
offered to us in the Gospel. (2 Tim. 1:9; John 16:8-11; Acts 2:37;
26:18; Ezekiel 36:26; John 6:44,45; 1 Cor. 12:3)
Q: 36.
What benefits do they that are effectually called, partake of in this
life?
A: They that are effectually called, do in this life partake
of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits
which in this life do either accompany or flow from them. (Rom. 8:30;
Gal. 3:26; 1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:31,32; Eph. 1:5; 1 Cor. 1:30)
Q: 37.
What is justification?
A: Justification is an act of God’s free
grace, wherein He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous
in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and
received by faith alone. (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom.
5:19; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16)
Q: 38.
What is adoption?
A: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace,
whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the
privileges of the sons of God. (1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Rom. 8:16,17)
Q: 39.
What is sanctification?
A: Sanctification is a work of God’s free
grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,
and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto
righteousness. (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 4:23,24; Rom. 6:11)
Q: 40.
What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from
justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A: The benefits which
in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and
sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience,
joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein
to the end. (Rom. 5:1-5; 14:17; Prov. 4:18; 1 Peter 1:5;1 John 5:13)
Q: 41.
What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A: The
souls of believers are at death made perfect in holiness, and do
immediately pass into glory, and their bodies, being still united to
Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection. (Heb. 12:23;
Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8; Luke 23:43; 1 Thess 4:14; Is. 57:2; Job
19:26)
Q: 42.
What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the
Resurrection?
A: At the resurrection, believers become raised up
in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of
judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to
all eternity. (Phil. 3:20,21; 1 Cor. 15:42,43; Matt. 10:32; 1 John
3:2; 1 Thess. 4:17)
Q: 43.
What shall be done to the wicked at death?
A: The souls of the
wicked shall at death, be cast into the torments of hell, and their
bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and judgement of the
great day. (Luke 16:22-24; Ps. 49:14)
Q: 44.
What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgement?
A: At
the day of judgement, the bodies of the wicked, being raised out of
their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to
unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels forever. (Dan.
12:2; John 5:28,29; 2 Thess. 1:9; Matt. 25:41)
Q:
45. What is the duty which God requires of man?
A: The duty which
God requires of man, is obedience to His revealed will. (Micah 6:8;
Eccles. 12:13; Ps. 119:4; Luke 10:26-28)
Q: 46.
What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A:
The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the
moral law. (Rom. 2:14,15; 5:13,14)
Q: 47.
Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A: The moral law is
summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments. (Deut. 10:4; Matt.
19:17)
Q: 48.
What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?
A: The sum of the Ten
Commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with
all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our
neighbor as ourselves. (Matt. 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-33)
Q: 49.
What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?
A: The preface to the
Ten Commandments is, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
(Exodus 20:2)
Q: 50.
What does the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?
A: The
preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us, that because God is the
Lord, and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all
His commandments. (Deut 11:1)
Q: 51.
Which is the first commandment?
A: The first commandment is, “Thou
shalt have no other Gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Q: 52.
What is required in the first commandment?
A: The first
commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only
true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.
(Joshua 24:15; 1 Chron. 28:9; Deut. 26:17; Ps. 29:2; Matt. 4:10)
Q: 53.
What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A: The first
commandment forbids the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying
the true God, as God and our God; and the giving that worship and
glory to any other, which is due unto Him alone. (Joshua 24:27; Rom.
1:20,21; Ps. 14:1; Rom. 1:25)
Q: 54.
What are we especially taught by these words, “before me,”
in the first commandment?
A: These words, “before me”,
in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who sees all things,
takes notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any
other God. (Deut.30:17,18; Ps. 44:20,21; Ps. 90:8)
Q: 55.
Which is the second commandment?
A: The second commandment is,
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness
of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and
showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my
commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)
Q:
56. What is required in the second commandment?
A: The second
commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and
entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has
appointed in His Word. (Deut. 32:46; Matt. 28:20; Deut. 12:32)
Q: 57.
What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A: The second
commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other
way not appointed in His Word. (Rom. 1:22,23; Deut. 4:15,16; Matt.
15:9; Col. 2:18)
Q: 58.
What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A: The
reasons annexed to the second commandment, are, God’s sovereignty
over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He has for His own
worship. (Ps. 45:11; Ex. 34:14; 1 Cor. 10:22)
Q: 59.
Which is the third commandment?
A: The third commandment is, “Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
(Exodus 20:7)
Q: 60.
What is required in the third commandment?
A: The third
commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s names,
titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works. (Ps.29:2; Deut.
32:1-4; Deut.28:58,59; Ps.111:9; Matt. 6:9, Eccles. 5:1; Ps. 138:2,
Job 36:24; Rev. 15:3,4; Reve 4:8)
Q: 61.
What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A: The third
commandment forbids all profaning and abusing of any thing whereby
God makes Himself known. (Malachi 1:6,7; Lev. 20:3;19:12; Matt.
5:34-37; Isa. 52:5)
Q: 62.
What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A: The reason
annexed to the third commandment is, that howsoever the breakers of
this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God
will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgment. (Deut.
28:58,59; Malachi 2:2)
Q: 63.
Which is the fourth commandment?
A: The fourth commandment is,
“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son,
nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days
the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day
and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
Q: 64.
What is required in the fourth commandment?
A: The fourth
commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as He has
appointed in His Word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy
Sabbath to Himself. (Lev. 19:30; Deut. 5:12)
Q: 65.
Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
A:
From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God
appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and
the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the
world, which is the Christian Sabbath. (Gen. 2:3; John 20:19; Acts
20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; Rev. 1:10)
Q:
66. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?
A: The Sabbath is to
sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly
employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending
the time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship, except
so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.
(Lev. 23:3; Isa. 58:13,14; Isa. 66:23; Matt. 12:11,12)
Q: 67.
What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A: The fourth
commandment forbids the ommission or careless performance of the
duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that
which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or
works, about worldly employments or recreations. (Ezekiel 22:26;
23:38; Jer. 17:21; Neh. 13:15,17; Acts 20:7)
Q: 68.
What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A: The
reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six
days of the week for our own employments, His challenging a special
propriety in the seventh, His own example and His blessing the
Sabbath day. (Exodus 34:21; 31:16,17; Gen. 2:2,3)
Q: 69.
Which is the fifth commandment?
A: The fifth commandment is,
“Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon
the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)
Q: 70.
What is required in the fifth commandment?
A: The fifth
commandment requires the preserving the honor, and performing the
duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations,
as superiors, inferiors, or equals. (Lev. 19:32; 1 Peter 2:17; Rom.
13:1; Eph. 5:21,22; Eph. 6:1,5,9; Col. 3:19-22; Rom. 12:10)
Q: 71.
What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A: The fifth
commandment forbids the neglecting of, or doing anything against the
honor and duty which belongs to every one in their several places and
relations. (Prov. 30:17; Rom. 13:7,8)
Q: 72.
What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A: The reason
annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and
prosperity (as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good),
to all such as keep this commandment. (Eph. 6:2,3; Prov. 4:3-6;
6:20-22)
Q: 73.
Which is the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth commandment is, “Thou
shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)
Q: 74.
What is required in the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth
commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life
and the life of others. (Eph. 5:29,30; Ps. 82:3,4; Prov. 24:11,12;
Act 16:28)
Q: 75.
What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth
commandment forbids the taking away our own life, or the life of our
neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tends thereto. (Gen. 4:10,11; 9:6;
Matt. 5:21-26)
Q: 76.
Which is the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh commandment is,
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
Q: 77.
What is required in the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh
commandment requires the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s
chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior. (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2; 2 Tim.
2:22; Matt. 5:28; 1 Peter 3:2)
Q: 78.
What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh
commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. (Matt.
5:28-32; Job 31:1; Eph. 5:3,4; Rom. 13:13; Col. 4:6)
Q: 79.
Which is the eighth commandment?
A: The eighth commandment is,
“Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Q: 80.
What is required in the eighth commandment?
A: The eighth
commandment requires the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth
and outward state of ourselves and others. (Prov. 27:23; Lev. 25:35;
Deut. 15:10; 22:1-4)
Q: 81.
What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A: The eighth
commandment forbids whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or
our neighbor’s wealth or outward state. (1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 28:19;
23:20,21; Eph. 4:28)
Q: 82.
Which is the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth commandment is, “Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Exodus
20:16)
Q: 83.
What is required in the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth
commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between
man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially
in witness bearing. (Zech. 8:16; Acts 25:10; Eccles. 7:1; 3 John 12;
Prov. 14:5,25)
Q: 84.
What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth
commandment forbids whatsoever is pre- judicial to truth, or
injurious to our own, or our neighbor’s good name. (Eph. 4:25; Ps.
15:3; 2 Cor. 8:20,21)
Q: 85.
Which is the tenth commandment?
A: The tenth commandment is, “Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor’s wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” (Exodus
20:17)
Q: 86.
What is required in the tenth commandment?
A: The tenth
commandment requires full contentment with our own condition, with a
right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbor, and all
that is his. (Heb. 13:5;1 Tim. 6:6; Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Lev.
19:18)
Q: 87.
What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A: The tenth
commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate, envying
or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions
and affections to anything that is his. (1 Cor. 10:10; James 5:9;
Gal. 5:26; Col. 3:5)
Q: 88.
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A: No
mere man, since the fall, is able in this life, perfectly to keep the
commandments of God, but daily breaks them in thought, word, and
deed. (Eccles. 7:20; Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21; 1 John 1:8; James 3:8;
James 3:2; Rom. 3:23)
Q: 89.
What then is the purpose of the law since the fall?
A: The purpose
of the law, since, the fall, is to reveal the perfect righteousness
of God, that His people may know his will for their lives and the
ungodly, being convicted of their sin, may be restrained therein and
brought to Christ for salvation. (Ps. 19:7-11; Rom. 3:20,31; 7:7;
12:2; Titus 2:12-14; Gal. 3:22,24; 1 Tim. 1:8)
Q: 90. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A: Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. (Ezekiel 8:13; John 19:11; 1 John 5:16)
Q: 91.
What does every sin deserve?
A: Every sin deserves God’s wrath and
curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. (Eph.5:6;
Gal. 3:10; Prov. 3:33; Ps. 11:6; Rev. 21:8)
Q: 92.
What does God require of us, that we may escape His wrath and curse,
due to us for sin?
A: To escape the wrath and curse of God due to
us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto
life, with the diligent use of all the outward and ordinary means
whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption. (Acts
20:21; Acts 16:30,31; 17:30)
Q: 93.
What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A: Faith in Jesus Christ is a
saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for
salvation, as He is offered to us in the Gospel. (Heb. 10:39; John
1:12; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:15,16)
Q: 94.
What is repentance unto life?
A: Repentance unto life is a saving
grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and
apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and
hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and
endeavor after, new obedience. (Acts 2:37; Joel 2:13; Jer. 31:18,19:
2 Cor. 7:10,11; Rom. 6:18)
Q: 95.
What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates
to us the benefits of redemption?
A: The outward and ordinary
means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption
are His ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper
and Prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
(Rom. 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Cor. 3:5; Acts 14:1; 2:41,42)
Q: 96.
How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A: The Spirit of God
makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word an
effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building
them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation. (Ps.
119:11,18; 1 Thess. 1:6; 1 Peter 2:1,2; Rom. 1:16; Ps. 19:7)
Q: 97.
How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to
salvation?
A: That the Word may become effectual to salvation we
must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation and prayer, receive
it in faith and love, lay it up in our hearts and practice it in our
lives. (Prov. 8:34; 1 Peter 2:1,2; 1 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 2:1,3; Heb. 4:2;
2 Thess. 2:10; Ps. 119:11; James 1:21,25)
Q: 98.
How do Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means of
salvation?
A: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means
of salvation, not from any virtue in them or in him that administers
them, but only by the blessing of Christ and the working of His
Spirit in them that by faith receive them. (1 Peter 3:21; 1 Cor.
3:6,7; 1 Cor. 12:13)
Q: 99.
Wherein do Baptism and the Lord’s Supper differ from the other
ordinances of God?
A: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper differ from
the other ordinances of God in that they were specially instituted by
Christ to represent and apply to believers the benefits of the new
covenant by visible and outward signs. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 22:16;
Matt. 26:26-28; Rom. 6:4)
Q:
100. What is Baptism?
A: Baptism is an holy ordinance, wherein the
washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, signifies our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the
benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the
Lord’s. (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27)
Q: 101.
To whom is Baptism to be administered?
A: Baptism is to be
administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards
God, faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; and to none
other. (Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12,36; Acts
10:47,48)
Q: 102.
Are the infants of such as are professing believers to be
baptized?
A: The infants of such as are professing believers are
not to be baptized; because there is neither command nor example in
the Holy Scriptures, or certain consequence from them, to baptize
such.
Q: 103.
How is Baptism rightly administered?
A: Baptism is rightly
administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in
water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. (Matt. 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38,39)
Q: 104.
What is the duty of those who are rightly baptized?
A: It is the
duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up (join) themselves
to some visible and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may
walk in all the command- ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
(Acts 2:46,47; Acts 9:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 10:25; Rom. 16:5)
Q: 105.
What is the visible church?
A: The visible church is the organized
society of professing believers, in all ages and places, wherein the
Gospel is truly preached and the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper rightly administered. (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Acts 7:38; Eph.
4:11,12)
Q: 106.
What is the invisible church?
A: The invisible church is the whole
number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into
one under Christ the head. (Eph. 1:10; 1:22,23; John 10:16; 11:52)
Q: 107.
What is the Lord’s Supper?
A: The Lord’s Supper is a holy
ordinance, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according
to Christ’s appointment, His death is showed forth, and the worthy
receivers are, not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith,
made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their
spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. (1 Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16)
Q: 108.
What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?
A:
It is required of them that would worthily (that is, suitably)
partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their
knowledge to discern the Lord’s body; of their faith to feed upon
Him; of their repentance, love, and new obedience: lest, coming
unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. (1 Cor.
11:27-31; 1 Cor. 5:8; 2 Cor. 13:5)
Q: 109.
What is Prayer?
A: Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God,
for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with
confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies. (1
John 5:14; 1 John 1:9; Phil. 4:6; Ps. 10:17; 145:19; John 14:13,14)
Q:
110. What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?
A: The
whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special
rule of direction is that prayer, which Christ taught His disciples,
commonly called the Lord’s Prayer. (Matt. 6:9-13; 2 Tim. 3:16,17)
Q: 111.
What does the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?
A: The
preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, “Our Father, which art
in heaven,” teaches us to draw near to God, with all holy
reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to
help us, and that we should pray with and for others. (Matt. 6:9;
Luke 11:13; Rom. 8:15; Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1-3)
Q: 112.
What do we pray for in the first petition?
A: In the first
petition, which is “Hallowed be thy name,” we pray that God
would enable us and others to glorify Him in all that whereby He
makes Himself known, and that He would dispose all things to His own
glory. (Matt. 6:9; Ps. 67:1-3; Rom. 11:36; Rev. 4:11)
Q: 113.
What do we pray for in the second petition?
A: In the second
petition, which is “Thy kingdom come,” we pray that satan’s
kingdom may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be
advanced; ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and
that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. (Matt. 6:10; Ps. 68:1-18;
Rom. 10:1; 2 Thess. 3:1; Matt. 9:37,38; Rev. 22:20)
Q: 114.
What do we pray for in the third petition?
A: In the third
petition, which is, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in
heaven,” we pray that God by His grace, would make us able and
willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things, as the
angels do in heaven. (Matt. 6:10; Ps. 103:20,21; Ps. 25:4,5; Ps.
119:26)
Q: 115.
What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A: In the fourth
petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we
pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of
the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them. (Matt.
6:11; Prov. 30:8,9; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 4:4,5)
Q: 116.
What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A: In the fifth
petition, which is, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors,” we pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely
pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask,
because by His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
(Matt. 6:12; Ps. 51:1,3,7; Mark 11:25; Matt. 18:35)
Q: 117.
What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A: In the sixth
petition, which is, “And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil,” we pray that God would either keep us
from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are
tempted. (Matt. 6:13; 26:41; Ps. 19:13; 1 Cor. 10:13; John 17:15)
Q: 118.
What does the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?
A: The
conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, “For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen,” teaches
us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our
prayers to praise Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him;
and in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say,
AMEN. (Matt. 6:13; Dan. 9:18,19; 1 Chron. 29:11-13; 1 Cor. 14:16;
Phil. 4:6; Rev. 22:20)