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METHOD OF INSTRUCTION IN THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AS THE SAME IS TAUGHT IN THE REFORMED CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS IN HOLLAND AND IN AMERICA
The Heidelberg Catechism received its name from being composed in Heidelberg at the request of Elector Frederick III (1516–1576), ruler of the Palatinate, an influential German province. To secure harmony in Protestant teaching and to facilitate the establishment of the Reformed faith in his province, this pious prince commissioned Zacharias Ursinus (1534–1583), twenty-eight years of age and professor of theology at the Heidelberg University, and Caspar Olevianus (1536–1587), twenty-six years old and Frederick’s court preacher, to prepare a Reformed catechism for instructing the youth and guiding pastors and teachers. Of these two young and learned divines, Ursinus bore the primary responsibility for the Catechism’s material content, while Olevianus was more involved in final composition and editing. Blessed by the Spirit, “the learning of Ursinus and the eloquence of Olevianus are reflected in the final product—a catechism of unusual power and beauty, an acknowledged masterpiece.” Further, Frederick indicates that many others, including the theological faculty and the chief officers of the Palatinate church, provided assistance in perfecting its final reading.
After the Catechism was approved by a Heidelberg Synod in January 1563, three additional German editions, each with small additions, as well as a Latin translation, were published the same year in Heidelberg. The fourth edition is regarded as the official text of the Catechism and is used as a basis for the English translation printed on the following pages.
When the first edition of the Heidelberg Catechism appeared, the German Bible had not yet been divided into verses. Consequently, Scripture passages listed in the margin included only book and chapter. Moreover, the Catechism’s questions were not numbered. A Latin translation soon rectified these problems by including verse references and numbering the questions. Moreover, the Catechism was also soon divided into fifty-two sections so that one section—referred to as “Lord’s Day”—could be expounded each Sunday of the year.
In this present edition the more than 700 textual references have been printed in full for good reason. The Catechism contains more prooftexts than other catechisms of its day because its authors wanted it to be “an echo of the Bible.” These prooftexts were to be regarded as an important part of the Catechism, as noted in Frederick’s original preface: “The Scripture proof by which the faith of the children is confirmed are such only as have been selected with great pains from the divinely inspired Scriptures.”
The Heidelberg Catechism’s 129 questions and answers are divided into three parts patterned after the book of Romans. After a moving introduction related to the true believer’s comfort, questions 3–11 consider the experience of sin and misery (Romans 1–3:20); questions 12–85 are concerned with redemption in Christ and faith (Romans 3:21–11:36), incorporating a lengthy exposition of the Apostles’ Creed and the sacraments; questions 86–129 stress true gratitude for God’s deliverance (Romans 12–16), primarily through a consideration of the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. One of the Catechism’s precious distinctives is its presentation of doctrines with clarity and warm piety in an experiential, practical manner. It is more subjective than objective, more spiritual than dogmatical. It is not surprising that the Catechism, so personal and devotional throughout as exemplified in its use of singular pronouns, has been called “the book of comfort” for God’s people.
The Catechism was translated already in 1563 into Dutch by Petrus Dathenus and was published in his rhymed Psalter in 1566. Its personal style and experiential content soon won the love of God’s people also in the Netherlands. Already that same year Peter Gabriel set a pattern for Dutch ministers by expounding the Catechism every Sunday afternoon to his Amsterdam congregation. Moreover, the Catechism was approved by the Synods of Wesel (1568), Embden (1571), Dort (1578), the Hague (1586), as well as the great Synod of Dort (1618–1619), which officially adopted it as the second of the Three Forms of Unity and made its weekly exposition by the ministers obligatory.
The Heidelberg Catechism has been translated into all European and dozens of Asiatic and African languages. It is thought to have been circulated more widely than any other book “except the Bible, The Imitation of Christ, and Pilgrim’s Progress.” Diffused with the unction of the Spirit, soundly Calvinistic, yet moderate in tone and irenic in spirit, this precious “book of comfort” remains the most widely used and warmly praised catechism of the Reformation period.
LORD’S DAY 1
Question 1: What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death,[1] am not my own,[2] but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;[3] who, with His precious blood,[4] hath fully satisfied for all my sins,[5] and delivered me from all the power of the devil;[6] and so preserves me[7] that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;[8] yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation,[9] and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,[10] and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.[11]
Question 2: How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
Answer: Three;[12] the first, how great my sins and miseries are;[13] the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries;[14] the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.[15]
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[1]1 Cor. 6:19–20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
[2]Rom. 14:7–9, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living.
[3]1 Cor. 3:23, And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
[4]1 Pet. 1:18–19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
[5]John 1:7, The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.
[6]1 John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Heb. 2:14–15, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
[7]John 6:39, And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 10:28–29, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.
[8]Luke 21:18, But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Matt. 10:30, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
[9]Rom. 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
[10]2 Cor. 1:22, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Cor. 5:5, Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
[11]Rom. 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom. 7:22, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
[12]Luke 24:47, And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[13]1 Cor. 6:10–11, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
John 9:41, Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Rom. 3:10, 19, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
[14]John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
[15]Eph. 5:8–10, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
THE FIRST PART — OF THE MISERY OF MAN
LORD’S DAY 2
Question 3: Whence knowest thou thy misery?
Answer: Out of the law of God.[1]
Question 4: What doth the law of God require of us?
Answer: Christ teaches us that briefly, Matthew 22:37–40, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”[2]
Question 5: Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?
Answer: In no wise;[3] for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbor.[4]
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[1]Rom. 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
[2]Luke 10:27, And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
[3]Rom. 3:10, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[4]Rom. 8:7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Titus 3:3, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
LORD’S DAY 3
Question 6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
Answer: By no means; but God created man good,[1] and after His own image, in true righteousness and holiness,[2] that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love Him and live with Him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise Him.[3]
Question 7: Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?
Answer: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise;[4] hence our nature is become so corrupt that we are all conceived and born in sin.[5]
Question 8: Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?
Answer: Indeed we are,[6] except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.[7]
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[1]Gen. 1:31, And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
[2]Gen. 1:26–27, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Col. 3:10, And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.
Eph. 4:24, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[3]Eph. 1:6, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1 Cor. 6:20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
[4]Gen. 3:6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Rom. 5:12, 18–19, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[5]Ps. 51:5, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Gen. 5:3, And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.
[6]Gen. 6:5, And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Job 14:4, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Job 15:14, 16, What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
[7]John 3:5, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Eph. 2:5, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).
LORD’S DAY 4
Question 9: Doth not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in His law that which he cannot perform?
Answer: Not at all;[1] for God made man capable of performing it;[2] but man, by the instigation of the devil,[3] and his own wilful disobedience, deprived himself and all his posterity of those divine gifts.[4]
Question 10: Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
Answer: By no means; but is terribly displeased[5] with our original as well as actual sins; and will punish them in His just judgment temporally and eternally,[6] as He hath declared, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”[7]
Question 11: Is not God then also merciful?
Answer: God is indeed merciful,[8] but also just; therefore His justice requires[9] that sin which is committed against the most high majesty of God be also punished with extreme,[10] that is, with everlasting punishment of body and soul.[11]
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[1]Eccl. 7:29, Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
[2]John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2 Cor. 11:3, But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[3]Gen. 3:4, 7, And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
[4]Rom. 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
[5]Ps. 5:5, The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
[6]Rom. 1:18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
Deut. 28:15, But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
Heb. 9:27, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
[7]Deut. 27:26, Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Gal. 3:10, For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[8]Ex. 34:6, And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
[9]Ex. 20:5, 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.
Job 34:10–11, Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall He render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[10]Ps. 5:5–6, The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
[11]Gen. 2:17, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Rom. 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE SECOND PART—OF MAN’S DELIVERANCE
LORD’S DAY 5
Question 12: Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?
Answer: God will have His justice satisfied,[1] and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves or by another.[2]
Question 13: Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?
Answer: By no means;[3] but on the contrary we daily increase our debt.[4]
Question 14: Can there be found anywhere one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?
Answer: None; for, first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man hath committed;[5] and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin, so as to deliver others from it.[6]
Question 15: What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?
Answer: For one who is very man,[7] and perfectly righteous; and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also very God.[8]
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[1]Ex. 20:5, 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.
[2]Deut. 24:16, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
2 Cor. 5:14–15, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.
[3]Job 9:2–3, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand.
Job 15:14–16, What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
[4]Matt. 6:12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Isa. 64:6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
[5]Ezek. 18:20, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
[6]Rev. 5:3, And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Ps. 49:8–9, (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
[7]1 Cor. 15:21, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Rom. 8:3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
[8]Rom. 9:5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Isa. 7:14, Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
LORD’S DAY 6
Question 16: Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?
Answer: Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin;[1] and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.[2]
Question 17: Why must He in one person be also very God?
Answer: That He might by the power of His Godhead sustain in His human nature the burden of God’s wrath;[3] and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life.[4]
Question 18: Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God, and a real righteous man?
Answer: Our Lord Jesus Christ,[5] “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”[6]
Question 19: Whence knowest thou this?
Answer: From the holy gospel, which God Himself first revealed in Paradise;[7] and afterwards published by the patriarchs and prophets,[8] and represented by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;[9] and lastly, has fulfilled it by His only begotten Son.[10]
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[1]Rom. 5:12, 15, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; but not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
[2]1 Pet. 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
Isa. 53:11, He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
[3]1 Pet. 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
Acts 2:24, Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.
Isa. 53:8, He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken.
[4]1 John 1:2, (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us).
Jer. 23:6, In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
2 Tim. 1:10, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
John 6:51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
[5]Matt. 1:23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
1 Tim. 3:16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Luke 2:11, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
[6]1 Cor. 1:30, But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
[7]Gen. 3:15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
[8]Gen. 22:17–18, That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.
Gen. 28:14, And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Rom. 1:2, (Which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures).
Heb. 1:1, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
John 5:46, For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me.
[9]Heb. 10:7–8, Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God. Above when He said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law.
[10]Rom. 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Heb. 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
LORD’S DAY 7
Question 20: Are all men then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?
Answer: No; only those who are ingrafted into Him,[1] and receive all His benefits, by a true faith.[2]
Question 21: What is true faith?
Answer: True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word,[3] but also an assured confidence,[4] which the Holy Ghost[5] works by the gospel in my heart,[6] that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin,[7] everlasting righteousness and salvation[8] are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.[9]
Question 22: What is then necessary for a Christian to believe?
Answer: All things promised us in the gospel,[10] which the articles of our catholic undoubted Christian faith briefly teach us.
Question 23: What are these articles?
Answer:
I. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
II. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord;
III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;
IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell;
V. The third day He arose again from the dead;
VI. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
VII. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead;
VIII. I believe in the Holy Ghost;
IX. I believe an holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
X. The forgiveness of sins;
XI. The resurrection of the body;
XII. And the life everlasting. Amen.
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[1]Matt. 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
Isa. 53:11, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
[2]John 1:12–13, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Rom. 11:20, Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear.
Heb. 10:39, But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
[3]John 6:69, And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
Heb. 11:3, 6, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
[4]Eph. 3:12, In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.
[5]Rom. 4:16, 20–21, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
Heb. 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Eph. 3:12, In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.
Rom. 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Cor. 1:21, For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Acts 16:14, And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Matt. 16:17, And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.
John 3:5, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[6]Rom. 10:14, 17, How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Matt. 9:2, And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
[7]Rom. 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[8]Gal. 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
[9]Rom. 3:24–26, Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
[10]John 20:31, But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
Matt. 28:19–20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
LORD’S DAY 8
Question 24: How are these articles divided?
Answer: Into three parts; the first is of God the Father and our creation;[1] the second, of God the Son and our redemption;[2] the third, of God the Holy Ghost and our sanctification.[3]
Question 25: Since there is but one only divine essence,[4] why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
Answer: Because God hath so revealed Himself in His Word,[5] that these three distinct persons are the one only true and eternal God.
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[1]Gen. 1.
[2]1 Pet. 1:18–19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
[3]1 Pet. 1:21–22, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
[4]Deut. 6:4, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
[5]Gen. 1:26, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Isa. 61:1, The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
John 14:16–17, And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
1 John 5:7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
John 1:13, Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
2 Cor. 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
OF GOD THE FATHER
LORD’S DAY 9
Question 26: What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?”
Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;[1] who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence)[2] is for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;[3] and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;[4] for He is able to do it, being Almighty God,[5] and willing, being a faithful Father.[6]
_______________
[1]Gen. 1 and 2.
Ps. 33:6, By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
[2]Ps. 115:3, But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
Matt. 10:29, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Heb. 1:3, Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
John 5:17, But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
[3]John 1:12, 16, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Rom. 8:15–16, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Gal. 4:5–6, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Eph. 1:5, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
1 John 3:1, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
[4]Ps. 55:22, Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Matt. 6:26, Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
[5]Rom. 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Rom. 4:21, And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
[6]Rom. 10:12, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
Matt. 6:26, Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matt. 7:9–11, Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?
LORD’S DAY 10
Question 27: What dost thou mean by the providence of God?
Answer: The almighty and everywhere present power of God;[1] whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;[2] so that herbs and grass, rain and drought,[3] fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,[4] health and sickness,[5] riches and poverty,[6] yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.[7]
Question 28: What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?
Answer: That we may be patient in adversity;[8] thankful in prosperity;[9] and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,[10] that nothing shall separate us from His love;[11] since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.[12]
_______________
[1]Acts 17:25–28, Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
[2]Heb. 1:3, Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
[3]Jer. 5:24, Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
[4]Acts 14:17, Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
[5]John 9:3, Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
[6]Prov. 22:2, The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
Job 1:21, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
[7]Matt. 10:29–30, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Eph. 1:11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.
[8]Rom. 5:3, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Ps. 39:10, Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand.
[9]Deut. 8:10, When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.
1 Thes. 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
[10]Rom. 5:3–6, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
[11]Rom. 8:38–39, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[12]Job 1:12, And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
Job 2:6, And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Matt. 8:31, So the devils besought Him, saying, If Thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
Isa. 10:15, Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
OF GOD THE SON
LORD’S DAY 11
Question 29: Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, a Savior?
Answer: Because He saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins;[1] and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.[2]
Question 30: Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?
Answer: They do not; for though they boast of Him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;[3] for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in Him necessary to their salvation.[4]
_______________
[1]Matt. 1:21, And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
[2]Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
[3]1 Cor. 1:13, 31, Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Gal. 5:4, Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
[4]Col. 2:20, Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
Isa. 9:6–7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Col. 1:19–20, For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
LORD’S DAY 12
Question 31: Why is He called Christ, that is, anointed?
Answer: Because He is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost,[1] to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,[2] who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us,[3] and makes continual intercession with the Father for us;[4] and also to be our eternal King,[5] who governs us by His word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us[6] in the enjoyment of that salvation He has purchased for us.
Question 32: But why art thou called a Christian?
Answer: Because I am a member of Christ by faith,[7] and thus am partaker of His anointing;[8] that so I may confess His name,[9] and present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him;[10] and also that with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life,[11] and afterwards reign with Him eternally, over all creatures.[12]
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[1]Heb. 1:9, Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
[2]Deut. 18:18, I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Acts 3:22, For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.
John 1:18, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.
John 15:15, Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.
Matt. 11:27, All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
[3]Ps. 110:4, The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Heb. 7:21, (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.)
Heb. 10:14, For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
[4]Rom. 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[5]Ps. 2:6, Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion.
Luke 1:33, And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
[6]Matt. 28:18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
John 10:28, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
[7]1 Cor. 6:15, Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
[8]1 John 2:27, But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
Joel 2:28, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
[9]Matt. 10:32, Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
[10]Rom. 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[11]Eph. 6:11–12, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Tim. 1:18–19, This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.
[12]2 Tim. 2:12, If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.
LORD’S DAY 13
Question 33: Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?
Answer: Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God;[1] but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for His sake.[2]
Question 34: Wherefore callest thou Him our Lord?
Answer: Because He hath redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with His precious blood, and hath delivered us from all the power of the devil; and thus hath made us His own property.[3]
_______________
[1]John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Heb. 1:2, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.
[2]Rom. 8:15–17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
Eph. 1:5–6, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[3]1 Pet. 1:18–19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Cor. 6:20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
LORD’S DAY 14
Question 35: What is the meaning of these words —“He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”?
Answer: That God’s eternal Son, who is,[1] and continueth true and eternal God,[2] took upon Him the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary,[3] by the operation of the Holy Ghost;[4] that He might also be the true seed of David,[5] like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted.[6]
Question 36: What profit dost thou receive by Christ’s holy conception and nativity?
Answer: That He is our Mediator,[7] and with His innocence and perfect holiness, covers in the sight of God, my sins,[8] wherein I was conceived and brought forth.
_______________
[1]John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Col. 1:15, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
Ps. 2:7, I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee.
[2]Rom. 9:5, Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
1 John 5:20, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
[3]John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Gal. 4:4, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
[4]Matt. 1:18, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
[5]Ps. 132:2, How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob.
Acts 2:30, Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne.
Rom. 1:3, Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.
[6]Phil. 2:7, But God made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Heb. 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
[7]Heb. 2:16–17, For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
[8]Ps. 32:1, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
1 Cor. 1:30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Rom. 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
LORD’S DAY 15
Question 37: What dost thou understand by the words, “He suffered”?
Answer: That He, all the time that He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, sustained in body and soul[1] the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind; that so by His passion, as the only propitiatory sacrifice,[2] He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the favor of God, righteousness and eternal life.
Question 38: Why did He suffer under Pontius Pilate as judge?
Answer: That He, being innocent, and yet condemned by a temporal judge,[3] might thereby free us from the severe judgment of God to which we were exposed.[4]
Question 39: Is there anything more in His being crucified than if He had died some other death?
Answer: Yes, there is; for thereby I am assured, that He took on Him the curse which lay upon me; for the death of the cross was accursed of God.[5]
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[1]1 Pet. 2:24, Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Isa. 53:12, Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
[2]1 John 2:2, And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Rom. 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
[3]Luke 23:14, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him.
John 19:4, Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.
Ps. 69:4, They that hate Me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
[4]Gal. 3:13–14, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[5]Deut. 21:23, His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Gal. 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
LORD’S DAY 16
Question 40: Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself even unto death?
Answer: Because with respect to the justice and truth of God, satisfaction for our sins could be made no otherwise[1] than by the death of the Son of God.[2]
Question 41: Why was He also “buried”?
Answer: Thereby to prove that He was really dead.[3]
Question 42: Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?
Answer: Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal life.[4]
Question 43: What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?
Answer: That by virtue thereof our old man is crucified, dead and buried with Him;[5] that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us,[6] but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.[7]
Question 44: Why is there added, “He descended into hell”?
Answer: That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which He was plunged during all His sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.[8]
_______________
[1]Gen. 2:17, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
[2]Heb. 2:9–10, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Phil. 2:8, And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[3]Acts 13:29, And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre.
Mark 15:43, 46, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
[4]John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Phil. 1:23, For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
[5]Rom. 6:6, 7 &c, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[6]Rom. 6:12, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[7]Rom. 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[8]Isa. 53:10, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Matt. 27:46, And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
LORD’S DAY 17
Question 45: What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us?
Answer: First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of that righteousness which He had purchased for us by His death;[1] secondly, we are also by His power raised up to a new life;[2] and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.[3]
_______________
[1]1 Cor. 15:16, For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.
[2]Rom. 6:4, Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Col. 3:1, &c, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[3]1 Cor. 15
Rom. 8:11, But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
LORD’S DAY 18
Question 46: How dost thou understand these words, “He ascended into heaven”?
Answer: That Christ, in sight of His disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven;[1] and that He continues there for our interest[2] until He comes again to judge the quick and the dead.
Question 47: Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as He hath promised?
Answer: Christ is very man and very God; with respect to His human nature, He is no more on earth;[3] but with respect to His Godhead, majesty, grace and Spirit, He is at no time absent from us.
Question 48: But if His human nature is not present, wherever His Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?
Answer: Not at all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and omnipresent,[4] it must necessarily follow that the same is beyond the limits of the human nature He assumed,[5] and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.
Question 49: Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?
Answer: First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven;[6] secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He, as the head, will also take up to Himself, us, His members;[7] thirdly, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest,[8] by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God,” and not things on earth.[9]
_______________
[1]Acts 1:9, And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Mark 16:19, So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[2]Heb. 4:14, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Rom. 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Eph. 4:10, He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
[3]Acts 3:21, Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
John 3:13, And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
John 16:28, I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Matt. 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
[4]Acts 7:49, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest?
Matt. 24:30, And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
[5]Matt. 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 16:28, I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 17:11, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 3:13, And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
[6]Heb. 9:24, For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
1 John 2:2, And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Rom. 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[7]John 14:2, In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Eph. 2:6, And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
[8]John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.
2 Cor. 1:22, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Cor. 5:5, Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
[9]Col. 3:1, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Phil. 3:20, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
LORD’S DAY 19
Question 50: Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God”?
Answer: Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that He might appear as head of His church,[1] by whom the Father governs all things.[2]
Question 51: What profit is this glory of Christ, our Head, unto us?
Answer: First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly graces upon us His members;[3] and then that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.[4]
Question 52: What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?
Answer: That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered Himself for my sake to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven;[5] who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,[6] but shall translate me with all His chosen ones to Himself, into heavenly joys and glory.[7]
_______________
[1]Eph. 1:20–22, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church.
Col. 1:18, And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
[2]Matt. 28:18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
[3]Eph. 4:8, Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
[4]Ps. 2:9, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
John 10:28, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
[5]Luke 21:28, And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Rom. 8:23–24, And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
1 Thes. 4:16, For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
[6]2 Thes. 1:6–9, Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
Matt. 25:41, Then He shall say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
[7]Matt. 25:34, Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST
LORD’S DAY 20
Question 53: What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?
Answer: First, that He is true and coeternal God with the Father and the Son;[1] secondly, that He is also given me,[2] to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits,[3] that He may comfort me[4] and abide with me for ever.[5]
_______________
[1]Gen. 1:2, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Isa. 48:16, Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD God, and His Spirit, hath sent Me.
1 Cor. 3:16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
[2]Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
2 Cor. 1:22, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
[3]Gal. 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1 Pet. 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
[4]Acts 9:31, Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
[5]John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.
1 Pet. 4:14, If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.
LORD’S DAY 21
Question 54: What believest thou concerning the “holy catholic church” of Christ?
Answer: That the Son of God[1] from the beginning to the end of the world,[2] gathers,[3] defends, and preserves to Himself[4] by His Spirit and Word,[5] out of the whole human race,[6] a Church chosen to everlasting life,[7] agreeing in true faith; and that I am and for ever shall remain, a living member thereof.[8]
Question 55: What do you understand by “the communion of saints”?
Answer: First, that all and every one who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, partakers of Him, and of all His riches and gifts;[9] secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members.[10]
Question 56: What believest thou concerning “the forgiveness of sins”?
Answer: That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction,[11] will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ,[12] that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God.[13]
_______________
[1]John 10:11, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
[2]Gen. 26:4, And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
[3]Rom. 9:24, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Eph. 1:10, That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.
[4]John 10:16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
[5]Isa. 59:21, As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
[6]Deut. 10:14–15, Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
[7]Acts 13:48, And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
[8]1 Cor. 1:8–9, Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom. 8:35, &c, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[9]John 1:3–4, All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Rom. 8:32, He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
1 Cor. 12:13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[10]1 Cor. 13:5, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
Phil. 2:4–6, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
[11]1 John 2:2, And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
2 Cor. 5:19, 21, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
[12]Jer. 31:34, And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Ps. 103:3–4, 10–11, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
Rom. 8:1–3, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
[13]John 3:18, He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
LORD’S DAY 22
Question 57: What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee?
Answer: That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head;[1] but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ.[2]
Question 58: What comfort takest thou from the article of “life everlasting”?
Answer: That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy,[3] after this life I shall inherit perfect salvation,[4] which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man” to conceive,[5] and that, to praise God therein for ever.
_______________
[1]Luke 23:43, And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.
Phil. 1:23, For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
[2]1 Cor. 15:53, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Job 19:25–26, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
[3]2 Cor. 5:2–3, 6, For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
Rom. 14:17, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[4]Ps. 16:11, Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
[5]1 Cor. 2:9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
LORD’S DAY 23
Question 59: But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
Answer: That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life.[1]
Question 60: How art thou righteous before God?
Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ;[2] so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them,[3] and am still inclined to all evil;[4] notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine,[5] but only of mere grace,[6] grants[7] and imputes to me[8] the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ;[9] even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin; yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me,[10] inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.[11]
Question 61: Why sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only?
Answer: Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith,[12] but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God;[13] and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.[14]
_______________
[1]Rom. 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 1:17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
[2]Rom. 3:22, &c., Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
Gal. 2:16, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Eph. 2:8–9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
[3]Rom. 3:9, &c., What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.
[4]Rom. 7:23, But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[5]Rom. 3:24, Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
[6]Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Eph. 2:8–9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
[7]Rom. 4:4–5, Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
2 Cor. 5:19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
[8]1 John 2:1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
[9]Rom. 3:24–25, Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
[10]2 Cor. 5:21, For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
[11]Rom. 3:28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
John 3:18, He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[12]Ps. 16:2, O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee.
Eph. 2:8–9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
[13]1 Cor. 1:30, But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
1 Cor. 2:2, For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
[14]1 John 5:10, He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.
LORD’S DAY 24
Question 62: But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?
Answer: Because that the righteousness, which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects conformable to the divine law;[1] and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.[2]
Question 63: What! Do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?
Answer: This reward is not of merit, but of grace.[3]
Question 64: But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
Answer: By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.[4]
_______________
[1]Gal. 3:10, For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Deut. 27:26, Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
[2]Isa. 64:6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
[3]Luke 17:10, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
[4]Matt. 7:17–18, Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
John 15:5, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
OF THE SACRAMENTS
LORD’S DAY 25
Question 65: Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?
Answer: From the Holy Ghost, who works faith[1] in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments.[2]
Question 66: What are the sacraments?
Answer: The sacraments are holy visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, namely, that He grants us freely the remission of sin and life eternal for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.[3]
Question 67: Are both Word and sacraments, then, ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
Answer: Yes, indeed, for the Holy Ghost teaches us in the gospel, and assures us by the sacraments, that the whole of our salvation depends upon that one sacrifice of Christ which He offered for us on the cross.[4]
Question 68: How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?
Answer: Two, namely, holy baptism and the holy supper.[5]
_______________
[1]Eph. 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Eph. 6:23, Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:29, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
[2]Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Rom. 4:11, And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.
[3]Gen. 17:11, And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you.
Rom. 4:11, And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.
Lev. 6:25, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
Acts 22:16, And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Matt. 26:28, For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
[4]Rom. 6:3, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
Gal. 3:27, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[5]1 Cor. 10:2–4, And all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
OF HOLY BAPTISM
LORD’S DAY 26
Question 69: How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?
Answer: Thus: That Christ appointed this external washing with water,[1] adding thereto this promise,[2] that I am as certainly washed by His blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins,[3] as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away.
Question 70: What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
Answer: It is to receive of God the remission of sins freely, for the sake of Christ’s blood which He shed for us by His sacrifice upon the cross;[4] and also to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and sanctified to be members of Christ, that so we may more and more die unto sin, and lead holy and unblamable lives.[5]
Question 71: Where has Christ promised us, that He will as certainly wash us by His blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?
Answer: In the institution of baptism, which is thus expressed: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”;[6] “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”[7] This promise is also repeated, where the Scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration[8] and the washing away of sins.[9]
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[1]Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[2]Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matt. 3:11, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
Rom. 6:3, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
[3]Mark 1:4, John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3, And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
[4]Heb. 12:24, And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
1 Pet. 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
[5]John 1:33, And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Rom. 6:4, Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Col. 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
[6]Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
[7]Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[8]Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
[9]Acts 22:16, And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
LORD’S DAY 27
Question 72: Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
Answer: Not at all; for the blood of Jesus Christ only,[1] and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin.[2]
Question 73: Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration” and the “washing away of sins”?
Answer: God speaks thus not without great cause, to wit, not only thereby to teach us that as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ;[3] but especially that by this divine pledge and sign He may assure us that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water.[4]
Question 74: Are infants also to be baptized?
Answer: Yes, for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant[5] and church of God;[6] and since redemption from sin[7] by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them[8] no less than to the adult; they must therefore by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the Christian church, and be distinguished from the children of unbelievers[9] as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision,[10] instead of which baptism is instituted in the new covenant.[11]
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[1]Matt. 3:11, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
1 Pet. 3:21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
[2]1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 Cor. 6:11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
[3]Rev. 1:5, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
1 Cor. 6:11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
[4]Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Gal. 3:27, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[5]Gen. 17:7, And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Acts 2:39, For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[6]1 Cor. 7:14, For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Joel 2:16, Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
[7]Matt. 19:14, But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
[8]Luke 1:14–15, And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at His birth. For He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from His mother’s womb.
Ps. 22:10, I was cast upon thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
Acts 2:39, For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[9]Acts 10:47, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
1 Cor. 12:13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Cor. 7:14, For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
[10]Gen. 17:14, And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.
[11]Col. 2:11–13, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
OF THE HOLY SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
LORD’S DAY 28
Question 75: How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s Supper that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all His benefits?
Answer: Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, adding these promises:[1] first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.
Question 76: What is it then to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ?
Answer: It is not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin and life eternal;[2] but also, besides that, to become more and more united to His sacred body, by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us;[3] so that we, though Christ is in heaven[4] and we on earth, are notwithstanding “flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone”;[5] and that we live, and are governed forever by one spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.[6]
Question 77: Where has Christ promised that He will as certainly feed and nourish believers with His body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?
Answer: In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed: “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.[7] After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood;[8] this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.”[9]
This promise is repeated by the holy apostle Paul, where he says: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”[10]
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[1]Matt. 26:26–28, And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:22–24, And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body. And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Luke 22:19–20, And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.
1 Cor. 10:16–17, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor. 11:23–25, For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.
[2]John 6:35, 40, 47–48, 50–51, 53–54, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
[3]John 6:55–56, For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.
[4]Acts 3:21, Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 1:9–11, And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.
1 Cor. 11:26, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.
[5]Eph. 5:29–32, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1 Cor. 6:15, 17, 19, Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 John 3:24, And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.
[6]John 6:56–58, He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Eph. 4:15–16, But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
[7]1 Cor. 11:23, For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread.
Matt. 26:26, And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
Mark 14:22, And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body.
Luke 22:19, And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
[8]Ex. 24:8, And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
Heb. 9:20, Saying, this is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
[9]Ex. 13:9, And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
1 Cor. 11:26, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.
[10]1 Cor. 10:16–17, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
LORD’S DAY 29
Question 78: Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?
Answer: Not at all; but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God;[1] so the bread in the Lord’s Supper is not changed into the very body of Christ,[2] though agreeably to the nature and properties of sacraments,[3] it is called the body of Christ Jesus.
Question 79: Why then doth Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood; and Paul, the “communion of the body and blood of Christ”?
Answer: Christ speaks thus not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink whereby our souls are fed to eternal life;[4] but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of Him;[5] and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours, as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.[6]
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[1]1 Cor. 10:1–4, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1 Pet. 3:21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John 6:35, 62–63, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
[2]1 Cor. 10:16, &c, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor. 11:20, &c, When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
[3]Gen. 17:10–11, 14, This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee. Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.
Ex. 12:26–27, 43, 48, And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Acts 7:8, And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Matt. 26:26, And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
Mark 14:24, And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
[4]John 6:51, 55–56, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.
[5]1 Cor. 10:16–17, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor. 11:26–28, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Eph. 5:30, For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
[6]Rom. 5:9, 18–19, Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Rom. 8:4, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
LORD’S DAY 30
Question 80: What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the popish Mass?
Answer: The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have a full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross;[1] and that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ,[2] who, according to His human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven, at the right hand of God His Father,[3] and will there be worshipped by us[4]— but the Mass teaches that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshipped in them; so that the Mass, at bottom, is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.[5]
Question 81: For whom is the Lord’s Supper instituted?
Answer: For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins,[6] and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ; and that their remaining infirmities are covered by His passion and death;[7] and who also earnestly desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives more holy;[8] but hypocrites, and such as turn not to God with sincere hearts, eat and drink judgment to themselves.[9]
Question 82: Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves unbelieving and ungodly?
Answer: No; for by this, the covenant of God would be profaned and His wrath kindled against the whole congregation;[10] therefore it is the duty of the Christian church, according to the appointment of Christ and His apostles, to exclude such persons[11] by the keys of the kingdom of heaven till they show amendment of life.
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[1]Heb. 7:27, Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.
Heb. 9:12, 26, Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Matt. 26:28, For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke 22:19–20, And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.
2 Cor. 5:21, For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
[2]1 Cor. 12:13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[3]Heb. 1:3, Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Heb. 8:1, &c, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
[4]John 4:21–23, Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
Col. 3:1, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Phil. 3:20, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 24:52–53, And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Acts 7:55, But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
[5]Isa. 1:11, 14, To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.
Matt. 15:9, But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Col. 2:22–23, Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Jer. 2:13, For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
[6]Matt. 5:3, 6, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Luke 7:37–38, And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 15:18–19, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
[7]Ps. 103:3, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.
[8]Ps. 116:12–14, What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people.
1 Pet. 2:11–12, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
[9]1 Cor. 10:20, &c, But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1 Cor. 11:28, &c, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Titus 1:16, They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Ps. 50:15–16, And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth?
[10]1 Cor. 10:21, Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1 Cor. 11:30–31, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Isa. 1:11, 13, To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Jer. 7:21, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
Ps. 50:16, 22, But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth? Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
[11]Matt. 18:17–18, And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
LORD’S DAY 31
Question 83: What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?[1]
Answer: The preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline,[2] or excommunication out of the Christian church;[3] by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers.
Question 84: How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?
Answer: Thus: when according to the command of Christ[4] it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they receive the promise of the gospel by a true faith,[5] all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ’s merits; and on the contrary, when it is declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God and eternal condemnation,[6] so long as they are unconverted;[7] according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them both in this and in the life to come.
Question 85: How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?
Answer: Thus: when according to the command of Christ,[8] those, who under the name of Christians, maintain doctrines or practices inconsistent therewith,[9] and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church or to those[10] who are thereunto appointed by the church;[11] and if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;[12] whereby they are excluded from the Christian church and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment, are again received as members of Christ and His church.[13]
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[1]Matt. 16:19, And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
[2]John 20:23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
[3]Matt. 18:15–18, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
[4]Matt. 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
[5]John 3:18, 36, He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[6]2 Thes. 1:7–9, And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
[7]John 20:21–23, Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt. 16:19, And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Rom. 2:2, 13–17, But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to My gospel. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God.
[8]Matt. 18:15, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[9]1 Cor. 5:12, For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
[10]Matt. 18:15–18, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth
of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
[11]Rom. 12:7–9, Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
1 Cor. 12:28, And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Tim. 5:17, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
2 Thes. 3:14, And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
[12]Matt. 18:17, And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
1 Cor. 5:3–5, For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
[13]2 Cor. 2:6–8, 10–11, Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Luke 15:18, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.
THE THIRD PART — OF THANKFULNESS
LORD’S DAY 32
Question 86: Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?
Answer: Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image; that so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude to God for His blessings,[1] and that He may be praised by us;[2] also, that every one may be assured in himself of his faith by the fruits thereof;[3] and that by our godly conversation others may be gained to Christ.[4]
Question 87: Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God?
Answer: By no means; for the Holy Scripture declares that no unchaste person, idolator, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or any such like, shall inherit the kingdom of God.[5]
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[1]1 Cor. 6:19–20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Rom. 6:13, Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom. 12:1–2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Pet. 2:5, 9–10, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
[2]Matt. 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1 Pet. 2:12, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
[3]2 Pet. 1:10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
Gal. 5:6, 24, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[4]1 Pet. 3:1–2, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Matt. 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Rom. 14:19, Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
[5]1 Cor. 6:9–10, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph. 5:5–6, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
1 John 3:14–15, We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Gal. 5:21, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
LORD’S DAY 33
Question 88: Of how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist?
Answer: Of two parts: of the mortification of the old, and the quickening of the new man.[1]
Question 89: What is the mortification of the old man?
Answer: It is a sincere sorrow of heart that we have provoked God by our sins, and more and more to hate and flee from them.[2]
Question 90: What is the quickening of the new man?
Answer: It is a sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ,[3] and with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.[4]
Question 91: But what are good works?
Answer: Only those which proceed from a true faith,[5] are performed according to the law of God,[6] and to His glory;[7] and not such as are founded on our imaginations or the institutions of men.[8]
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[1]Rom. 6:4–6, Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Eph. 4:22–23, That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Col. 3:5, Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
1 Cor. 5:7, Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
[2]Ps. 51:3, 8, 17, For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Luke 15:18, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.
Rom. 8:13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Joel 1:12–13, The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
[3]Rom. 5:1–2, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom. 14:17, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Isa. 57:15, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
[4]Rom. 6:10–11, For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Pet. 4:2, That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Gal. 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
[5]Rom. 14:23, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
[6]1 Sam. 15:22, And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Eph. 2:2, 10, Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[7]1 Cor. 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
[8]Deut. 12:32, What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Ezek. 20:18, But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
Matt. 15:9, But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
LORD’S DAY 34
Question 92: What is the law of God?
Answer: God spake all these words (Ex. 20:1–17; Deut. 5:6–21), saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
I. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
II. 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 shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
III. 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.
IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour 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 maidservant, 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.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt not kill.
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Question 93: How are these commandments divided?
Answer: Into two tables;[1] the first of which teaches us how we must behave towards God; the second, what duties we owe to our neighbor.[2]
Question 94: What doth God enjoin in the first commandment?
Answer: That I, as sincerely as I desire the salvation of my own soul, avoid and flee from all idolatry,[3] sorcery, soothsaying, superstition,[4] invocation of saints, or any other creatures;[5] and learn rightly to know the only true God;[6] trust in Him alone;[7] with humility and patience[8] submit to Him;[9] expect all good things from Him only;[10] love,[11] fear,[12] and glorify[13] Him with my whole heart; so that I renounce and forsake all creatures,[14] rather than commit even the least thing contrary to His will.[15]
Question 95: What is idolatry?
Answer: Idolatry is, instead of, or besides that one true God who has manifested Himself in His word, to contrive, or have any other object, in which men place their trust.[16]
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[1]Ex. 34:28–29, And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
[2]Deut. 4:13, And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Deut. 10:3–4, And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. And He wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
[3]1 Cor. 6:9–10, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Cor. 10:7, 14, Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play; Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
[4]Lev. 18:21, And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Deut. 18:10–12, There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
[5]Matt. 4:10, Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
Rev. 19:10, And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
[6]John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
[7]Jer. 17:5, 7, Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
[8]Heb. 10:36, For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Col. 1:11, Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
Rom. 5:3–4, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Phil. 2:14, Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
[9]1 Pet. 5:5–6, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
[10]Ps. 104:27, These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
Isa. 45:7, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
[11]Deut. 6:5, And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Matt. 22:37, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[12]Deut. 6:5, And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Matt. 10:28, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
[13]Matt. 4:10, Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
[14]Matt. 5:29–30, And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Acts 5:29, Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Matt. 10:37, He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
[15]Matt. 5:19, Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[16]2 Chron. 16:12, And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
Phil. 3:18–19, (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Gal. 4:8, Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Eph. 2:12, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
LORD’S DAY 35
Question 96: What doth God require in the second commandment?
Answer: That we in no wise represent God by images,[1] nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded in His Word.[2]
Question 97: Are images then not at all to be made?
Answer: God neither can, nor may be represented by any means.[3] But as to creatures, though they may be represented, yet God forbids to make, or have any resemblance of them, either in order to worship them or to serve God by them.[4]
Question 98: But may not images be tolerated in the churches as books to the laity?
Answer: No, for we must not pretend to be wiser than God, who will have His people taught, not by dumb images,[5] but by the lively preaching of His Word.[6]
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[1]Deut. 4:15, Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.
Isa. 40:18, To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?
Rom. 1:23, &c, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Acts 17:29, Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
[2]1 Sam. 15:23, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
Deut. 12:30, Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
[3]Deut. 4:15–16, Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female.
Isa. 46:5, To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?
Rom. 1:23, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[4]Ex. 23:24, Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Ex. 34:13–14, But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Numb. 33:52, Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places.
Deut. 7:5, But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
[5]2 Tim. 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Pet. 1:19, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
[6]Jer. 10:1, &c, Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel.
Hab. 2:18–19, What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
LORD’S DAY 36
Question 99: What is required in the third commandment?
Answer: That we, not only by cursing[1] or perjury, but also by rash swearing,[2] must not profane or abuse the name of God; nor by silence or connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and, briefly, that we use the holy name of God[3] no otherwise than with fear and reverence, so that He may be rightly confessed[4] and worshipped by us,[5] and be glorified in all our words and works.
Question 100: Is then the profaning of God’s Name by swearing and cursing so heinous a sin that His wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavor, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?
Answer: It undoubtedly is, for there is no sin greater or more provoking to God than the profaning of His Name;[6] and therefore He has commanded this sin to be punished with death.[7]
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[1]Lev. 24:11, And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
Lev. 19:12, And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
Matt. 5:37, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Lev. 5:4, Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
[2]Isa. 45:23–24, I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.
[3]Matt. 10:32, Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
[4]1 Tim. 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
[5]1 Cor. 3:16–17, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
[6]Lev. 5:1, And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
[7]Lev. 24:15, And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
LORD’S DAY 37
Question 101: May we then swear religiously by the name of God?
Answer: Yes, either when the magistrates demand it of the subjects or when necessity requires us thereby to confirm fidelity and truth to the glory of God and the safety of our neighbor;[1] for such an oath is founded on God’s Word,[2] and therefore was justly used by the saints, both in the Old and New Testament.[3]
Question 102: May we also swear by saints or any other creatures?
Answer: No; for a lawful oath is calling upon God as the only one who knows the heart, that He will bear witness to the truth and punish me if I swear falsely;[4] which honor is due to no creature.[5]
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[1]Ex. 22:11, Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
Neh. 13:25, And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
[2]Deut. 6:13, Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.
Heb. 6:16, For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
[3]Gen. 21:24, And Abraham said, I will swear.
Jos. 9:15, 19, And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
1 Sam. 24:22, And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
2 Cor. 1:23, Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
Rom. 1:9, For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.
[4]2 Cor. 1:23, Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
[5]Matt. 5:34–35, But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
LORD’S DAY 38
Question 103: What doth God require in the fourth commandment?
Answer: First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained;[1] and that I, especially on the Sabbath, that is, on the day of rest,[2] diligently frequent the church of God[3] to hear His word, to use the sacraments,[4] publicly to call upon the Lord,[5] and contribute to the relief of the poor,[6] as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me; and thus begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.[7]
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[1]Deut. 12:19, Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
Titus 1:5, For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.
1 Tim. 3:14–15, These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Cor. 9:11, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
2 Tim. 2:2, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
1 Tim. 3:15, But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
[2]Lev. 23:3, Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
[3]Acts 2:42, 46, And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
1 Cor. 14:19, 29, 31, Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
[4]1 Cor. 11:33, Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
[5]1 Tim. 2:1, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.
[6]1 Cor. 16:2, Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
[7]Isa. 66:23, And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD.
LORD’S DAY 39
Question 104: What doth God require in the fifth commandment?
Answer: That I show all honor, love and fidelity, to my father and mother and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction, with due obedience;[1] and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities,[2] since it pleases God to govern us by their hand.[3]
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[1]Eph. 6:1–2, &c, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise.
Col. 3:18, 20, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Eph. 5:22, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Rom. 1:31, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
[2]Prov. 23:22, Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
[3]Eph. 6:5–6, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Col. 3:19, 21, Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Rom. 13:1–8, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Matt. 22:21, They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
LORD’S DAY 40
Question 105: What doth God require in the sixth commandment?
Answer: That neither in thoughts, nor words, nor gestures, much less in deeds, I dishonor, hate, wound, or kill my neighbor, by myself or by another;[1] but that I lay aside all desire of revenge;[2] also, that I hurt not myself, nor wilfully expose myself to any danger.[3] Wherefore also the magistrate is armed with the sword to prevent murder.[4]
Question 106: But this commandment seems only to speak of murder?
Answer: In forbidding murder, God teaches us that He abhors the causes thereof, such as envy,[5] hatred,[6] anger, and desire of revenge; and that He accounts all these as murder.[7]
Question 107: But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above?
Answer: No, for when God forbids envy, hatred, and anger, He commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves;[8] to show patience,[9] peace, meekness,[10] mercy,[11] and all kindness towards him, and prevent his hurt as much as in us lies;[12] and that we do good, even to our enemies.[13]
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[1]Matt. 5:21–22, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Prov. 12:18, There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Matt. 26:52, Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
[2]Eph. 4:26, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
Rom. 12:19, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Matt. 5:39–40, But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
[3]Matt. 4:5–7, Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Col. 2:23, Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
[4]Gen. 9:6, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man.
Matt. 26:52, Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Rom. 13:4, For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
[5]James 1:20, For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Gal. 5:20, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.
[6]Rom. 1:29, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers.
1 John 2:9, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
[7]1 John 3:15, Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
[8]Matt. 22:39, And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matt. 7:12, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
[9]Rom. 12:10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.
[10]Eph. 4:2, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
Gal. 6:1–2, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Matt. 5:5, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Rom. 12:18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
[11]Ex. 23:5, If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
[12]Matt. 5:45, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[13]Rom. 12:20, Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
LORD’S DAY 41
Question 108: What doth the seventh commandment teach us?
Answer: That all uncleanness is accursed of God;[1] and that therefore we must with all our hearts detest the same,[2] and live chastely and temperately,[3] whether in holy wedlock or in single life.[4]
Question 109: Doth God forbid in this commandment only adultery and such like gross sins?
Answer: Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, He commands us to preserve them pure and holy; therefore He forbids all unchaste actions, gestures,[5] words, thoughts, desires,[6] and whatever can entice men thereto.[7]
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[1]Lev. 18:27, (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled.)
[2]Deut. 29:20–23, The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law: so that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it; and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath.
[3]1 Thes. 4:3–4, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
[4]Heb. 13:4, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
1 Cor. 7:4–9, The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
[5]Eph. 5:3, But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.
1 Cor. 6:18, Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
[6]Matt. 5:28, But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
[7]Eph. 5:18, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
1 Cor. 15:33, Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
LORD’S DAY 42
Question 110: What doth God forbid in the eighth commandment?
Answer: God forbids not only those thefts[1] and robberies[2] which are punishable by the magistrate; but He comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbor;[3] whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust weights,[4] ells, measures,[5] fraudulent merchandise, false coins, usury,[6] or by any other way forbidden by God; as also all covetousness,[7] all abuse and waste of His gifts.
Question 111: But what doth God require in this commandment?
Answer: That I promote the advantage of my neighbor in every instance I can or may, and deal with him as I desire to be dealt with by others;[8] further also that I faithfully labor, so that I may be able to relieve the needy.[9]
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[1]1 Cor. 6:10, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
[2]1 Cor. 5:10, Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
[3]Luke 3:14, And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And He said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
1 Thes. 4:6, That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
[4]Prov. 11:1, A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is His delight.
[5]Ezek. 45:9–11, Thus saith the Lord God; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from My people, saith the Lord God. Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
Deut. 25:13, Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
[6]Ps. 15:5, He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Luke 6:35, But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
[7]1 Cor. 6:10, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
[8]Matt. 7:12, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
[9]Prov. 5:16, Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Eph. 4:28, Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
LORD’S DAY 43
Question 112: What is required in the ninth commandment?
Answer: That I bear false witness against no man[1] nor falsify any man’s words;[2] that I be no backbiter nor slanderer;[3] that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly or unheard;[4] but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit,[5] as the proper works of the devil,[6] unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it uprightly and confess it;[7] also that I defend and promote, as much as I am able, the honor and good character of my neighbor.[8]
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[1]Prov. 19:5, 9, A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Prov. 21:28, A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
[2]Ps. 15:3, He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
[3]Rom. 1:29–30, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
[4]Matt. 7:1, &c, Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Luke 6:37, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
[5]Lev. 19:11, Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
[6]Prov. 12:22, Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight.
Prov. 13:5, A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
[7]1 Cor. 13:6, Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
Eph. 4:25, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
[8]1 Pet. 4:8, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
LORD’S DAY 44
Question 113: What doth the tenth commandment require of us?
Answer: That even the smallest inclination or thought contrary to any of God’s commandments never rise in our hearts; but that at all times we hate all sin with our whole heart, and delight in all righteousness.[1]
Question 114: But can those who are converted to God perfectly keep these commandments?
Answer: No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience;[2] yet so, that with a sincere resolution they begin to live, not only according to some, but all the commandments of God.[3]
Question 115: Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?
Answer: First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature,[4] and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin and righteousness in Christ;[5] likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us in a life to come.[6]
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[1]Rom. 7:7, &c, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
[2]Rom. 7:14, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[3]Rom. 7:22, 15, &c, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
James 3:2, For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
[4]1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Rom. 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom. 5:13, For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Rom. 7:7, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
[5]Rom. 7:24, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[6]1 Cor. 9:24, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Phil. 3:12–14, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
OF PRAYER
LORD’S DAY 45
Question 116: Why is prayer necessary for Christians?
Answer: Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us;[1] and also, because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of Him, and are thankful for them.[2]
Question 117: What are the requisites of that prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear?
Answer: First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested Himself in His Word,[3] for all things He hath commanded us to ask of Him;[4] secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty;[5] thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that He, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it,[6] will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer,[7] as He has promised us in His Word.[8]
Question 118: What hath God commanded us to ask of Him?
Answer: All things necessary for soul and body,[9] which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer He Himself has taught us.[10]
Question 119: What are the words of that prayer?
Answer: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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[1]Ps. 50:14–15, Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
[2]Matt. 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:9, 13, And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
Matt. 13:12, For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Ps. 50:15, And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
[3]John 4:22–23, Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
[4]Rom. 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
1 John 5:14, And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us.
[5]John 4:23–24, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Ps. 145:18, The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
[6]2 Chron. 20:12, O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.
[7]Ps. 2:11, Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Ps. 34:18–19, The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Isa. 66:2, For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.
[8]Rom. 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom. 8:15–16, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
James 1:6, &c, But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
John 14:13, And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Dan. 9:17–18, Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies.
Matt. 7:8, For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Ps. 143:1, Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.
[9]James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Matt. 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
[10]Matt. 6:9–10, &c, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Luke 11:2, &c, And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
LORD’S DAY 46
Question 120: Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus: “Our Father”?
Answer: That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, He might excite in us a childlike reverence for and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer, namely, that God is become our Father in Christ,[1] and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in true faith than our parents will refuse us earthly things.[2]
Question 121: Why is it here added, “which art in heaven”?
Answer: Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty,[3] and that we may expect from His almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.[4]
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[1]Matt. 6:9, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
[2]Matt. 7:9–11, Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?
Luke 11:11, If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Isa. 49:15, Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
[3]Jer. 23:24, Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
[4]Acts 17:24, God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Rom. 10:12, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
LORD’S DAY 47
Question 122: Which is the first petition?
Answer: “Hallowed be Thy name”;[1] that is, grant us, first, rightly to know Thee,[2] and to sanctify, glorify and praise Thee in all Thy works, in which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed;[3] and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that Thy Name may never be blasphemed, but rather honored and praised on our account.[4]
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[1]Matt. 6:9, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
[2]John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
Jer. 9:23–24, Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Matt. 16:17, And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.
James 1:5, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
[3]Ps. 119:137–138, Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy judgments. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
Luke 1:46, And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Ps. 145:8–9, The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.
[4]Ps. 115:1, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake.
Ps. 71:8, Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honour all the day.
LORD’S DAY 48
Question 123: Which is the second petition?
Answer: “Thy kingdom come”;[1] that is, rule us so by Thy Word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to Thee;[2] preserve and increase Thy church;[3] destroy the works of the devil,[4] and all violence which would exalt itself against Thee; and also, all wicked counsels devised against Thy holy Word; till the full perfection of Thy kingdom take place,[5] wherein Thou shalt be all in all.[6]
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[1]Matt. 6:10, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[2]Ps. 119:5, O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes!
[3]Ps. 51:18, Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
[4]1 John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Rom. 16:20, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
[5]Rev. 22:17, 20, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
[6]1 Cor. 15:15, 28, Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
LORD’S DAY 49
Question 124: Which is the third petition?
Answer: “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”;[1] that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will,[2] and without murmuring obey Thy will,[3] which is only good; that so every one may attend to and perform the duties of his station and calling[4] as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.[5]
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[1]Matt. 6:10, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[2]Matt. 16:24, Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Titus 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
[3]Luke 22:42, Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.
[4]1 Cor. 7:24, Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Eph. 4:1, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
[5]Ps. 103:20, Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.
LORD’S DAY 50
Question 125: Which is the fourth petition?
Answer: “Give us this day our daily bread”;[1] that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body,[2] that we may thereby acknowledge Thee to be the only fountain of all good,[3] and that neither our care nor industry, nor even Thy gifts, can profit us without Thy blessing;[4] and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it alone in Thee.[5]
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[1]Matt. 6:11, Give us this day our daily bread.
[2]Ps. 145:15, The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season.
Matt. 6:25, &c, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
[3]Acts 17:25, Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
Acts 14:17, Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
[4]1 Cor. 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Deut. 8:3, And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
Ps. 127:1–2, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep.
[5]Ps. 62:11, God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Ps. 55:22, Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
LORD’S DAY 51
Question 126: Which is the fifth petition?
Answer: “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”;[1] that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us poor sinners our transgressions, nor that depravity which always cleaves to us;[2] even as we feel this evidence of Thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbor.[3]
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[1]Matt. 6:12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[2]Ps. 51:1, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
1 John 2:1–2, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[3]Matt. 6:14–15, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
LORD’S DAY 52
Question 127: Which is the sixth petition?
Answer: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”;[1] that is, since we are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment;[2] and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil,[3] the world,[4] and our own flesh,[5] cease not to assault us, do Thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes[6] till at last we obtain a complete victory.[7]
Question 128: How dost thou conclude thy prayer?
Answer: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever”;[8] that is, all these we ask of Thee, because Thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to give us all good;[9] and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but Thy holy Name, may be glorified for ever.[10]
Question 129: What doth the word “Amen” signify?
Answer: “Amen” signifies it shall truly and certainly be, for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.[11]
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[1]Matt. 6:13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
[2]Rom. 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Ps. 103:14, For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.
[3]1 Pet. 5:8, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
[4]Eph. 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
John 15:19, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[5]Rom. 7:23, But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Gal. 5:17, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[6]Matt. 26:41, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 13:33, Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
[7]1 Thes. 3:13, To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thes. 5:23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[8]Matt. 6:13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
[9]Rom. 10:12, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
2 Pet. 2:9, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.
[10]John 14:13, And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Ps. 115:1, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake.
Phil. 4:20, Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
[11]2 Cor. 1:20, For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Tim. 2:13, If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.
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