23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Thoughts: Why memorize a catechism? Above Paul was quoting the words of the Lord (also found in Luke 22:19) that obviously had been passed down orally through memorization. "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord that He may lift you up" (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6) seems to be a pre-catechism saying. Remember, at the time, these words were not Old Testament canonized scripture- but important teachings passed down by memory from one Christian to another- seen as worth preserving. That really is what a catechism is. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is the most used catechism in Protestantism. I have blogged on it all year. At the end of this year I wanted to summarize my blogs by presenting the Westminster Shorter Catechism in a new, 21st century translation. In 1986 Douglas Kelly (of Reformed Theological Seminary) and Phillip Rollinson re-translated the Westminater Shorter Catechism thus making it come alive again and easier to understand. However, even since 1986, with the steep secularization of our society, some of the theological words used in that translation have lost their meaning. As we all know from glancing at the King James Version, language changes. thus the need to keep things up to date is to keep the documents and thoughts alive.
Prayer: Help me, O Lord, in the coming year, to grow in my knowledge of you and the teachings that have been passed down. Give me grace to not break the chain of faith and teaching, but to be faithful to you.
Introduction: In the early church, there was no standard
curriculum for everyone to conform to.
Each church taught their children their beliefs. In the Reformation, each reformer had his own
catechism- Luther had his, Calvin had his.
In fact, it could be said that each language or large regional group had
their own catechism. Scripture and the
memory of it, are much more essential a tool than the teaching of a
catechism. Yet, the catechism is not to
be downplayed, as it summarizes and points to scripture, and helps us to strive
for right belief. No book, no human
writing is a substitute for God’s Word.
Yet God also leads His people in smaller ways through the wisdom of the
ages. My hopes are to give this wisdom
new life by this new translation of a catechism that is more up to date with the
language and terms of our day. Language
changes. We only have to look at the
1647 catechism (or the King James version) and the way we no longer use its
words or pronouns to see that. The
translation and grammar rules were only means to relate the essence and concepts
being conveyed. If people turn away from
ancient wisdom simply because it is hard to understand at first blush, then we
have lost the wisdom of the ages- which we always need. This was written for the believers in the church, by a pastor of a church so that the teachings of the church would not be forgotten in the pressure of everyday life.
Q. 1: "What is the main goal of human
life?"
A: "The main goal of human life is to
glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
Q. 2- What standard from God directs us how we might glorify and enjoy Him?
A: The Word of God, which is
found in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only standard to
direct us how we might glorify and enjoy Him.
Q. 3- What is the main teaching of the
scriptures?
A: The main teaching of the scriptures is we
are to believe about God and what God requires us to do.
Q4- Define God.
A: God is a Spirit, whose
being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth are all infinite,
eternal, and unchangeable.
Q. 5- How many God's are there?
A: There is only one, the living and true God.
Q. 6- In how many persons does this one God
exist?
A: Three persons exist in the one God: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same
in substance, and equal in power and glory.
Q. 7-What are the plans of God?
A: The plans of God are, his eternal purposes
based on His will, which for His own glory, He foreordains everything that
happens.
Q. 8- How does God carry out His plans?
A: He carries out His plans in the works of creation
and providence.
Q. 9. What is creation?
A: Creation is God’s making
everything out of nothing by His powerful word in six days – and all
very good.
Q. 10. How did God create human beings?
A: God created human beings, male and female,
in His own image and in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, to rule
over the other creatures.
Q. 11. What is God’s providence?
A: God’s providence is His completely holy,
wise, and powerful preserving and governing every creature and every action.
Q. 12- In God’s special providence, what did He
do for the human beings He created?
A: After God created us, He made a covenant
with us to give us life, if we perfectly obeyed Him; God told the first
humans not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of
death.
Q. 13- Did our first parents stay as they were
created?
A: Left to the freedom of their own wills, our
first parents sinned against God and fell from their original condition.
Q. 14- What is sin?
A: Sin is not heeding or breaking God’s law in any way.
A: Sin is not heeding or breaking God’s law in any way.
Q. 15- What sin caused our first parents to
fall from how they were created?
A: Eating the forbidden fruit.
Q. 16- Did all human beings fall in our first
parents’ sin?
A: Since the covenant was made not only with
our first parents but also for those who naturally descended from them; all
human beings, fell with them in their first sin.
Q. 17- What was the condition of human beings brought by the fall?
A: Human beings fell into a condition of sin
and misery.
Q 18- What is sinful about our fallen
condition?
A: Our fallen condition is made up of two
things: 1. Original sin which is the guilt of our first sin; the lack of
original righteousness; and the corruption of our whole being; 2. and all
specific acts of breaking God’s law that come from original sin.
Q.19 What is the misery of our fallen
condition?
A: By our fall, all human beings lost
fellowship with God and are under His wrath and curse. We are subjected
to the miseries of this life, to death, and to the pains of hell forever.
Q. 20 -
Did God leave all human beings to die in this condition of sin and misery?
A: It pleased God that from the beginning of
time to choose some to have everlasting life. He freed these from their
condition of sin and misery by bringing them into a condition of salvation by a
Redeemer and entering into a covenant of grace with them.
Q. 21- Who is this Redeemer of God’s chosen
ones?
A: The only Redeemer of God’s chosen ones is
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Son of God. He became a
human being, and so He was and continues to be, God and human in two distinct
natures and one person, forever.
Q. 22- How did Christ, the Son of God become a
human being?
A: Christ, the Son of God, became a human being
by assuming a real body and a reasoning soul. He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, who gave birth to Him;
but He was sinless.
Q. 23- What positions does Christ hold as our Redeemer?
A: Christ, as our Redeemer, holds the positions
of a prophet, a priest, and a king in His being humbled and being exalted.
Q. 24- How does Christ hold the office of a
prophet?
A: Christ holds the office of a prophet
by revealing to us God’s will for our salvation by His Word and Spirit.
Q. 25- How does Christ hold the office of a
priest?
A: Christ holds the office of a priest by
offering Himself up as a one-time sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and to
reconcile us to God, and by continuing to pray for us.
Q. 26- How does Christ hold the office of a king?
A: Christ holds the office of a king by bringing us under his power, in ruling and defending us, and in holding back and conquering all His and our enemies.
A: Christ holds the office of a king by bringing us under his power, in ruling and defending us, and in holding back and conquering all His and our enemies.
Q. 27- How did Christ humble himself?
A: Christ humbled himself by being born as a
person and born to a poor family; by being made subject to the law; by
suffering through the miseries of this life; the wrath of God; and the curse of
death on the cross; and by being buried and by allowing himself to die.
Q. 28- How is Christ exalted?
A: Christ is exalted by rising on the third
day; in ascending into heaven; sitting on the right hand of God the Father, and
coming to judge the world in glory at the last day.
Q. 29- How can we share in this redemption that
Christ purchased for us?
A: The Holy Spirit makes real to us the
redemption purchased by Christ.
Q 30- How does the Spirit
apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A: The Spirit applies our redemption by working faith in us, and so uniting us to Christ by our real and effective calling.
A: The Spirit applies our redemption by working faith in us, and so uniting us to Christ by our real and effective calling.
Q. 31- What is the Real and
Effective Call of God
A: The Real and effective Call of God is the work of God's Spirit by which he convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, and so persuades and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
A: The Real and effective Call of God is the work of God's Spirit by which he convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, and so persuades and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Q. 32- What rewards do those who are really
called by God obtain in this life?
A: Those who are really and effectively called
by God obtain justification, adoption, sanctification and the several other
awards that come with or from them.
Q. 33- What is Justification?
A: Justification is a free gift of God by which He forgives all our sins, and accepts us as righteous before Him. He does this only because He has given Christ's righteousness to us. Justification is received by faith alone.
A: Justification is a free gift of God by which He forgives all our sins, and accepts us as righteous before Him. He does this only because He has given Christ's righteousness to us. Justification is received by faith alone.
Q. 34- What is adoption?
A: Adoption is a free act of God's grace, in
which we are received into the family, and have a right to all the privileges
of the children of God.
Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A: Sanctification is a free gift of God by
which our whole person is made new in the
image of God, and we are made more and more
able to become dead to sin and alive to righteousness.
Q. 36. What benefits in this life accompany or
derive from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A: The benefits that in this life accompany or
derive from justification, adoption, and sanctification are: the assurance
of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, and growing and
persevering in grace to the end of our lives.
Q. 37- What benefits do believers receive from
Christ when they die?
A: When we die, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness, and immediately pass into glory; their bodies, being still united to Christ, rest in their graves until the resurrection.
A: When we die, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness, and immediately pass into glory; their bodies, being still united to Christ, rest in their graves until the resurrection.
Q. 38- What benefits do believers receive from
Christ at the end of time?
A: At the end of time, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Judgment, and are perfectly blessed in the complete enjoying of God to all eternity.
A: At the end of time, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Judgment, and are perfectly blessed in the complete enjoying of God to all eternity.
Q. 39- What does God require of us?
A: God requires us to obey His revealed will.
A: God requires us to obey His revealed will.
Q. 40- What was the first thing that God
revealed to us as the standard for our obedience?
A: The first standard that God revealed to us was the moral law.
A: The first standard that God revealed to us was the moral law.
Q. 41- Where is the moral law summarized?
A: The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments .
A: The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments .
Q. 42- What is the summary of the Ten
Commandments?
A: The summary of the Ten Commandments is: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
A: The summary of the Ten Commandments is: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
Q. 43- What is the introduction to the Ten
Commandments?
A: The introduction to the Ten Commandments says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
A: The introduction to the Ten Commandments says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Q. 44- What does the introduction to the Ten
Commandments teach us?
A: The introduction to the Ten Commandments teaches us that because God is our Lord God and Redeemer, we are bound to keep all his commandments.
A: The introduction to the Ten Commandments teaches us that because God is our Lord God and Redeemer, we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q. 45- What is the First Commandment?
A: The first commandment is: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
A: The first commandment is: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Q. 46- What is required by the First
Commandment?
A: The First Commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify Him as such.
A: The First Commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify Him as such.
Q. 47- What is forbidden by the First
Commandment?
A: The First Commandment forbids the denial of God, or not worshiping or glorifying the true God as God, and our God. It also forbids the giving of the worship and glory to any other which God alone deserves.
A: The First Commandment forbids the denial of God, or not worshiping or glorifying the true God as God, and our God. It also forbids the giving of the worship and glory to any other which God alone deserves.
Q. 48- What are we specifically taught by the
words “before me” in the First Commandment?
A: The words “before me” indicate that God who sees all things, cares and is especially displeased with the sin of having another god.
A: The words “before me” indicate that God who sees all things, cares and is especially displeased with the sin of having another god.
Q. 49- What is the Second Commandment?
A: The Second Commandment is “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.”
A: The Second Commandment is “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.”
Q. 50- What is required by the Second
Commandment?
A: The Second Commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances that God has given in His Word.
A: The Second Commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances that God has given in His Word.
Q. 51- What is forbidden by the Second
Commandment?
A: The Second Commandment forbids the worship of God by images or any other way not appointed in His Word.
A: The Second Commandment forbids the worship of God by images or any other way not appointed in His Word.
Q. 52- What reasons given for keeping the
Second Commandment?
A: The reasons given for keeping the Second Commandment are: God’s sovereignty over us, that we belong to Him, and his eager concern for His own worship.
A: The reasons given for keeping the Second Commandment are: God’s sovereignty over us, that we belong to Him, and his eager concern for His own worship.
Q. 53- What is the Third Commandment?
A: The Third Commandment is, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord, your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.”
A: The Third Commandment is, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord, your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.”
Q. 54- What is required by the Third
Commandment?
A: The Third Commandment requires the holy and reverent use of Gods names, titles, attributes, laws, Word, and works.
A: The Third Commandment requires the holy and reverent use of Gods names, titles, attributes, laws, Word, and works.
Q. 55- What is forbidden by the Third
Commandment?
A: The third commandment forbids treating anything as unholy or abusing anything God uses to make Himself known.
A: The third commandment forbids treating anything as unholy or abusing anything God uses to make Himself known.
Q. 56- what are the reasons given for keeping the
Third Commandment?
A: The reasons given for keeping the Third Commandment are that even if the breakers of this law escape human punishment, they will have to face God’s righteous judgment.
A: The reasons given for keeping the Third Commandment are that even if the breakers of this law escape human punishment, they will have to face God’s righteous judgment.
Q. 57: What is the Fourth Commandment?
A: The Fourth Commandment is, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the aliens within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
A: The Fourth Commandment is, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the aliens within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Q. 58- What is required by the Fourth
Commandment?
A: The Fourth Commandment requires keeping the times God has set as holy in His Word; that is, one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.
A: The Fourth Commandment requires keeping the times God has set as holy in His Word; that is, one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.
Q. 59- Which of the seven days has God
established to be the weekly Sabbath?
A: From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ , God established the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath. And the first day of the week since the resurrection to the end of the world as a weekly Sabbath.
A: From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ , God established the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath. And the first day of the week since the resurrection to the end of the world as a weekly Sabbath.
Q. 60- How is the Sabbath to be kept holy?
A: The Sabbath is to be kept holy by a holy resting all that day, even from work and play that are lawful on other days; spending the whole time publicly and privately in the worship of God, with the exception of necessary and merciful deeds.
A: The Sabbath is to be kept holy by a holy resting all that day, even from work and play that are lawful on other days; spending the whole time publicly and privately in the worship of God, with the exception of necessary and merciful deeds.
Q. 61- What is forbidden in the Fourth
Commandment?
A: The Fourth Commandment forbids the omission or careless keeping of the day as holy. It also forbids laziness, or sinful acts, or by having unnecessary thoughts, words, or works about our worldly work or play.
A: The Fourth Commandment forbids the omission or careless keeping of the day as holy. It also forbids laziness, or sinful acts, or by having unnecessary thoughts, words, or works about our worldly work or play.
Q. 62- What are the reasons for keeping the
Fourth Commandment?
A: The reasons for keeping the Fourth Commandment are: God’s allowing us six days of the week for work, his claiming the seventh day as His own, His own example of keeping a Sabbath, and His blessing the Sabbath day.
A: The reasons for keeping the Fourth Commandment are: God’s allowing us six days of the week for work, his claiming the seventh day as His own, His own example of keeping a Sabbath, and His blessing the Sabbath day.
Q. 63- What is the Fifth Commandment?
A: The fifth Commandment is “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Q. 64- What
is required by the Fifth Commandment? A: The fifth Commandment is “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
A: The Fifth Commandment requires the preserving of the honor, and performing the called duties to everyone regardless of their status or relationship to us.
Q. 65- What is forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
A: The Fifth Commandment forbids the neglect or abuse of our duty toward others regardless of their status or relationship to us.
Q. 66- What is the reason given for keeping the Fifth Commandment?
A: The reason given for keeping the Fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity if these glorify God and are for the good of those who keep this commandment.
Q. 67- What is the Sixth Commandment?
A: The Sixth Commandment is “You shall not murder.”
Q. 68- What is required by the Sixth Commandment?
A: The Sixth Commandment requires all lawful efforts to preserve our own lives and the lives of others.
Q. 69- What is forbidden by the Sixth Commandment?
A: The Sixth Commandment forbids the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or doing anything that would lead to such acts.
Q. 70- What is the Seventh Commandment?
A: The Seventh Commandment is “You shall not commit adultery.”
Q. 71- What is required by the Seventh Commandment?
A: The Seventh Commandment requires the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s sexual purity- in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q. 72- What is forbidden by the Seventh Commandment?
A: The Seventh Commandment forbids all sexually impure thoughts, words, and actions.
Q. 73- What is the Eighth Commandment?
A: The Eighth Commandment is “You shall not steal.”
Q. 74- What is required by the Eighth Commandment?
A: The Eighth Commandment requires the legal acquiring and increasing of our own and other’s possessions.
Q. 75- What is forbidden in the Eighth Commandment?
A: The Eighth Commandment forbids whatever may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or possessions.
Q. 76- What is the Ninth Commandment?
A: The Ninth Commandment is “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
Q. 77- What is required by the Ninth Commandment?
A: The Ninth Commandment requires the maintenance and promotion of truth between human beings, and of the good reputation of all, especially in court.
Q. 78- What is forbidden in the Ninth Commandment?
A: The Ninth Commandment forbids whatever is against truth, or harmful to the reputation of all concerned.
Q. 79 What is the Tenth Commandment?
A: The Tenth Commandment is, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse, or their male or female servant, their ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Q. 80- What is required by the Tenth Commandment?
A: The Tenth Commandment requires being fully content with our own situation, and having a proper and kind attitude toward others and their possessions.
Q. 81- What is forbidden by the Tenth Commandment?
A: The Tenth Commandment forbids all dissatisfaction with our own situation, jealousy or grieving at our neighbor’s success, and all unbecoming emotions to anything that is our neighbors.
Q. 82- Is anyone able to perfectly keep the
commandments of God?
A: No mere man, since the Fall, is able in this life, to perfectly keep the commandments of God; Instead, we daily break the commandments in thought, word, and deed.
A: No mere man, since the Fall, is able in this life, to perfectly keep the commandments of God; Instead, we daily break the commandments in thought, word, and deed.
Q. 83- Are all sins equally bad?
A: Some sins in their nature, and by their harmful effects on other people, are worse in the sight of God than other sins.
A: Some sins in their nature, and by their harmful effects on other people, are worse in the sight of God than other sins.
Q. 84- What does every sin deserve?
A: Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and the next.
A: Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and the next.
Q. 85- What does God require of us in order to
escape the consequences of our sins- which are His wrath and curse?
A: To escape the consequences of our sins, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and the faithful use of all tools that God uses to give us the benefits of salvation.
A: To escape the consequences of our sins, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and the faithful use of all tools that God uses to give us the benefits of salvation.
Q. 86- What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A: Faith in Jesus Christ is a redeeming gift of God by which we receive and rest upon Christ alone for for salvation, as He is portrayed to us in the gospel.
A: Faith in Jesus Christ is a redeeming gift of God by which we receive and rest upon Christ alone for for salvation, as He is portrayed to us in the gospel.
Q. 87- What is repentance?
A: Repentance is a redeeming gift of God by which sinners, clearly understanding their sin and the mercy of God in Christ, turns from their sin to God, with grief and hatred of their sin, striving after the goal of obeying Christ anew.
A: Repentance is a redeeming gift of God by which sinners, clearly understanding their sin and the mercy of God in Christ, turns from their sin to God, with grief and hatred of their sin, striving after the goal of obeying Christ anew.
Q. 88- What are the ordinary, external tools by
which Christ gives us the benefits of salvation?
A: The ordinary and external tools by which Christ gives us the benefits of salvation are his regulations, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer, all of which are made useful to the elect for salvation.
A: The ordinary and external tools by which Christ gives us the benefits of salvation are his regulations, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer, all of which are made useful to the elect for salvation.
Q. 89- How is the Word made useful to
salvation?
A: The Spirit of God makes the reading and especially the preaching of the Word a useful tool to convince and convert sinners. The Spirit also strengthens believers with holiness and comfort through the Word heard in saving faith.
A: The Spirit of God makes the reading and especially the preaching of the Word a useful tool to convince and convert sinners. The Spirit also strengthens believers with holiness and comfort through the Word heard in saving faith.
Q. 90- How is the Word to be read and heard
that it may become useful to salvation?
A: In order to be useful to salvation, the Word must be heard with diligence, preparation, and prayer; it must be received with faith and love; treasured in our hearts, and practiced in our lives.
A: In order to be useful to salvation, the Word must be heard with diligence, preparation, and prayer; it must be received with faith and love; treasured in our hearts, and practiced in our lives.
Q. 91- How are the sacraments made useful to
salvation?
A: The sacraments are useful to our salvation not from anything in themselves, or in the ministers who conduct them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of His Spirit in those who receive them by faith.
A: The sacraments are useful to our salvation not from anything in themselves, or in the ministers who conduct them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of His Spirit in those who receive them by faith.
Q. 92- What is a sacrament?
A: A sacrament is a holy regulation appointed by Christ, by which the blessings of the New Testament are represented, sealed, and given to believers by physical signs.
A: A sacrament is a holy regulation appointed by Christ, by which the blessings of the New Testament are represented, sealed, and given to believers by physical signs.
Q. 93- What are the sacraments of the New
Testament?
A: The sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
A: The sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Q. 94- What is Baptism?
A: Baptism is a sacrament, by which the washing with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, represents and seals our being brought in Christ, and that we take part in the blessings of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
A: Baptism is a sacrament, by which the washing with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, represents and seals our being brought in Christ, and that we take part in the blessings of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
Q. 95 Who ought to be baptized?
A: Those who are not members of the visible
church ought not to be baptized, until they state they believe and will follow
Him in obedience; But the infant children of church members ought to be
baptized.
Q. 96- What is the Lord’s Supper?
A: The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, by which the giving and receiving of bread and wine, his death is proclaimed as Christ directed. Those who take part in the prescribed way, made sharers in His body and blood (not physically but spiritually), with all His blessings so that they may grow spiritually and in the grace of God.
A: The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, by which the giving and receiving of bread and wine, his death is proclaimed as Christ directed. Those who take part in the prescribed way, made sharers in His body and blood (not physically but spiritually), with all His blessings so that they may grow spiritually and in the grace of God.
Q. 97- How do we receive the Lord’s Supper in
the prescribed way?
A: The prescribed way to receive the Lord’s Supper is by searching ourselves of our ability to perceive the presence of the Lord in the sacrament; feeding on Him in faith, love, repentance, and seeking to obey Him anew so that we do not bring God’s displeasure upon us.
A: The prescribed way to receive the Lord’s Supper is by searching ourselves of our ability to perceive the presence of the Lord in the sacrament; feeding on Him in faith, love, repentance, and seeking to obey Him anew so that we do not bring God’s displeasure upon us.
Q. 98- What is prayer?
A: Prayer is telling our desires to God for things that agree with His will, in the name of Christ, confessing our sins, and thankfully acknowledging His merciful answers to prayer.
A: Prayer is telling our desires to God for things that agree with His will, in the name of Christ, confessing our sins, and thankfully acknowledging His merciful answers to prayer.
Q. 99- What standard has God given to direct
our prayers?
A: The Word of God is a standard for our prayers, but especially the prayer Jesus taught His disciples called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”
A: The Word of God is a standard for our prayers, but especially the prayer Jesus taught His disciples called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Q. 100- What does the
introduction of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A: The introduction of the Lord's Prayer, which is "Our Father who art in heaven" teaches us to draw near to God with holy reverence and confidence, as children draw close to a father who is able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others.
A: The introduction of the Lord's Prayer, which is "Our Father who art in heaven" teaches us to draw near to God with holy reverence and confidence, as children draw close to a father who is able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others.
Q. 101.
For what do we pray in the first request?
A: In
the first request (hallowed by your name) we pray that God will enable us and
others to glorify Him through His means of
revelation and that He will work out everything to His own glory.
Q. 102. For what do we pray in the second
request?
A: In the second request (your kingdom come) we
pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed, that the kingdom of grace may be
advanced, with ourselves and others brought into and kept in it, and that the
kingdom of glory may come quickly.
Q. 103- What do we pray for in the third
request?
A: The third request, your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven, we ask that God would be gracious to make us have the
ability to know, obey, and to submit to His will in everything as the angels do
in heaven.
Q. 104- What do we pray for in
the fourth request of the Lord's Prayer?
A: In the fourth request,
which is "Give us this day our daily bread", we pray that we may
receive a necessary portion of the good things of this life- given freely by
God- and enjoy His blessings with them.
Q. 105- What do we pray for in the fifth
request of the Lord's Prayer?
A: In the fifth request which is "forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors", we pray that God (for Christ's
sake) would freely pardon all our sins, which makes it possible for us to
forgive others.
Q. 106- What do we pray for in
the sixth request?
A: In the sixth request, which is "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and delivers us when we are tempted.
A: In the sixth request, which is "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and delivers us when we are tempted.
Q. 107- What does the
conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?
A: The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer which is, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen,” teaches us to take our encouragement and prayer from God only. It also teaches us to praise Him, crediting Kingdom, power, and glory to Him, and in witnessing to our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, “Amen.”
A: The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer which is, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen,” teaches us to take our encouragement and prayer from God only. It also teaches us to praise Him, crediting Kingdom, power, and glory to Him, and in witnessing to our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, “Amen.”
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