답. 신자가 부활할 때에는 영광 중에 다시 살아남을 입어 심판 날에 밝히 안다 하심과, 죄 없다 하심을 받고 완전히 복을 받아 영원토록 하나님을 온전히 즐거워하는 것이다.
(요 5:28, 고전 15:42-44, 살전 4:16,17) (마 10:40-42) (마 25:34)
문39. 하나님께서 사람에게 요구하시는 의무가 무엇인가?
답. 하나님께서 사람에게 요구하시는 의무는 그의 계시된 뜻에 순종하는 것이다.
(신 29:29, 삼상 15:22, 미 6:8, 마 28:20, 눅 10:28)
문40. 하나님께서 자기에게 순종할 규칙으로 사람에게 처음 계시하신 것이 무엇이었는가?
답. 하나님께서 자기에게 순종할 규칙으로 사람에게 처음 계시하신 것은 도덕법이었다
(창 2:17, 롬 2;14,15, 10:5)
문41. 도덕법이 어디에 요약되어 포함되어 있는가?
답. 도덕법은 십계명에 요약되어 포함되어 있다.
(출 20:3-17, 신 10:4, 마 19:17-19)
문42. 십계명의 요지는 무엇인가?
답. 십계명의 요지는 우리의 마음을 다하고, 성품을 다하고, 힘을 다하고, 뜻을 다하여 주 우리 하나님을 사랑하고, 또 이웃을 자신과 같이 사랑하는 것이다.
(신 6:5, 마 22:37-40) (마 22:39)
문43. 십계명의 서문은 무엇인가?
답. 십계명의 서문은 “나는 너를 애굽 땅, 종 되었던 집에서 인도하여 낸 네 하나님 여호와니라”이다
(출 20:2, 신 5:6)
문44. 십계명의 서문이 우리에게 교훈하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 십계명의 서문이 우리에게 교훈하는 것은 하나님께서 우리의 주요 하나님이시며, 우리의 구속자이시기 때문에 우리는 마땅히 그의 모든 계명을 지켜야 한다는 것이다.
(엡 1:2) (사 43:11) (레 18:30, 신 11:1)
문45. 제 일 계명은 무엇인가?
답. 제 일 계명은 “너는 나 외에는 다른 신들을 네게 두지 말라”이다
(출 20:3, 신 5:7)
문46. 제 일 계명이 요구하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 일 계명이 우리에게 요구하는 것은 하나님은 유일한 참 신이며, 우리의 하나님이심을 알고 인정하며 그에 합당하게 그를 경배하며 영화롭게 해야 한다는 것이다.
(사 43:10) (왕상 12:30, 렘 32:38) (마 4:10)
문47. 제 일 계명이 금하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 일 계명이 금하는 것은 참 신이 하나님이요 우리의 하나님이심을 부인하거나, 경배하지 않고 영화롭게도 하지 않는 것과, 그에게만 합당한 경배와 영광을 다른 것에게 드리는 것이다.
(시 14:1, 롬 1:20,21) (렘 2:27,28) (단 5:23, 신 8:11-20)
문48. 제 일 계명 중에 “나 외에”라는 말씀이 우리에게 특별히 교훈하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 일 계명 중에 “나 외에” 라는 말씀이 우리에게 특별히 교훈하는 것은, 만물을 보시는 하나님이 다른 신을 가지는 죄를 주목하고 매우 싫어하신다는 것이다.
(신 30:17,18, 대상 28:9, 시 44:20,21)
문49. 제 이 계명은 무엇인가?
답. 제 이 계명은 “너를 위하여 새긴 우상을 만들지 말고 또 위로 하늘에 있는 것이나 아래로 땅에 있는 것이나 땅 아래 물 속에 있는 것의 어떤 형상도 만들지 말며 그것들에게 절하지 말며 그것들을 섬기지 말라 나 네 하나님 여호와는 질투하는 하나님인즉 나를 미워하는 자의 죄를 갚되 아버지로부터 아들에게로 삼사 대까지 이르게 하거니와 나를 사랑하고 내 계명을 지키는 자에게는 천 대까지 은혜를 베푸느니라”이다.
(출 20:4-6)
문50. 제 이 계명이 요구하는 것은 무엇인가?
답. 제 이 계명이 요구하는 것은 하나님이 그 말씀 중에 제정하신 모든 예배와 규례를 받아 준수하며, 순전하고 전체적으로 지키라는 것이다.
답. 제 이 계명이 금하는 것은 형상으로 하나님을 대신하거나 하나님의 말씀에 정하지 아니한 어떤 다른 방법으로 하나님을 예배하는 것이다.
(신 4:15-19, 13:6-8) (렘 10:1, 삼하 6:7)
문52. 제 이 계명을 지키라 한 이유가 무엇인가?
답. 제 이 계명을 지키라 한 이유는 하나님이 우리의 주재가 되시며, 우리의 소유주가 되시며, 홀로 자기에게만 경배하는 것을 바라시기 때문이다.
(시 95:2,3, 계 15:3,4) (시 100:3, 롬 1:6) (출 34:14)
문53. 제 삼 계명은 무엇인가?
답. 제 삼 계명은 “너는 네 하나님 여호와의 이름을 망령되게 부르지 말라 여호와는 그의 이름을 망령되게 부르는 자를 죄 없다 하지 아니하리라”이다
(출 20:7)
문54. 제 삼 계명이 요구하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 삼 계명이 요구하는 것은 하나님의 이름과 칭호와 속성과 규례와 말씀과 사역을 거룩하고 경외하는 마음으로 사용하는 것이다.
(시 29:2, 히 12:28,29, 계 15:3,4) (말 1:6-10,10)
문55. 제 삼 계명이 금하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 삼 계명이 금하는 것은 무엇이든지 하나님이 자기를 나타내신 것을 모독하거나 악용하는 것이다.
(출 5:2, 레 19:12) (레 19:12, 말 2:2, 막 7:11)
문56. 제 삼 계명을 지키라 한 이유가 무엇인가?
답. 제 삼 계명을 지키라 한 이유는 이 계명을 범하는 자가 비록 사람에게는 형벌을 피할지라도, 주 우리 하나님은 저희가 그 의로우신 심판을 피하지 못하게 하시기 때문이다.
(삼상 2:12) (신 28:58,59, 히 4:13)
문57. 제 사 계명은 무엇인가?
답. 제 사 계명은 “안식일을 기억하여 거룩하게 지키라 엿새 동안은 힘써 네 모든 일을 행할 것이나 일곱째 날은 네 하나님 여호와의 안식일인즉 너나 네 아들이나 네 딸이나 네 남종이나 네 여종이나 네 가축이나 네 문안에 머무는 객이라도 아무 일도 하지 말라 이는 엿새 동안에 나 여호와가 하늘과 땅과 바다와 그 가운데 모든 것을 만들고 일곱째 날에 쉬었음이라 그러므로 나 여호와가 안식일을 복되게 하여 그 날을 거룩하게 하였느니라” 이다.
(출 20:8-11)
문58. 제 사 계명이 요구하는 것이 무엇인가?
답. 제 사 계명이 요구하는 것은 하나님의 말씀 중에 정하신 시기를 그의 앞에 거룩히 지키는 것이니, 특별히 칠일 중에 하루를 종일토록 그에게 거룩한 안식일로 지키라는 것이다.
(창 2:3, 출 16:25-29, 사 56:2-7)
문59. 하나님께서 칠 일 중 어느 날을 안식일로 정하셨는가?
답. 세상 시작으로 부터 그리스도의 부활까지는 하나님이 일주일 중에 일곱째 날을 안식일로 정하셨고, 그 후로부터 세상 끝날까지는 일주일 중에 첫날로 정하셨으니 곧 그리스도인의 안식일이다.
답. 생명에 이르는 회개는 곧 구원 얻는 은혜인데, 이로 말미암아 죄인이 자기 죄를 참으로 알고, 또 그리스도 안에서 하나님의 긍휼하심을 깨달아 자기 죄를 원통히 여기고 미워함으로 죄에서 떠나, 하나님께로 돌아가서 굳게 결심하고 마음과 힘을 다하여 새로이 순종하는 것이다.
답. 말씀이 구원을 얻기에 유효하게 하려면, 우리는 마땅히 부지런함과 예비함과 기도함으로써 말씀을 경청하며, 믿음과 사랑으로 받고, 마음에 저장하고, 삶에서 실천해야 한다.
(딤전 4:13) (시 119:148) (시 119:11, 사 66:2) (약 1:21,22)
문91. 성례가 어떻게 구원의 유효한 방편이 되는가?
답. 성례가 구원의 유효한 방편이 되는 것은 성례 자체의 능력으로 말미암음도 아니요, 베푸는 자의 능력으로 말미암음도 아니라 다만 그리스도의 복주심으로 되며, 또 믿음으로 성례를 받는 자 속에 성령이 역사함으로 되는 것이다.
(고전 6:11, 12:13) (벧전 3:21)
문92. 성례가 무엇인가?
답. 성례는 그리스도께서 제정하신 거룩한 규례인데 감각적인 표지들로 그리스도와 그의 새언약의 유익을 대표하고 인쳐 신자들에게 적용하는 것이다.
(마 26:26-28, 28:19, 눅 22:15) (눅 22:20, 롬 4:11)
문93. 신약 성경의 성례가 무엇인가?
답. 신약 성경의 성례는 세례와 성찬이다.
(마 28:19,20) (막 14:25, 행 10:47,48)
문94. 세례가 무엇인가?
답. 세례는 물을 가지고 성부와 성자와 성령의 이름으로 씻는 성례인데, 이로써 우리가 그리스도에게 접붙임과, 은혜언약의 모든 유익에 참여함과, 주님의 사람이 되기로 약속함을 표시하여 인치는 것이다.
(마 28:19) (롬 6:3,4) (계 1:5) (갈 3:26,27)
문95. 누구에게 세례를 베풀어야 하는가?
답. 세례는 유형 교회 밖에 있는 자에게는 베풀지 말 것이요, 그리스도께 대한 믿음과 순종을 고백하는 자에게 베풀 것이며, 그들의 유아도 유형 교회의 회원이므로 세례를 베풀어야 한다.
(행 2:41) (행 2:38,39, 고전 7:14, 갈 3:17,18,29)
문96. 성찬이 무엇인가?
답. 성찬은 곧 성례이니, 그리스도께서 명하신 대로 떡과 포도주를 주고 받는 것으로 그의 죽으심을 드러내 보여 주는 것이며, 육체와 정욕으로 참여함이 아니요, 믿음으로써 합당하게 받는 자들은 그의 몸과 피에 참여하여 그의 모든 혜택을 받음으로 영적 자양을 얻고 은혜중에 장성하게 된다.
답. 하나님의 말씀 전체가 우리의 기도를 지도하는데 유용하지만, 특별한 지도의 규칙은 그리스도께서 그의 제자들에게 가르치신 기도의 양식이니, 보통으로 주기도라 하는 것이다.
(마 6:9-13)
문100. 주기도의 서언은 우리에게 무엇을 가르치는가?
답. 주기도의 서언은 “하늘에 계신 우리 아버지여”이니, 이는 자녀가 돕기에 능하고 즐거이하는 아버지에게 가는 것과 같이, 우리가 지극히 거룩한 공경심과 확신으로 하나님께 가까이 나아가라고 가르치고, 또 우리가 다른 사람과 함께 그리고 다른 사람을 위하여 기도해야 한다고 가르친다.
답. 둘째 간구는 “나라가 임하시오며”인데, 우리는 사단의 나라가 멸망되고 은혜의 나라가 흥왕하며, 우리와 다른 사람이 그리로 들어가 항상 있게 하시고 또 영광의 나라가 속히 임하기를 기도한다.
(시 68:1) (마 6:33) (시 67:1-3, 마 9:37,38) (계 22:20)
문103. 셋째 간구에서 우리는 무엇을 위하여 기도하는가?
답. 셋째 간구는 “뜻이 하늘에서 이루어진 것 같이 땅에서도 이루어지이다”인데, 우리는 하나님께서 은혜를 베푸셔서 우리로 하여금 능히 즐거움으로 모든 일에 그의 뜻을 알고 순종하며 굴복하기를 하늘에서 천사들이 행함과 같게 하시기를 기도한다.
(히 12:28) (시 119:35, 마 26:39) (시 103:20,23, 단 7:10, 빌 1:9-11)
문104. 넷째 간구에서 우리는 무엇을 위하여 기도하는가?
답. 넷째 간구는 “오늘 우리에게 일용할 양식을 주시옵고”인데, 우리는 하나님이 거저 주시는 선물인 이 세상의 좋은 것들 중에 적당한 분량을 받게 하시며, 그것들과 함께 그의 축복을 누리게 하시기를 기도한다.
(잠 10:22, 30:8,9) (창 28:20,21, 딤전 6:6-8)
문105. 다섯째 간구에서 우리는 무엇을 위하여 기도하는가?
답. 다섯째 간구는 “우리가 우리에게 죄 지은 자를 사하여 준 것같이 우리 죄를 사하여 주시옵고”인데, 이는 하나님께서 그리스도를 인하여 우리의 모든 죄를 사하여 주시기를 간구하는 것으로, 우리가 그의 은혜를 힘입어 진심으로 다른 이의 죄를 사하였은즉 더욱 담대하게 간구한다.
(시 51:1,2,7, 눅 15:19) (마 18:35, 행 7:60)
문106. 여섯째 간구에서 우리는 무엇을 위하여 기도하는가?
답. 여섯째 간구는 “우리를 시험에 들게 하지 마시옵고 다만 악에서 구하시옵소서”인데, 하나님이 우리를 죄의 시험을 받지 않게 하시거나, 시험을 당할 때에 우리를 도우시며 구원해달라고 기도한다.
(마 26:41) (시 51:12, 살전 5:23)
문107. 주기도의 결론은 우리에게 무엇을 가르치는가?
답. 주기도의 결론은 “나라와 권세와 영광이 아버지께 영원히 있사옵나이다. 아멘”인데, 이는 우리가 기도할 때에 하나님으로부터만 격려를 받아야 할 것과 또 기도할 때에 나라와 권세와 영광을 아버지께 돌리며 그를 찬송할 것을 가르친다. 또 우리가 우리의 소원의 증거와 들으실 줄 확신하는 표로 아멘 한다.
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,(1) and to enjoy him for ever.(2)
(1) I Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36. (2) Ps. 73:25-28.
Q2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,(1) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.(2)
(1) II Tim. 3:16; Eph. 2:20. (2) I John 1:3-4.
Q3. What do the scriptures principally teach?
A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.(1)
(1) II Tim. 1:13; 3:16.
Q4. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit,(1) infinite,(2) eternal,(3) and unchangeable,(4) in his being,(5) wisdom,(6) power,(7) holiness,(8) justice, goodness, and truth.(9)
(1) John 4:24. (2) Job 11:7-9. (3) Ps. 90:2. (4) James 1:17. (5) Exod. 3:14. (6) Ps. 147:5. (7) Rev. 4:8. (8) Rev. 15:4. (9) Exod. 34:6-7.
Q5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but One only, the living and true God.(1)
(1) Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10.
Q6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God the same in substance, equal in power and glory.(1)
(1) I John 5:7; Matt. 28:19.
Q7. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.(1)
(1) Eph. 1:4, 11; Rom. 9:22-23.
Q8. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Q9. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.(1)
(1) Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3.
Q10. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.(1)
(1) Gen. 1:26-28; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24.
Q11. What are God’s works of providence?
A. God’s works of providence are, his most holy,(1) wise,(2) and powerful preserving(3) and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.(4)
(1) Ps. 145:17. (2) Ps. 104:24; Isa. 28:29. (3) Heb. 1:3. (4) Ps. 103:19; Matt. 10:29-31.
Q12. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?
A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.(1)
(1) Gal. 3:12; Gen. 2:17.
Q13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.(1)
(1) Gen. 3:6-8, 13; Eccles. 7:29.
Q14. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.(1)
(1) I John 3:4.
Q15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.(1)
(1) Gen. 3:6, 12.
Q16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.(1)
(1) Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 5:12; I Cor. 15:21-22.
Q17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.(1)
(1) Rom. 5:12.
Q18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.(1)
Q19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God,(1) are under his wrath and curse,(2) and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.(3)
Q20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life,(1) did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.(2)
(1) Eph. 1:4. (2) Rom. 3:20-22; Gal. 3:21-22.
Q21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) who, being the eternal Son of God, became man,(2) and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.(3)
(1) I Tim. 2:5-6. (2) John 1:14; Gal. 4:4. (3) Rom. 9:5; Luke 1:35; Col. 2:9; Heb. 7:24-25.
Q22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body,(1) and a reasonable soul,(2) being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her,(3) yet without sin.(4)
Q23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.(1)
(1) Acts 3:21-22; Heb. 12:25. Cf. II Cor. 13:3; Heb. 5:5-7; 7:25; Ps. 2:6; Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 21:5; Ps. 2:8-11.
Q24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.(1)
(1) John 1:18; I Peter 1:10-12; John 15:15; 20:31.
Q25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice,(1) and reconcile us to God,(2) and in making continual intercession for us.(3)
Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself,(1) in ruling(2) and defending us,(3) and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.(4)
(1) Acts 15:14-16. (2) Isa. 33:22. (3) Isa. 32:1-2. (4) I Cor. 15:25, Ps. 110.
Q27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition,(1) made under the law,(2) undergoing the miseries of this life,(3) the wrath of God,(4) and the cursed death of the cross;(5) in being buried,(6) and continuing under the power of death for a time.(7)
(1) Luke 2:7. (2) Gal. 4:4. (3) Heb. 12:2-3; Isa. 53:2-3. (4) Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46. (5) Phil. 2:8. (6) I Cor. 15:3-4. (7) Acts 2:24-27, 31.
Q28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day,(1) in ascending up into heaven,(2) in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,(3) and in coming to judge the world at the last day.(4)
(1) I Cor. 15:4. (2) Mark 16:19. (3) Eph. 1:20. (4) Acts 1:11; 17:31.
Q29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us(1) by his Holy Spirit.(2)
(1) John 1:11-12. (2) Titus 3:5-6.
Q30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us,(1) and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.(2)
(1) Eph. 1:13-14; John 6:37, 39; Eph. 2:8. (2) Eph. 3:17, I Cor. 1:9.
Q31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit,(1) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,(2) enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,(3) and renewing our wills,(4) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.(5)
(1) II Tim. 1:9; II Thess. 2:13-14. (2) Acts 2:37. (3) Acts 26:18. (4) Ezek. 36:26-27. (5) John 6:44-45; Phil. 2:13.
Q32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification,(1) adoption,(2) and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.(3)
(1) Rom. 8:30. (2) Eph. 1:5. (3) I Cor. 1:26, 30.
Q33. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins,(1) and accepteth us as righteous in his sight,(2) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,(3) and received by faith alone.(4)
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace,(1) whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the Sons of God.(2)
(1) I John 3:1. (2) John 1:12; Rom. 8:17.
Q35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace,(1) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,(2) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.(3)
Q36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience,(1) joy in the Holy Ghost,(2) increase of grace,(3) and perseverance therein to the end.(4)
(1) Rom. 5:1-2, 5. (2) Rom. 14:17. (3) Prov. 4:18. (4) I John 5:13; I Pet. 1:5.
Q37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness,(1) and do immediately pass into glory;(2) and their bodies, being still united to Christ,(3) do rest in their graves(4) till the resurrection.(5)
(1) Heb. 12:23. (2) II Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43. (3) I Thess. 4:14. (4) Isa. 57:2. (5) Job 19:26-27.
Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory,(1) shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment,(2) and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God(3) to all eternity.(4)
(1) I Cor. 15:43. (2) Matt. 25:23; 10:32. (3) I John 3:2; I Cor. 13:12. (4) I Thess. 4:17-18.
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.(1)
(1) Micah 6:8; I Sam. 15:22.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.(1)
(1) Rom. 2:14-15; 10:5.
Q41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.(1)
(1) Deut. 10:4.
Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.(1)
(1) Matt. 22:37-40.
Q43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:2.
Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.(1)
(1) Luke 1:74-75; I Pet. 1:15-19.
Q45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:3.
Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God;(1) and to worship and glorify him accordingly.(2)
(1) I Chron. 28:9; Deut. 26:17. (2) Matt. 4:10; Ps. 29:2.
Q47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying,(1) or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God,(2) and our God;(3) and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.(4)
(1) Ps. 14:1. (2) Rom. 1:21. (3) Ps. 81:10-11. (4) Rom. 1:25-26.
Q48. What are we specially taught by these words, before me in the first commandment?
A. These words before me in the first commandment teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.(1)
(1) Ezek. 8:5-18.
Q49. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:4-6.
Q50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his word.(1)
(1) Deut. 32:46; Matt. 28:20; Acts. 2:42.
Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images,(1) or any other way not appointed in his word.(2)
Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us,(1) his propriety in us,(2) and the zeal he hath to his own worship.(3)
(1) Ps. 95:2-3, 6. (2) Ps. 45:11. (3) Exod. 34:13-14.
Q53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:7.
Q54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God’s names,(1) titles,(2) attributes,(3) ordinances,(4) word,(5) and works.(6)
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing anything whereby God maketh himself known.(1)
(1) Mal. 1:6-7, 12; 2:2; 3:14.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.(1)
(1) I Sam. 2:12, 17, 22, 29; 3:13; Deut. 28:58-59.
Q57. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, 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 man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:8-11.
Q58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.(1)
(1) Deut. 5:12-14.
Q59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.(1)
(1) Gen. 2:2-3; I Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7.
Q60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day,(1) even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days;(2) and spending the whole time in the publick and private exercises of God’s worship,(3) except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.(4)
(1) Exod. 20:8, 10; 16:25-28. (2) Neh. 13:15-19, 21-22. (3) Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; Ps. 92 title; Isa. 66:23. (4) Matt. 12:1-31.
Q61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required,(1) and the profaning the day by idleness,(2) or doing that which is in itself sinful,(3) or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.(4)
Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments,(1) his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day.(2)
(1) Exod. 20:9. (2) Exod. 20:11.
Q63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:12.
Q64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors,(1) inferiors,(2) or equals.(3)
(1) Eph. 5:21. (2) I Pet. 2:17. (3) Rom. 12:10.
Q65. What is the forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.(1)
(1) Matt. 15:4-6; Ezek. 34:2-4; Rom. 13:8.
Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.(1)
(1) Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:2-3.
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:13.
Q68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life,(1) and the life of others.(2)
(1) Eph. 5:28-29. (2) I Kings 18:4.
Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.(1)
(1) Acts 16:28; Gen. 9:6.
Q70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:14.
Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour.(1)
(1) I Cor. 7:2-3, 5, 34, 36; Col. 4:6; I Pet. 3:2.
Q72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.(1)
(1) Matt. 15:19; 5:28; Eph. 5:3-4.
Q73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:15.
Q74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.(1)
(1) Gen. 30:30; I Tim. 5:8; Lev. 25:35; Deut. 22:1-5; Exod. 23:4-5; Gen. 47:14, 20.
Q75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate.(1)
(1) Prov. 21:17; 23:20-21; 28:19; Eph. 4:28.
Q76. What is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:16.
Q77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man,(1) and of our own and our neighbour’s good name,(2) especially in witness-bearing.(3)
(1) Zech. 8:16. (2) III John 12. (3) Prov. 14:5, 25.
Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbour’s good name.(1)
(1) I Sam. 17:28; Lev. 19:16; Ps. 15:3.
Q79. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, 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.(1)
(1) Exod. 20:17.
Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition,(1) with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all this is his.(2)
(1) Heb. 13:5; I Tim. 6:6. (2) Job 31:29; Rom. 12:15; I Tim. 1:5; I Cor. 13:4-7.
Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate,(1) envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour,(2) and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his.(3)
(1) I Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; I Cor. 10:10. (2) Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16. (3) Rom. 7:7-8; 13:9; Deut. 5:21.
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God,(1) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.(2)
(1) Eccles. 7:20; I John 1:8, 10; Gal. 5:17. (2) Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Rom. 3:9-21; James 3:2-13.
Q83. Are all transgression of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.(1)
(1) Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; I John 5:16; Ps. 78:17, 32, 56.
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.(1)
(1) Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10; Lam. 3:39; Matt. 25:41.
Q85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life,(1) with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.(2)
(1) Acts. 20:21. (2) Prov. 2:1-5; 8:33-36; Isa. 55:3.
Q86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,(1) whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.(2)
(1) Heb. 10:39. (2) John 1:12; Isa. 26:3-4; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16.
Q87. What is repentance unto life?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,(1) whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin,(2) and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,(3) doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God,(4) with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.(5)
(1) Acts. 11:18. (2) Acts. 2:37-38. (3) Joel 2:12; Jer. 3:22. (4) Jer. 31:18-19; Ezek. 36:31. (5) II Cor. 7:11; Isa. 1:16-17.
Q88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.(1)
(1) Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47.
Q89. How is the word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.(1)
(1) Neh. 8:8; I Cor. 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8; Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4; II Tim. 3:15-17; Rom. 10:13-17; 1:16.
Q90. How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,(1) preparation,(2) and prayer;(3) receive it with faith and love,(4) lay it up in our hearts,(5) and practice it in our lives.(6)
(1) Prov. 8:34. (2) I Pet. 2:1-2. (3) Ps. 119:18. (4) Heb. 4:2; II Thess. 2:10. (5) Ps. 119:11. (6) Luke 8:15; James 1:25.
Q91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ,(1) and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.(2)
(1) I Pet. 3:21; Matt. 3:11; I Cor. 3:6-7. (2) I Cor. 12:13.
Q92. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.(1)
(1) Gen. 17:7, 10; Exod. 12; I Cor. 11:23, 26.
Q93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism,(1) and the Lord’s supper.(2)
(1) Matt. 28:19. (2) Matt. 26:26-28.
Q94. What is baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,(1) doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.(2)
(1) Matt. 28:19. (2) Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27.
Q95. To whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;(1) but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.(2)
(1) Acts 8:36-37; 2:38. (2) Acts 2:38-39; Gen. 17:10. Cf. Col. 2:11-12; I Cor. 7:14.
Q96. What is the Lord’s supper?
A. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worth receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.(1)
(1) I Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16.
Q97. What is required to be the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body,(1) of their faith to feed upon him,(2) of their repentance,(3) love,(4) and new obedience;(5) lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.(6)
(1) I Cor. 11:28-29. (2) II Cor. 13:5. (3) I Cor. 11:31. (4) I Cor. 10:16-17. (5) I Cor. 5:7-8. (6) I Cor. 11:28-29.
Q98. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,(1) for things agreeable to his will,(2) in the name of Christ,(3) with confession of our sins,(4) and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.(5)
(1) Ps. 62:8. (2) I John 5:14. (3) John 16:23. (4) Ps. 32:5-6; Dan. 9:4. (5) Phil. 4:6.
Q99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?
A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer;(1) but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s prayer.(2)
(1) I John 5:14. (2) Matt. 6:9-13. Cf. Luke 11:2-4.
Q100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord’s prayer (which is, Our Father which art in heaven)(1) teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us;(2) and that we should pray with and for others.(3)
(1) Matt. 6:9. (2) Rom. 8:15; Luke 11:13. (3) Acts. 12:5; I Tim. 2:1-2.
Q101. What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name)(1) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known;(2) and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.(3)
(1) Matt. 6:9. (2) Ps. 67:2-3. (3) Ps. 83.
Q102. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come)(1) we pray, That Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed;(2) and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced,(3) ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it;(4) and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.(5)
(1) Matt. 6:10. (2) Ps. 68:1, 18. (3) Rev. 12:10-11. (4) II Thess. 3:1; Rom. 10:1; John 17:9, 20. (5) Rev. 22:20.
Q103. What do we pray for in the third petition?
A. In the third petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven)(1) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things,(2) as the angels do in heaven.(3)
(1) Matt. 6:10. (2) Ps. 67; 119:36; Matt. 26:39; II Sam. 15:25; Job 1:21. (3) Ps. 103:20-21.
Q104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread)(1), we pray, That of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.(2)
(1) Matt. 6:11. (2) Prov. 30:8-9; Gen. 28:20; I Tim. 4:4-5.
Q105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. In the fifth petition (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors)(1) we pray, That God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins;(2) which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.(3)
(1) Matt. 6:12. (2) Ps. 51:1-2, 7, 9; Dan. 9:17-19. (3) Luke 11:4, Matt. 18:35.
Q106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A. In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil)(1) we pray, that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin,(2) or support and deliver us when we are tempted.(3)
(1) Matt. 6:13. (2) Matt. 26:41. (3) II Cor. 12:7-8.
Q107. What doth the conclusion 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, for ever, Amen)(1) teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only,(2) and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him.(3) And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.(4)
(1) Matt. 6:13. (2) Dan. 9:4, 7-9, 16-19. (3) I Chron. 29:10-13. (4) I Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20-21.