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.
Question 60: How art thou righteous before God?
Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the
commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined
to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but
only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect
satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; 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; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.
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; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God; and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rom. 3:24, Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Tit. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Psa. 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.
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.
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.
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; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments.
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, viz., 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.
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.
Question 68: How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?
Answer: Two: namely, holy baptism, and the holy supper.
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.
Matt. 28:19,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, adding thereto this promise, that I am as certainly washed by His blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, 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; 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.
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," "he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be
saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned." This promise is
also repeated, where the scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration, and the washing away of sins.
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.
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?
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.
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,
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.
Matt. 28:19,
Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Tit. 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.
Acts 22:16, And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
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, and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin.
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; 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.
Question 74: Are infants also to be baptized?
Answer: Yes: for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church of God; and since redemption from sin by
the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is
promised to them 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 9from the children of
unbelievers as was done in the old covenant or testament by
circumcision, instead of which baptism is instituted in the new
covenant.
1 Pet. 3:21,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Psa. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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; 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; so that we, though Christ is in heaven and we on earth, are notwithstanding "Flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone"; and that we live, and are governed forever by one spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.
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: 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
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." 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; because we are all partakers of that one bread."
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.
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.
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.
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 steadfastly 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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