WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD.
Question 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God?
Answer. The Scriptures make known what God is, [Heb 11:6] the persons in the Godhead, [1 John 5:17] his decrees, [Acts 15:14-15; Acts 15:18] and the execution of his decrees. [Acts 4:27-28]
Question 7. What is God?
Answer. God is a Spirit, [John 4:24] in and of himself infinite in being, [Exod 3:14; Job 11:7-9] glory, [Acts 7:2] blessedness, [1 Tim 6:15] and perfection; [Matt 5:48] all-sufficient, [Gen 17:1] eternal, [Ps 90:2] unchangeable, [Mal 3:6] incomprehensible, [1 Kings 8:27] every where present, [Ps 139:1-13] almighty, [Rev 4:8] knowing all things, [Heb 4:13; Ps 147:5] most wise, [Rom 16:27] most holy, [Isa 6:3; Rev 15:4] most just, [Deut 32:4] most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. [Exod 34:6]
Question 8. Are there more Gods than one?
Answer. There is but one only, the living and true God. [Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:4; 1 Cor 8:6; Jer 10:10]
Question 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
Answer. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties. [1 John 5:7; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; John 10:30]
Question 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
Answer. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, [Heb 1:5-6; Heb 1:8] and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, [John 1:14; John 1:18] and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity. [John 15:26; Gal 4:6]
Question 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?
Answer. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, [Isa 6:3; Isa 6:5; Isa 6:8; John 12:41; Acts 28:25; 1 John 5:20; Acts 5:3-4] attributes, [John 1:1; Isa 9:6; John 2:24-25; 1 Cor 2:10-11] works, [Col 1:16; Gen 1:2] and worship, [Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 8:14] as are proper to God only.
Question 12. What are the decrees of God?
Answer. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, [Eph 1:11; Rom 11:33; Rom 9:14-15; Rom 9:18] whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, [Eph 1:4; Eph 1:11; Rom 9:22-23; Ps 33:11] especially concerning angels and men.
Question 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men?
Answer. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; [1 Tim 5:21] and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: [Eph 1:4-6; 2 Thess 2:13-14] and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favor as he pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice. [Rom 9:17-18,21-22; Matt 11:25-26; 2 Tim 2:20; Jude 4; 1 Pet 2:8]
Question 14. How doth God execute his decrees?
Answer. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will. [Eph 1:11]
Question 15. What is the work of creation?
Answer. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good. [Gen 1; Heb 11:3; Prov 16:4]
Question 16. How did God create angels?
Answer. God created all the angels [Col 1:16] spirits, [Ps 104:4] immortal, [Matt 22:30] holy, [Matt 25:31] excelling in knowledge, [2 Sam 14:17; Matt 24:36] mighty in power, [2 Thess 1:7] to execute his commandments, and to praise his name, [Ps 103:20-21] yet subject to change. [2 Pet 2:4]
Question 17. How did God create man?
Answer. After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female; [Gen 1:27] formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground, [Gen 2:7] and the woman of the rib of the man, [Gen 2:22] endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls; [Gen 2:7; Job 35:11; Eccles 12:7; Matt 10:28; Luke 23:43] made them after his own image, [Gen 1:27] in knowledge, [Col 3:10] righteousness, and holiness; [Eph 4:24] having the law of God written in their hearts, [Rom 2:14-15] and power to fulfill it, [Eccles 7:29] and dominion over the creatures; [Gen 1:28] yet subject to fall. [Gen 3:6; Eccles 7:29]
Question 18. What are God's works of providence?
Answer. God's works of providence are his most holy, [Ps 145:17] wise, [Ps 104:24; Isa 28:29] and powerful preserving [Heb 1:3] and governing [Ps 103:19] all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, [Matt 10:29-31; Gen 45:7] to his own glory. [Rom 11:36; Isa 63:14]
Question 19. What is God's providence towards the angels?
Answer. God by his providence permitted some of the angels, willfully and irrecoverably, to fall into sin and damnation, [Jude 6; 2 Pet 2:4; Heb 2:16; John 8:44] limiting and ordering that, and all their sins, to his own glory; [Job 1:12; Matt 8:31] and established the rest in holiness and happiness; [1 Tim 5:21; Mark 8:38; Heb 12:22] employing them all, [Ps 104:4] at his pleasure, in the administrations of his power, mercy, and justice. [2 Kings 19:35; Heb 1:14]
Question 20. What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?
Answer. The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was the placing him in paradise, appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to eat of the fruit of the earth; [Gen 2:8; Gen 15-16] putting the creatures under his dominion, [Gen 1:28] and ordaining marriage for his help; [Gen 2:18] affording him communion with himself; [Gen 1:26-29; Gen 3:8] instituting the sabbath; [Gen 2:3] entering into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, [Gen 3:12; Rom 10:5] of which the tree of life was a pledge; [Gen 2:9] and forbidding to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. [Gen 2:17]
Question 21. Did man continue in that estate wherein God at first created him?
Answer. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, through the temptation of Satan, transgressed the commandment of God in eating the forbidden fruit; and thereby fell from the estate of innocency wherein they were created. [Gen 3:6-8; Gen 3:13; Eccles 7:29; 2 Cor 11:3]
Question 22. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression?
Answer. The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, [Acts 17:26] sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression. [Gen 2:16-17; Rom 5:12-20; 1 Cor 15:21-22]
Question 23. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
Answer. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. [Rom 5:12; Rom 3:23]
Question 24. What is sin?
Answer. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature. [1 John 3:4; Gal 3:10; Gal 3:12]
Question 25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
Answer. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam's first sin, [Rom 5:12; Rom 5:19] the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; [Rom 3:10-19; Eph 2:1-3; Rom 5:6; Rom 8:7-8; Gen 6:5] which is commonly called original sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions. [James 1:14-15; Matt 15:19]
Question 26. How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?
Answer. Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin. [Ps 51:5; Job 14:4; John 3:6]
Question 27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
Answer. The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, [Gen 3:8; Gen 3:10; Gen 3:24] his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, [Eph 2:2-3] bond slaves to Satan, [2 Tim 2:26] and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come. [Gen 2:17; Lam 3:39; Rom 6:23; Matt 25:41; Matt 25:46; Jude 7]
Question 28. What are the punishments of sin in this world?
Answer. The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, [Eph 4:18] a reprobate sense, [Rom 1:28] strong delusions, [2 Thess 2:11] hardness of heart, [Rom 2:5] horror of conscience, [Isa 33:14; Gen 4:13; Matt 27:4] and vile affections; [Rom 1:26] or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures of our sakes, [Gen 3:17] and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; [Deut 28:15-18] together with death itself. [Rom 6:21 Rom 6:23]
Question 29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
Answer. The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell-fire forever. [2 Thess 1:9; Mark 9:43-44; Mark 9:46; Mark 9:48; Luke 16:24]
Question 30. Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
Answer. God doth not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and misery, [1 Thess 5:9] into which they fell by the breach of the first covenant, commonly called the covenant of works; [Gal 3:10; Gal 3:12] but of his mere love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it, and bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second covenant, commonly called the covenant of grace. [Titus 3:4-7; Gal 3:21; Rom 3:20-22]
Question 31. With whom was the covenant of grace made?
Answer. The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed. [Gal 3:16; Rom 5:15-21; Isa 53:10-11]
Question 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
Answer. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a Mediator, [Gen 3:15; Isa 42:6; John 6:27] and life and salvation by him; [1 John 5:11-12] and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him, [John 3:16; John 1:12] promiseth and giveth his Holy Spirit [Prov 1:23] to all his elect, to work in them that faith, [2 Cor 4:13] with all other saving graces; [Gal 5:22-23] and to enable them unto all holy obedience, [Ezek 36:27] as the evidence of the truth of their faith [James 2:18; James 2:22] and thankfulness to God, [2 Cor 5:14-15] and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation. [Eph 2:18]
Question 33. Was the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner?
Answer. The covenant of grace was not always administered after the same manner, but the administrations of it under the Old Testament were different from those under the New. [2 Cor 3:6-9]
Question 34. How was the covenant of grace administered under the Old Testament?
Answer. The covenant of grace was administered under the Old Testament, by promises, [Rom 15:8] prophecies, [Acts 3:20; Acts 3:24] sacrifices, [Heb 10:1] circumcision, [Rom 4:11] the passover, [1 Cor 5:7] and other types and ordinances, which did all fore-signify Christ then to come, and were for that time sufficient to build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, [Heb 8-11; Heb 11:13] by whom they then had full remission of sin, and eternal salvation. [Gal 3:7-9; Gal 3:14]
Question 35. How is the covenant of grace administered under the New Testament?
Answer. Under the New Testament, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the same covenant of grace was and still is to be administered in the preaching of the Word, [Mark 16:15] and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism [Matt 28:19-20] and the Lord's Supper; [1 Cor 11:23-25] in which grace and salvation are held forth in more fulness, evidence, and efficacy, to all nations. [2 Cor 3:6-9; Heb 8:6; Heb 8:10-11; Matt 28:19]
Question 36. Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?
Answer. The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Tim 2:5] who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, [John 1:1; John 1:14; John 10:30; Phil 2:6] in the fulness of time became man, [Gal 4:4] and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever. [Luke 1:35; Rom 9:5; Col 2:9; Heb 7:24-25]
Question 37. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Answer. Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, [John 1:14; Matt 26:38] being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of her, [Luke 1:27; Luke 1:31; Luke 1:35; Luke 1:42; Gal 4:4] yet without sin. [Heb 4:15; Heb 7:26]
Question 38. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?
Answer. It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death, [Acts 2:24-25; Rom 1:4; Rom 4:25; Heb 9:14] give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; [Acts 20:28; Heb 9:14; Heb 7:25-28] and to satisfy God's justice, [Rom 3:24-26] procure his favour, [Eph 1:6; Matt 3:17] purchase a peculiar people, [Titus 2:13-14] give his Spirit to them, [Gal 4:6] conquer all their enemies, [Luke 1:68-69; Luke 1:71; Luke 1:74] and bring them to everlasting salvation. [Heb 5:8-9; Heb 9:11-15]
Question 39. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?
Answer. It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, [Heb 2:16] perform obedience to the law, [Gal 4:4] suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, [Heb 2:14; Heb 7:24-25] have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities; [Heb 4:15] that we might receive the adoption of sons, [Gal 4:5] and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace. [Heb 4:16]
Question 40. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person?
Answer. It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, [Matt 1:21; Matt 1:23; Matt 3:17; Heb 9:14] and relied on by us as the works of the whole person. [1 Pet 2:6]
Question 41. Why was our Mediator called Jesus?
Answer. Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saveth his people from their sins. [Matt 1:21]
Question 42. Why was our Mediator called Christ?
Answer. Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure, [John 3:34; Ps 45:7] and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, [John 6:27; Matt 28:18-20] to execute the offices of prophet, [Acts 3:21-22; Luke 4:18; Luke 4:21] priest, [Heb 5:5-7; Heb 4:14-15] and king of his church, [Ps 2:6; Matt 21:5; Isa 9:6-7; Phil 2:6-8] in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation.
Question 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
Answer. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, [John 1:18] in all ages, by his Spirit and Word, [1 Pet 1:10-12] in divers ways of administration, [Heb 1:1-2] the whole will of God, [John 15:15] in all things concerning their edification and salvation. [Acts 20:32; Eph 4:11-13; John 20:31]
Question 44. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
Answer. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, [Heb 9:14; Heb 9:28] to be reconciliation for the sins of his people; [Heb 2:17] and in making continual intercession for them. [Heb 7:25]
Question 45. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Answer. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, [Acts 15:14-16: Isa 55:4-5; Gen 49:10; Ps 110:3] and giving them officers, [Eph 4:11-12; 1 Cor 12:28] laws, [Isa 33:22] and censures, by which he visibly governs them; [Matt 18:17-18; 1 Cor 5:4-5] in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, [Acts 5:31] rewarding their obedience, [Rev 22:12; Rev 2:10] and correcting them for their sins, [Rev 3:19] preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, [Isa 63:9] restraining and overcoming all their enemies, [1 Cor 15:25; Ps 110:1-2] and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, [Rom 14:10-11] and their good; [Rom 8:28] and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel. [2 Thess 1:8-9; Ps 2:8-9]
Question 46. What was the estate of Christ's humiliation?
Answer. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection. [Phil 2:6-8; Luke 1:31; 2 Cor 8:9; Acts 2:24]
Question 47. How did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth?
Answer. Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement. [John 1:14; John 1:18; Gal 4:4; Luke 2:7]
Question 48. How did Christ humble himself in his life?
Answer. Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law, [Gal 4:4] which he perfectly fulfilled; [Matt 5:17; Rom 5:19] and by conflicting with the indignities of the world, [Ps 22:6; Heb 12:2-3] temptations of Satan, [Matt 4:1-12; Luke 4:13] and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his low condition. [Heb 2:17-18; Heb 4:15; Isa 52:13-14]
Question 49. How did Christ humble himself in his death?
Answer. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas, [Matt 27:4] forsaken by his disciples, [Matt 26:56] scorned and rejected by the world, [Isa 53:2-3] condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; [Matt 27:26-50; John 19:34] having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath, [Luke 22:44; Matt 27:46] he laid down his life an offering for sin, [Isa 53:10] enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross. [Phil 2:8; Heb 12:2; Gal 3:13]
Question 50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death?
Answer. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried, [1 Cor 15:3-4] and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day; [Ps 16:10; Acts 2:24-27; Acts 2:31; Rom 6:9; Matt 12:40] which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.
Question 51. What was the estate of Christ's exaltation?
Answer. The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection, [1 Cor 15:4] ascension, [Mark 16:19] sitting at the right hand of the Father, [Eph 1:20] and his coming again to judge the world. [Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31]
Question 52. How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?
Answer. Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death, (of which it was not possible for him to be held, [Acts 2:24; Acts 2:27] ) and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof, [Luke 24:39] ( but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life,) really united to his soul, [Rom 6:9; Rev 1:18] he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power; [John 10:18] whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God, [Rom 1:4] to have satisfied divine justice, [Rom 8:34] to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it, [Heb 2:14] and to be Lord of quick and dead: [Rom 14:9] all which he did as a public person, [1 Cor 15:21-22] the head of his church, [Eph 1:20-23; Col 1:18] for their justification, [Rom 4:25] quickening in grace, [Eph 2:1; Eph 5-6; Col 2:12] support against enemies, [1 Cor 15:25-27] and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day. [1 Cor 15:20]
Question 53. How was Christ exalted in his ascension?
Answer. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, [Acts 1:2-3] and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations, [Matt 28:19-20] forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head, [Heb 6:20] triumphing over enemies, [Eph 4:8] visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, [Acts 1:9-11; Eph 4:10; Ps 68:18] to raise up our affections thither, [Col 3:1-2] and to prepare a place for us, [John 14:3] where he himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world. [Acts 3:21]
Question 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?
Answer. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father, [Phil 2:9] with all fulness of joy, [Acts 2:28; Ps 16:11] glory, [John 17:5] and power over all things in heaven and earth; [Eph 1:22; 1 Pet 3:22] and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, [Eph 4:10-12; Ps 110:1] and maketh intercession for them. [Rom 8:34]
Question 55. How doeth Christ make intercession?
Answer. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, [Heb 9:12; Heb 9:24] in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth, [Heb 1:3] declaring his will to have it applied to all believers; [John 3:16; John 17:9; John 17:20; John 17:24] answering all accusations against them, [Rom 8:33-34] and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, [Rom 5:1-2; 1 John 2:1-2] access with boldness to the throne of grace, [Heb 4:16] and acceptance of their persons [Eph 1:6] and services. [1 Pet 2:5]
Question 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?
Answer. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, [Acts 3:14-15] shall come again at the last day in great power, [Matt 24:30] and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels, [Luke 9:26; Matt 25:31] with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, [1 Thess 4:16] to judge the world in righteousness. [Acts 17:31]
Question 57. What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation?
Answer. Christ, by his mediation, hath procured redemption, [Heb 9:12] with all other benefits of the covenant of grace. [2 Cor 1:20]
Question 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured?
Answer. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, [John 1:11-12] which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost. [Titus 3:5-6]
Question 59. Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?
Answer. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it; [Eph 1:13-14; John 6:37; John 6:39; John 10:15-16] who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel. [Eph 2:8; 2 Cor 4:13]
Question 60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?
Answer. They who, having never heard the gospel, [Rom 10:14] know not Jesus Christ, [2 Thess 1:8-9; Eph 2:12; John 1:10-12] and believe not in him, cannot be saved, [John 8:24; Mark 16:16] be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, [1 Cor 1:20-24] or the laws of that religion which they profess; [John 4:22; Rom 9:31-32; Phil 3:4-9] neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, [Acts 4:12] who is the Savior only of his body the church. [Eph 5:23]
Question 61. Are all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in the church?
Answer. All that hear the gospel, and live in the visible church, are not saved; but they only who are true members of the church invisible. [John 12:38-40; Rom 9:6; Matt 22:14; Matt 7:21; Rom 11:7]
Question 62. What is the visible church?
Answer. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, [1 Cor 1:2; 1 Cor 12:13; Rom 15:9-12; Rev 7:9; Ps 2:8; Ps 22:27-31; Ps 45:17; Matt 28:19-20; Isa 59:21] and of their children. [1 Cor 7:14; Acts 2:39; Rom 11:16; Gen 17:7]
Question 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?
Answer. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God's special care and government; [Isa 4:5-6; 1 Tim 4:10] of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies; [Ps 115:1-2,9; Isa 31:4-5; Zech 12:2-4,8-9] and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, [Acts 2:39; Acts 2:42] and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, [Ps 147:19-20; Rom 9:4; Eph 4:11-12; Mark 16:15-16] and excluding none that will come unto him. [John 6:37]
Question 64. What is the invisible church?
Answer. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head. [Eph 1:10; Eph 1:22-23; John 10:6; John 11:52]
Question 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?
Answer. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory. [John 17:21; Eph 2:5-6]
Question 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?
Answer. The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace, [Eph 1:22; Eph 2:6-8] whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband; [1 Cor 6:17; John 10:28; Eph 5:23; Eph 5:30] which is done in their effectual calling. [1 Pet 5:10; 1 Cor 1:9;]
Question 67. What is effectual calling?
Answer. Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace, [John 5:25; Eph 1:18-20; 2 Tim 1:8-9] whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto [Titus 3:4-5; Eph 2:4-5; Eph 2:7-9; Rom 9:11]) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; [2 Cor 5:20; 2 Cor 6:1-2; John 6:44; 2 Thess 2:13-14] savingly enlightening their minds, [Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 2:10; 1 Cor 2:12] renewing and powerfully determining their wills, [Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26-27; John 6:45] so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein. [Eph 2:5; Phil 2:13; Deut 30:6]
Question 68. Are the elect only effectually called?
Answer. All the elect, and they only, are effectually called; [Acts 13:48] although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, [Matt 22:14] and have some common operations of the Spirit; [Matt 7:22; Matt 13:20-21; Heb 6:4-6] who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ. [John 12:38-40; John 6:64-65; Acts 28:25-27; Ps 81:11-12]
Question 69. What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?
Answer. The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification, [Rom 8:30] adoption, [Eph 1:5] sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him. [1 Cor 1:30]
Question 70. What is justification?
Answer. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, [Rom 3:22; Rom 3:24-25; Rom 4:5] in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight; [2 Cor 5:19; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:22; Rom 3:24-25; Rom 3:27-28] not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, [Titus 3:5; Titus 3:7; Eph 1:7] but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them, [Rom 5:17-19; Rom 4:6-8] and received by faith alone. [Acts 10:43; Gal 2:16; Phil 3:9]
Question 71. How is justification an act of God's free grace?
Answer. Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in the behalf of them that are justified; [Rom 5:8-10; Rom 5:19] yet in as much as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son, [1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 10:10; Matt 20:28; Dan 9:24; Dan 9:26; Isa 53:4-6; Isa 53:10-12; Heb 7:22; Rom 8:32; 1 Pet 1:18-19] imputing his righteousness to them, [2 Cor 5:21] and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith, [Rom 3:24-25] which also is his gift, [Eph 2:8] their justification is to them of free grace. [Eph 1:17]
Question 72. What is justifying faith?
Answer. Justifying faith is a saving grace, [Heb 10:39] wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit [2 Cor 4:13; Eph 1:17-19] and Word of God, [Rom 10:14-17] whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, [Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30; John 16:8-9; Rom 5:6; Eph 2:1; Acts 4:12] not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, [Eph 1:13] but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, [John 1:12; Acts 10:43; Acts 16:31] and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation. [Phil 3:9; Acts 15:11]
Question 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
Answer. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, [Gal 3:11; Rom 3:28] nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; [Rom 4:5; Rom 10:10] but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness. [John 1:12; Phil 3:9; Gal 2:16]
Question 74. What is adoption?
Answer. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, [1 John 3:1] in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, [Eph 1:5; Gal 4:4-5;] whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, [John 1:12] have his name put upon them, [2 Cor 6:18; 2 Cor 6:3; 2 Cor 6:12] the Spirit of his Son given to them, [Gal 4:6] are under his fatherly care and dispensations, [Ps 103:13; Prov 14:26; Matt 6:32] admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory. [Heb 6:12; Rom 8:17]
Question 75. What is sanctification?
Answer. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit [Eph 1:4; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thess 2:13] applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, [Rom 6:4-6] renewed in their whole man after the image of God; [Eph 4:23-24] having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, [Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9] and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, [Jude 20; Heb 6:11-12; Eph 3:16-19; Col 1:10-11] as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life. [Rom 6:4; Rom 6:6; Rom 6:14; Gal 5:24]
Question 76. What is repentance unto life?
Answer. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, [2 Tim 2:25] wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit [Zech 12:10] and Word of God, [Acts 11:18; Acts 11:20-21] whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, [Ezek 18:28; Ezek 18:30; Ezek 18:32; Luke 15:17-18; Hos 2:6-7] but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, [Ezek 36:31; Isa 30:22] and upon the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, [Joel 2:12-13] he so grieves for [Jer 31:18-19] and hates his sins, [2 Cor 7:11] as that he turns from them all to God, [Acts 26:18; Ezek 14:6; 1 Kings 8:47-48] purposing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience. [Ps 119:6; Ps 119:59; Ps 119:128; Luke 1:6; 2 Kings 23:25]
Question 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?
Answer. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, [1 Cor 6:11; 1 Cor 1:30] yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; [Rom 4:6; Rom 4:8] in sanctification of his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; [Ezek 36:27] in the former, sin is pardoned; [Rom 3:24-25] in the other, it is subdued: [Rom 6:6; Rom 6:14] the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation [Rom 8:33-34] the other is neither equal in all, [1 John 2:12-14; Heb 5:12-14] nor in this life perfect in any, [1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10] but growing up to perfection. [2 Cor 7:1; Phil 3:12-14]
Question 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers?
Answer. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, [Rom 7:18; Rom 7:23; Mark 14:66; Gal 2:11-12] are hindered in all their spiritual services, [Heb 12:1] and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God. [Isa 64:6; Exod 28:38]
Question 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
Answer. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, [Jer 31:3] and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance, [2 Tim 2:19; Heb 13:20-21; 2 Sam 23:5] their inseparable union with Christ, [1 Cor 1:8-9] his continual intercession for them, [Heb 7:25; Luke 22:32] and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, [1 John 3:9; 1 John 2:27] can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, [Jer 32:40; John 10:28] but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. [1 Pet 1:5]
Question 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
Answer. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him, [1 John 2:3] may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, [1 Cor 2:12; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 3:18-19; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 4:16; Heb 6:11-12] and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, [Rom 8:16] be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation. [1 John 5:13]
Question 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
Answer. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, [Eph 1:13] true believers may wait long before they obtain it; [Isa 50:10; Ps 88:1-3; Ps 88:6-7; Ps 88:9-10; Ps 88:13-15] and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; [Ps 77:1-12; Song 5:2-3; Song 5:6; Ps 51:8; Ps 51:12; Ps 31:22; Ps 22:1] yet they are never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair. [1 John 3:9; Job 13:15; Ps 73:15; Ps 73:23; Isa 54:7-10]
Question 82. What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?
Answer. The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life, [2 Cor 3:18] immediately after death, [Luke 23:43] and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment. [1 Thess 4:17]
Question 83. What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life?
Answer. The members of the invisible church have communicated to them in this life the firstfruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of; [Eph 2:5-6] and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love, [Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 1:22] peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory; [Rom 5:1-2; Rom 14:17] as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death. [Gen 4:13; Matt 27:4; Heb 10:27; Rom 2:9; Mark 9:44]
Question 84. Shall all men die?
Answer. Death being threatened as the wages of sin, [Rom 6:23] it is appointed unto all men once to die; [Heb 9:27] for that all have sinned. [Rom 5:12]
Question 85. Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?
Answer. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; [1 Cor 15:26; 1 Cor 15:55-57; Heb 2:15] so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love, [Isa 57:1-2; 2 Kings 22:20] to free them perfectly from sin and misery, [Rev 14:13; Eph 5:27] and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon. [Luke 23:43; Phil 1:23]
Question 86. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death?
Answer. The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, [Heb 12:23] and received into the highest heavens, [2 Cor 5:1; 2 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Acts 3:21; Eph 4:10] where they behold the face of God in light and glory, [1 John 3:2; 1 Cor 13:12] waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, [Rom 8:23; Ps 16:9] which even in death continue united to Christ, [1 Thess 4:14] and rest in their graves as in their beds, [Isa 57:2] till at the last day they be again united to their souls. [Job 19:26-27] Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day. [Luke 16:23-24; Acts 1:25; Jude 6-7]
Question 87. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?
Answer. We are to believe that at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust: [Acts 24:15] when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls forever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. [1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:15-17; John 5:28-29] The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spiritual, incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body; [1 Cor 15:21-23; 1 Cor 15:42-44; Phil 3:21] and the bodies of the wicked shall be raised up in dishonour by him, as an offended judge. [John 5:27-29; Matt 25:33]
Question 88. What shall immediately follow after the resurrection?
Answer. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men; [2 Pet 2:4; 2 Pet 2:6-7; 2 Pet 2:14-15; Matt 25:46] the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord. [Matt 24:36; Matt 24:42; Matt 24:44; Luke 21:35-36]
Question 89. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
Answer. At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand, [Matt 25:33] and, upon clear evidence, and full conviction of their own consciences, [Rom 2:15-16] shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them; [Matt 25:41-43] and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil and his angels forever. [Luke 16:26; 2 Thess 1:8-9]
Question 90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?
Answer. At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, [1 Thess 4:17] shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, [Matt 25:33; Matt 10:32] shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, [1 Cor 6:2-3] and shall be received into heaven, [Matt 25:34; Matt 25:46] where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery; [Eph 5:27; Rev 14:13] filled with inconceivable joys, [Ps 16:11] made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels, [Heb 12:22-23] but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. [1 John 3:2; 1 Cor 13:12; 1 Thess 4:17-18] And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.