Questions & Answers

#BC61 What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? 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...
#WSC61 What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thought...
#WLC61 Are all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in the church? 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.
#HC61 Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith? Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, for only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God. I can receive this righteousn...
#AOC61 Why cannot our good Works be Righteousness, or some part of Righteousness before God? Because that Righteousness which must stand fast before the Judgment of God, must be in all Points perfect and agreeable to the Law of God. Now our Works, even the best of them, are imperfect in this...
#GC61 What Is it not to dishonour the Lord Jesus, to say He was subjected to the curse, and that before God? By no means, for in taking it upon Himself He abolished it, by His power, yet in such a way that He did not cease to be blessed throughout in order that He might fill us with His blessing.
#BC62 What is the fourth commandment? 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...
#WSC62 What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing...
#WLC62 What is the visible church? 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, and of their children.
#HC62 But why can our good works not be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of it? Because the righteousness which can stand before God’s judgment must be absolutely perfect and in complete agreement with the law of God, whereas even our best works in this life are all imperfect and...
#AOC62 How is it that our good Works merit nothing, seeing God promiseth that he will give a Reward for them both in this Life, and in the Life to come? That Reward is not given of merit, but of Grace.
#GC62 Explain the rest? Since death was the curse on man as a result of sin, Jesus Christ has endured it, and in enduring it overcame it. And to show that He underwent a real death, He chose to be placed in the tomb like oth...
#BC63 What is required in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God one whole day in seven to be a Sabbath to Himself.
#WSC63 Which is the fifth commandment? 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.
#WLC63 What are the special privileges of the visible church? The visible church hath the privilege of being under God’s special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying th...
#HC63 But do our good works earn nothing, even though God promises to reward them in this life and the next? This reward is not earned ; it is a gift of grace.
#AOC63 But doth not this Doctrine make Men careless and profain? No, For neither can it be but they who are incorporated into Christ through Faith, should bring forth the Fruits of Thankfulness.
#GC63 But nothing seems to redound to us from this victory, since we do not cease to die? That is no obstacle. The death of believers is nothing else than a way of entering into a better life.
#BC64 Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath? Before 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 Chris...
#WSC64 What is required in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
#WLC64 What is the invisible church? The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.
#HC64 Does this teaching not make people careless and wicked? No. It is impossible that those grafted into Christ by true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.
#AOC64 Seeing then that only Faith maketh us Partakers of Christ and his Benefits, whence doth it proceed? From the Holy Ghost who kindleth it in our Hearts by the preaching of the Gospel, and other Ordinances, and confirmeth it by the use of the sacraments.
#GC64 Hence it follows that we ought no longer to dread death as if it were a fearful thing, but we should willingly follow Jesus Christ our Head and Captain, who precedes us, not in order to let us perish, but in order to save us? That is so.
#BC65 How is the Sabbath to be sanctified? The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private ex...
#WSC65 What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.
#WLC65 What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ? The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory.
#HC65 Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from? From the Holy Spirit, who works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments.
#AOC65 What are the sacraments? They are sacred Signes, and Seals, set before our Eyes, and ordained of God for this cause, that he may declare and seal by them the Promise of his Gospel unto us, to wit, that he giveth freely Remiss...
#GC65 What is the meaning of the additional clause: "He descended into hell" That He not only suffered natural death, which is the separation of the body from the soul, but also that His soul was pierced with amazing anguish, which St. Peter calls the pains of death (Acts 2:24...

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