Questions & Answers

#WLC153 What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law? That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent us...
#GC153 How is this to be understood, that He punishes the sin of the fathers on their children? To give us a greater fear of Him. He says not only that He will inflict punishment on those who offend Him, but that their offspring also will be cursed after them.
#WLC154 What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation? The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectua...
#GC154 But is it not contrary to the justice of God to punish someone for others? If we consider the condition of the human race, the question is answered. For by nature we are all cursed, and we cannot complain of God when He leaves us in this condition. Moreover as He manifests H...
#WLC155 How is the word made effectual to salvation? The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing the...
#GC155 What more does He say? To incite us by gentleness, He says that He will have mercy on all who love Him and observe His commandments, to a thousand generations.
#WLC156 Is the word of God to be read by all? Although all are not to be permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation, yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves, and with their families: to which end, the holy sc...
#GC156 Does He mean that the obedience of a faithful man will save the whole of his race, even if they are still wicked? No, but that He will extend His goodness toward the faithful to such an extent, that in love for them He will make Himself know to their children, not only to prosper them according to the flesh, but...
#WLC157 How is the word of God to be read? The holy scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them; with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God, and that he only can enable us to understand them; with desire t...
#GC157 But this is not always so? No. For as the Lord reserves for Himself the freedom to show mercy to the children of the ungodly, so on the other hand He retains the power to elect or reject in the generation of the faithful as it...
#WLC158 By whom is the word of God to be preached? The word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted, and also duly approved and called to that office.
#GC158 Why does He mention here a thousand generations, and in regard to punishment, mention only three or four? To signify that it is His nature to exercise kindness and gentleness much more than strictness or severity, as He testifies, when He says that He is ready to show mercy, but slow to anger (Exo 34:6-7;...
#WLC159 How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto? They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstrati...
#GC159 Let us come to the third commandment? Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
#WLC160 What is required of those that hear the word preached? It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, mee...
#GC160 What does this mean? He forbids us to abuse the name of God, not only in perjury, but also in superfluous and idle swearing.
#WLC161 How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are administered, but only by the working of t...
#GC161 Can the name of God we used lawfully in oaths? Yes, when they are necessary, i.e., in order to uphold the truth, when it requires it, and in maintaining love and concord among us.
#WLC162 What is a sacrament? A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church, to signify, seal, and exhibit unto those that are within the covenant of grace, the benefits of his mediation; to strengthen and inc...
#GC162 Does He reprove no other oaths, then those which are a dishonour to God? In this one case He gives us a general instruction never to utter the name of God except with fear and humility in order to glorify it. For since it is holy and honourable, we ought to guard against t...
#WLC163 What are the parts of a sacrament? The parts of a sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used according to Christ’s own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby signified.
#GC163 How is this to be done? By never thinking or speaking of God and His works without honour and reverence.
#WLC164 How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in his church under the New Testament? Under the New Testament Christ hath instituted in his church only two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s supper.
#GC164 What follows? A warning, that He will not hold him guiltless, who takes His name in vain.
#WLC165 What is Baptism? Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting i...
#GC165 Since elsewhere He gives a general warning that He will punish all transgressors, what is the advantage of this warning? He wants to declare how highly He regards the glory of His name, explicitly mentioning that He will not suffer anyone to despise it, so that we may be all the more careful to hold it in reverence.
#WLC166 Unto whom is Baptism to be administered? Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, but infants d...
#GC166 Let us come to the fourth commandment? Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Sis days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor...
#WLC167 How is our Baptism to be improved by us? The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to o...
#GC167 Does He order us to labour six days a week that may rest on the seventh? Not precisely, but in allowing us to labour for six days, He excepts the seventh, on which it is not right to be engaged in work.

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