The Westminster Standards Translated Into Twenty-First Century American English

Edition: March 13, 2018, Sword Edition: December 22, 2018

This book contains translations of the following:Brief and Easy Explanation of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, by John Wallis, one of the Westminster DivinesTheWestminster Shorter CatechismThe Westminster Confession of FaithThe Westminster Larger Catechism

Copyright 2015, 2017, 2018, Tom Sullivan, Editor

The editor hereby grants to all without restriction full freedom to copy and distribute this work without limitation, in part or in whole, provided that the text shall be unmodified and that all copyright notices are included. The original Westminster Catechisms and Westminster Confession of Faith were authored by the Westminster Divines and are in the public domain, as is Wallis's Explanation.

Scripture passages followed by a version designator (ESV NASB, or NKJV) are exact quotes (of at least part of a verse), reproduced under general permission to all authors under the following publisher copyrights:

ESV: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NASB: Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

NKJV: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

General Helpful Notes to the Reader

Note: Not all Sword based Bible programs correctly display footnotes, and there are many helpful footnotes in this book. The reader who cannot access the footnotes may wish to try Xiphos (http://xiphos.org).

The following abbreviated table of contents is provided as a navigational aid when using Bible programs to read this book:General Helpful Notes to the ReaderEditor's General IntroductionA Brief And Easy Explanation of The Shorter CatechismEditor's IntroductionAuthor's IntroductionQuestions 1-10...Questions 101-107The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647Editor's IntroductionQuestions 1-10...Questions 101-107The Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647IntroductionChapter 1: Of the Holy Scripture...Chapter 33: Of the Last JudgmentThe Westminster Larger Catechism of 1648IntroductionQuestions 1 - 10...Questions 191 - 196Appendix A: Notes on MemorizationAppendix B: Does the State Have Authority Over the Church?Introduction...ResourcesAppendix C: Background and Editorial PhilosophySource MaterialEasy ExplanationWestminster Shorter CatechismWestminster Confession of FaithWestminster Larger Catechism

Words or phrases in brackets [] are generally synonyms or short definitions of the word just preceding the brackets. Occasionally brackets contain explanatory material. Footnotes give longer definitions or explanations. Also, some footnotes point out variations between the source texts used in these translations; such variations are typically very minor.

Scripture proof texts are an important concern in this document; the Westminster Standards are, after all, only a summary of teachings from the Word of God. Portions of the text are typically followed by subscripted letters that correspond to the same subscripted letter preceding one or more Scripture references. These subscripted letters mirror the Scripture proof text linkage of the original documents. These letters are omitted when all references pertain to the whole paragraph. In certain cases, the letters may not exactly mirror the original linkage due to rearrangement of the text for readability.

The editor wishes to strongly and emphatically encourage the reader to avail himself or herself of the referenced Scriptures; the Westminster Standards are of human production; the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God powered by the infinite Holy Spirit. This version of this book is being published as a Sword module so that Sword based Bible programs will display any referenced passage you wish in the Bible version(s) of your choice, typically by clicking or mouse-over. You would do well to consistently avail yourself of this feature.

Also, all of the material in this book is available as free downloads from http://www.BeForgiven.Info/Translations. As explained on the download page, there are different formats available. Except for the pure text-only versions, there are links next to each Scripture reference by which the reader may jump to the referenced Scripture text in any of four versions (ESV, JK3, NASB, WEB). In the web browser formats (on-line or off-line), passages appear in pop-up boxes when the reader hovers the mouse over the link. By means of this technology, one may study the Westminster Standards along with Scripture with minimal effort.

Some Scripture passages may seem incomplete to some readers. This is because the Westminster Standards were written for those with some amount of Bible knowledge; they would recognize the context. In such cases, the reader is strongly encouraged to study the broader context of the Scripture passage.

At the time of the writing of the Westminster documents, both the Geneva Bible and the King James Version (KJV) (also known as the Authorized Version) were in common use, but quotations within the Westminster documents were from the KJV, and much of the wording of the Westminster standards comes straight out of the KJV. In light of this, it is sometimes helpful to consult Bible versions that are direct descendants of the KJV and of the original language manuscript streams from which the KJV was translated. The introductory material found at the beginning of most bibles will give this kind of information.

Editor's General Introduction

While the editor does not presume to replace any denomination's standard text, the present translation is also given in order to make the original richness of the Westminster Standards accessible and easily read by the contemporary reader, all to the glory, praise, and honor of God. The editor has endeavored to faithfully retain the meaning of the original text, translating word for word when possible. At the same time, the goal of readability is paramount with the intent that one may read with ease, focusing on the material without being distracted by antique spelling, vocabulary, grammar, or difficult sentence constructs. For this reason, there are times when the original text is quite considerably modified and rearranged. Details on the translation process and philosophy may be found in Appendix C.

Regrettably, no human work can be translated without some loss of finer shades of meaning. It is the editor's opinion, however, that this loss is small compared to the loss imposed on many readers by changes in word and phrase meanings over time. Readers interested in more detailed study are encouraged to consult the referenced Scriptures and some of the many commentaries on the Westminster document, as well as the original documents themselves.

The editor has endeavored to translate faithfully without interjecting his own opinions. Nonetheless, the Westminster documents are human works that are a product of its place in history and geography. God has continued to raise up able theologians in the intervening 370 years, and we now know that there do exist a very few theological errors in the Westminster documents. The editor is conscience-bound to point out these errors for fear of propagating that which is not in accordance with Scripture. All such editorial opinions are clearly designated in the footnotes. Let the reader be as the Bereans, searching the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit.

A Brief And Easy Explanation of The Shorter Catechism

Presented by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster to both houses of Parliament, and by them approved, Wherein the Newest Students The original has "Meanest Capacities." This phrase is offensive to modern ears, but Wallis surely had no unkind thoughts, thinking mostly of younger children. He wrote for an audience where substantial knowledge of the Christian religion was general and pervasive, not for a modern, multicultural, and international audience. May in a Speedy and Easy Way Be Brought to Understand the Principles of Religion, In Imitation of a Catechism Formerly Published by Mr. Herbert Palmer, B.D. and late Master of Queen's College by John Wallis, Minister of the Gospel

Editor's Introduction

John Wallis, the author of the Explanation, was one of the scribes of the Westminster Assembly and is more broadly known as a pioneer in mathematics. The Explanation met with great approval by the Assembly and was printed in 1648. William Maxwell, DD, Hetherington, LLD, History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines (Edmonton, AB: Still Waters Revival Books, 1991), 302. Wallis's Explanation contains the original text of the Shorter Catechism, including questions, answers, and Bible proof texts. For each Catechism question and answer, Wallis inserted a series of additional questions, each of which has a "Yes" or "No" answer. In the spirit of Wallis's original work, this present translation of Wallis's Explanation uses the main questions and answers from the editor's translation of the Westminster Shorter Catechism Tom Sullivan, Editor, Westminster Shorter Catechism, http://beforgiven.info/HostedLiterature.htm#wsc (Accessed August 8, 2015). and simply inserts translations of Wallis's new questions and answers into the modern Catechism text between the question and the long answer of the Catechism. Due to the number of errors in the Explanation, no attempt was made to use text from the Explanation as source material for the main Shorter Catechism questions and answers. Finally, in contrast to the formal prose of the Catechism, Wallis's questions are in an informal conversational style, and often in incomplete sentences; the editor has endeavored to preserve this aspect as well.

Wallis's phrase in his title, "meanest capacities," The editor has put "Newest Students" for "Meanest Capacities" in the title. Wallis surely meant no unkindness. seems offensive today, but at that time it applied mainly to younger children; older children were expected to memorize and understand the Shorter Catechism. Wallis addresses his book to "Christian Reader," an appropriate form of address in seventeenth-century England where most people considered themselves Christians and substantial knowledge of the Christian religion was general. In the modern, internationally connected, and multicultural world, there are many people who have had little or no exposure to biblical, much less Reformed, Christianity. It is this audience, as well as children in Christian families, who may benefit from the simplified questions, additional detail, and clarifications provided in the Explanation. Thus, the editor was motivated to translate this nearly lost work for the benefit of twenty-first-century readers.

The Scripture proof texts given here are the originals provided by the Westminster Divines. See Appendix C. This is in keeping with the goal of providing a faithful translation of the original WSC. Most editions of the WSC use different sets of proof texts than the original; the editor makes no judgment concerning these other sets, recognizing that others may have different goals.

Author's Introduction

Christian Reader:

You have here presented to you a brief explanation of the Shorter Catechism composed by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and presented by them to both Houses of Parliament. Since this is a somewhat unusual method, I thought it necessary to give you this brief rationale for it.

You may have seen a Catechism previously published in similar form by that godly, learned, and reverend divine, now with God, Mr. Herbert Palmer. This form, though somewhat unusual, was considered by him to be very useful, and it was accordingly received with great commendation. It was his earnest desire (as is well known) that the Assembly's Catechism (intended for public use) should be published in a similar form, either by the Assembly, or (at least) by some private author. He was fully resolved to do it himself [and would have] had God granted him life to see that catechism fully completed. For this reason, and also due to the intimate acquaintance I had with him, I was quite persuaded to undertake that which Palmer was prevented by death from doing, both to accomplish Palmer's desires, and to gratify those who may receive benefit from using it.

The questions and answers of the Assembly's Catechism (together with the texts of Scripture annexed by them for the proofs of it), I have completely preserved without any variation. In composing the questions and answers, the Assembly was careful that all of the answers would be complete sentences by themselves so that the meaning of the answer would not depend upon the foregoing question. Indeed, these form so many distinct aphorisms [concise formulations of truth] that contain in brief the basis of the Christian religion. By this means, the learner is not required to tax his memory with the question in order to understand the answer. Nor is there the similar danger of confounding his understanding by misapplying the answer to the wrong question, a problem in many other catechisms. The questions are also so framed that any one of them may be asked alone by itself without depending upon the previous question.

The only thing I did in it was to add, right next to the Assembly's answers, the shorter questions that are answered by "Yes" or "No." Wallis's work was in three columns, from left to right: Questions, Yes or No answers, then the Catechism answers. The editor has chosen a format for the present work that is easier to use. Thus, the different particulars of the larger answer are distinctly pointed out and briefly explained. [This is suitable] to the comprehension of those [unfamiliar with the Christian religion or of young age,] The original has "weak capacities," which is unnecessarily offensive to modern ears. Wallis would have been thinking primarily of younger children in a culture where substantially complete knowledge of Christianity was general. who might not observe [some of the particulars of], or understand, the large answer if it were learned by rote. Recall that the Shorter Catechism was frequently committed to rote memory in Wallis's time. All of this is done without taxing the learner's memory because to answer these short questions is not so much an exercise of the memory, but of judgment, and ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, assenting to the former and denying the latter. Indeed, the memory is greatly helped by it since there is nothing in the general answer except what the learner is reminded of by some of the questions. When using it, especially for tender minds, The original has "weak capacities." the instructor may first rehearse the main question without expecting an immediate answer to it until he has asked all of the shorter questions belonging to it and received answers to them. He may then repeat the main question. Thus the learner will be better able to give the general answer to the whole, having already assented to all of it by parts. However, the judicious instructor is not limited; at need, he may vary his method or material by addition, omission, or alteration as he sees fit. If you receive any good from these endeavors, let God have the glory, and he [Wallis] will have fulfilled his purpose,

Who is yours in Christ Jesus,

J. W. [John Wallis]

Questions 1-10

Question 1. What is the chief purpose of man? Is it to seek himself or make himself great? No Or, to enjoy the profits or pleasures of the world? No Or, is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? Yes

Answer. Man's chief purpose is to glorify God,a and to enjoy Him forever.b

a 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:36; b Psalm 73:25-28

Q. 2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him? Can we receive sufficient direction from our own wisdom or the light of nature? No Or, from God's works of creation and providence only? No Or, is the Word of God the only rule? Yes Or, must we daily expect new revelations from heaven? No Is it the Word of God that is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? Yes Or, something else? No

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,a is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.b

a 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 2:20; b 1 John 1:3-4

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures primarily teach? Do they teach us what man is to believe concerning God? Yes And, what duty God requires of man? Yes

A. The Scriptures primarily teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 3:16

Q. 4. What is God? Does God have a body or bodily parts? No Or, is He a spirit without body or bodily parts? Yes Is God infinite in being? Yes Without any bounds of place, time, or perfection? Yes Or, is He finite as all creatures creature: any created thing, not necessarily an animal or plant are? No Is God eternal in being, without either beginning or end? Yes Or, had He a beginning as all creatures have? No And, will He ever have an end? No Is God unchangeable? Yes Or, Is He subject to change as creatures are? No Is God infinite in wisdom? Yes Knowing all things? Yes And, doing all things wisely? Yes Or, can there be something that God does not know? No Or, does He lack wisdom in some things? No Or, at some times? No Is God almighty, that is, infinite in power? Yes Is God able to do all things? Yes Or, is there anything too hard for Him? No Is God infinite in holiness? Yes Or, is there any sin in Him? No Or, does He allow any to sin? No Is God infinite in justice? Yes Is He just in all things and at all times? Yes Or, is there any injustice or unrighteousness in Him? No Is God infinite in goodness? Yes Is He good in Himself [intrinsically good]? Yes And, the source of all good in creatures? Yes Is God infinite in truth? Yes Is it possible for Him to lie? No Or, to err or be deceived? No Is God eternal and unchangeable in all these perfections? Yes And, is it impossible for Him to be otherwise? Yes Is God a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being? Yes And, is He infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His wisdom? Yes And, in His power? Yes And, in His holiness? Yes And, in His justice? Yes And, in His goodness? Yes And, in His truth? Yes

A. God is a spirit,a infinite,b eternal,c and unchangeable,d in His being,e wisdom,f power,g holiness,h justice, goodness, and truth.i

a John 4:24; b Job 11:7-9; c Psalm 90:2; d James 1:17; e Exodus 3:14; f Psalm 147:5; g Revelation 4:8; h Revelation 15:4; i Exodus 34:6-7

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one? Are there more Gods than one? Wallis places the "No" after the main question; the editor repeats the question for consistency of format here and other places. No Were those gods that the heathen worshiped as gods? No Is the living and true God the only God? Yes

A. There is just one only, the living and true God.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? Are there three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Yes Are there more than these three? No Or, fewer? No Is the Father God? Yes Is the Son God? Yes Is the Holy Spirit God? Yes Are there three Gods? No Or, are these three one God? Yes Are they the same in substance? Yes Or, of different substances? No Are they equal in power and glory? Yes Or, is one more powerful than another? No Or, more glorious than another? No

A. There are three persons The Trinity is an unfathomable mystery that defies earthly analogies; persons refers to different, distinct, divine modes of being, against whom the concept of the individual human person is a very limited analogy. in the Godhead: Godhead: divine nature or essence of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.

1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God? Are they His eternal purpose, by which He has foreordained whatever events or things happen? Yes Or, does anything happen that God has not decreed? No Or, differently than God has decreed? No Are the decrees of God eternal? Yes Does God purpose or decree anything now besides what He has purposed from all eternity? No Do changes in creatures motivate a change in God's purposes? No Do changes in creatures cause a change in God's purposes? No Or, has God, from all eternity, by an unchangeable decree, foreordained those changes in creatures? Yes Has God foreordained all things for His own glory? Yes Or, does anything happen that does not serve to glorify God? No Or, that was not intended by Him for that purpose? No Was God moved to make such decrees by anything outside of Himself? No Or, was it only according to the counsel of His will? Yes

A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will. By this counsel, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatever events or things happen.

Ephesians 1:4, 11; Romans 9:22-23

Q. 8. How does God execute execute: in this context, carry out, put into effect His decrees?Is the work of creation an execution of God's decrees?YesAnd, the works of providence?YesOr, does God cause anything to happen in His providence that was not previously decreed?No

A. God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Q. 9. What is the work of creation? Is it God's making all things out of nothing in the space of six days? Yes Or, was there anything that God did not directly make, or else make out of other things that He had made? No Did God make all things by the word of His power without the use of instruments? Yes Did God create anything sinful, mistakenly, or wrongly? No Or, was all very good? Yes

A. The work of creation is God's making all things out of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space space: in this context, time span of six days, and all very good.

Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:3

Q. 10. How did God create man? Did God create man both male and female after His own image? Yes In knowledge, righteousness, and holiness? Yes And, did man have dominion over the creatures? Yes

A. God created man male and female, after His own image, having knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. creature: in the context of this catechism, any created thing, not necessarily a human or animal

Genesis 1:26-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24

Questions 11-20

Q. 11. What are God's works of providence? Does God preserve and govern all of His creatures? Yes And, all their actions? Yes Or, is there anything that does not stand in need of His preservation? No Or, that is exempt from His government? No Is God most holy, wise, and powerful in all His acts of providence? Yes Or, is there any lack of holiness in God's providence? No Or, lack of wisdom? No Or, of power? No

A. God's works of providence are His most holy,a wise,b and powerful preservingc and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.d

a Psalm 145:17; b Psalm 104:24; Isaiah 28:29; c Hebrews 1:3; d Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29-31

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state [condition] in which he was created? Did God enter into a covenant of life with man? Yes Upon condition of perfect obedience? Yes Or, absolutely, without any condition? No Had he liberty to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? No Or, was he forbidden to eat from it? Yes And, that upon pain of death? Yes

A. When God had created man, He entered into a covenant covenant: a formal agreement between two parties. But God's covenants with man are special as they are dictated by God to man. Such covenants, as expressed to man, usually have many of the following features: God's declaration of who He is, a historical background, commands to man, blessings and curses for obedience or disobedience thereof, and promises of eternal significance. of life with him, promising life upon condition of perfect obedience. Also God forbade him to eat of the tree This was a real tree whose fruit is frequently called "the forbidden fruit." How it conferred knowledge is unknown as no such trees exist today. of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.

Galatians 3:12; Genesis 2:17

Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the state in which they were created? Did our first parents continue in the state in which they were created? No Or, did they fall from it by sinning against God? Yes Were they confirmed in innocence? No Were they forced to sin? No Or, were they left to the freedom of their own will? Yes

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state in which they were created by sinning against God.

Genesis 3:6-8, 13; Ecclesiastes 7:29

Q. 14. What is sin? Is any transgression of God's Law sin? Yes And, any lack of conformity to it? Yes Even in the smallest matters? Yes Or, only some gross transgressions? No

A. Sin is any lack of conformity to, or transgression of, the law of God.

1 John 3:4

Q. 15. What was the sin by which our first parents fell from the state in which they were created? Was it their eating the forbidden fruit? Yes Or, was it some other sin? No

A. The sin by which our first parents fell from the state in which they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:6, 12

Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression? Did Christ fall as well as others? No Or, those who descend from Adam by ordinary generation? Yes Did they all sin with Adam in his first transgression? Yes And, fall with him into sin? The source text is unclear here, rendering the meaning uncertain. Yes Was the covenant made with Adam for his posterity as well as for himself? Yes Or, for himself only? No

A. The covenant was made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity. Thus, all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him and fell with him in his first transgression. transgression: in this context, breaking God's law. Also, Adam's sin is passed from father to son and father to daughter by spiritual means, not biological, genetic, or epigenetic means.

Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Q. 17. Into what state did the fall bring mankind? Into a state of sin? Yes And, misery? Yes

A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.

Romans 5:12

Q. 18. What is sinful about that state into which man fell? Is man guilty of Adam's first sin? Yes And, does man lack original righteousness? Yes Or, does man still retain that righteousness in which he was created? No Is there a corruption of man's whole nature? Yes Or, is some part undefiled? No Is this what is commonly called original sin? Yes Do all actual transgressions proceed from it? Yes And, are they part of the sinfulness of man's condition? Yes

A. The sinfulness of that state into which men fell consists in both:That which is commonly called original sin:The guilt of Adam's first sinThe lack of original righteousnessThe corruption of his whole natureAll actual transgressions that proceed from it

Romans 5:12, 19; Romans 5:10-20; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:14-15; Matthew 15:19

Q. 19. What is the misery of that state into which man fell? Have all men lost communion with God by their fall? Yes And, are they under His wrath and curse? Yes Are they made liable to all the miseries of this life? Yes And, to death itself? Yes Does death put an end to all their misery? No Or, are they liable to the pains of hell forever? Yes

A. All humans, by their fall, lost communion with Goda and are under His wrath and curse.b They are thus made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.c

a Genesis 3:8, 10, 24; b Ephesians 2:2-3; Galatians 3:10; c Lamentations 3:39; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41, 46

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery? Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery? No Or, does he deliver all mankind out of it? No Or, has He elected some to everlasting life? Yes From all eternity? Yes And, was it out of His mere good pleasure? Yes Or, because of something God foresaw in the elect that moved Him to that election? No Does God deliver the elect out of the state of sin and misery and bring them into a state of salvation? Yes Are the elect thus delivered and saved by the first covenant, which was a covenant of works, upon their perfect obedience? No Or, did God enter into a covenant of grace to deliver and save them by a Redeemer? Yes

A. God, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life.a Thus He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvationSalvation must be distinguished from justification; salvation is a package containing many benefits and graces such as adoption, sanctification, divine intercession, and so forth (see Q. 33 ff. below). by a Redeemer.b

a Ephesians 1:4; b Romans 3:20-22; Galatians 3:21-22

Questions 21-30

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? Is the Lord Jesus Christ the only redeemer of God's elect? Yes Or, is there any other redeemer? No Is Christ the eternal Son of God? Yes And, did Christ become man? Yes Is Christ both God and man? Yes Are there two distinct natures in Christ? Yes And, two distinct persons? No Or, two distinct natures and one person? Yes And, does Christ continue to be so forever? Yes

A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,a the eternal Son of God. He became man,b and thus was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.c

a 1 Timothy 2:5-6; b John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; c Romans 9:5; Luke 1:35; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:24-25

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Did Christ, the Son of God, become man by taking to Himself a true body and true human soul? Yes Or, did Christ have a body without a soul? No Or, did Christ have a soul without a body? No Was Christ conceived and born in an ordinary way as others are? No Or, was Christ conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and born of her? Yes Was Christ conceived and born without sin? Yes Or, was He conceived and born in sin as others are? No

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true bodya and true human soul.b He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and born of her,c yet without sin.d

a Hebrews 2:14, 16; Hebrews 10:5; b Matthew 26:38; c Luke 1:27, 31, 35, 42; Galatians 4:4; d Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26

Q. 23. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer? Does He execute the office of a prophet? Yes And, of a priest? Yes And, of a king? Yes Did Christ execute these offices in his state of humiliation? Yes And, in His state of exaltation? Yes

A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices office: in this context, both the idea of a position of duty, trust, and authority, and the idea of a specific function apply to Christ of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, in both His states of humiliation and exaltation.

Acts 3:21-22; Hebrews 12:25; 2 Corinthians 13:3; Hebrews 5:5-7; Hebrews 7:25; Psalm 2:6; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 21:5; Psalm 2:8-11

Q. 24. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet? In revealing to us the will of God for our salvation? Yes Or, is there anything necessary for our salvation that He has not revealed? No Does He reveal this by His Word and Spirit? Yes Or, only by His Word without the Spirit? No

A. Christ executes the office of a prophet by revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

John 1:18; 1 Peter 1:10-12; John 15:15; John 20:31

Q. 25. How does Christ execute the office of a priest? In His offering Himself, just once, as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice? Yes And, to reconcile us to God? Yes Or, was He offered up by someone else against His will? No Was He offered up a sacrifice more than once? No And, is He to be offered up ever again? No Or, does His offering up Himself a sacrifice only once sufficient to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God? Yes Did Christ make intercession for us? Yes And, does He continue to do so? Yes Or, has He finished His intercession along with His sacrifice? No And, is intercession part of His priestly office? Yes

A. Christ executes the office of a priest:In His offering up of Himself, just once, as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justicea and reconcile us to GodbIn making continual intercession for usc

a Hebrews 9:14, 28; b Hebrews 2:17; c Hebrews 7:24-25

Q. 26. How does Christ execute the office of a king? Does He subdue us to Himself? Yes Or, do we submit to Him merely out of our own accord? No Or, are we by nature enemies to Him? Yes And, does Christ rule and govern us? Yes Or, does Christ permit us to do what we want? No Or, allow us to remain rebellious? No Does He defend us? Yes And, restrain all of His and our enemies? Yes And, conquer them? Yes Or, does He leave us exposed to dangers and let us fend for ourselves? No Or, allow our enemies to do what they wish? No Or, leave them unconquered and allow them to prevail finally against Him? No Or, against us? No And, are these all parts of His kingly office? Yes

A. Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to Himself,a in rulingb and defending us,c and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.d

a Acts 15:14-16; b Isaiah 33:22; c Isaiah 32:1-2; d 1 Corinthians 15:25; Psalm 110 RPCNA Constitution omits Psalm 110.

Q. 27. In what did Christ's humiliation consist? Was being born an abasement of Christ? Yes Especially in a low condition? Yes Was He made under the Law? Yes Or, was He exempted from subjection to the Law? No Was He freed from the misery of this life? No Or, did He undergo the misery of this life? Yes And, the wrath of God? Yes Did He suffer death? Yes An ordinary natural death? No Or, did He undergo the cursed death of the Cross? Yes Was He buried? Yes And, did He rise again immediately? No Or, did He continue under the power of death for a time? Yes And, were all these things parts of Christ's humiliation? Yes

A. Christ's humiliation In this context, humiliation refers primarily to Christ's voluntary humbling of Himself, not something imposed upon Him by outside forces, although, of course, this did occur at the hands of His earthly enemies. consisted in His:Being born, and that in a low conditionaBeing made under the lawbUndergoing the miseries of this lifecBeing subject to the wrath of God,d and the cursed death of the CrosseBeing buried,f and continuing under the power of death for a timeg

a Luke 2:7; b Galatians 4:4; c Hebrews 12:2-3; Isaiah 53:2-3; d Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; e Philippians 2:8; f 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; g Acts 2:24-27, 31

Q. 28. In what does Christ's exaltation consist? Did Christ continue still in the grave and under the power of death? No Or, did He rise again from the dead the third day? Yes Was He to continue on the earth after His resurrection? No Or, did He ascend up into Heaven? Yes And, sit at the right hand of God the Father? Yes And, will Christ remain there forever? No Or, will He come to judge the world at the last day? Yes Or, will He come again before that time? No And, are all these part of Christ's exaltation? Yes

A. Christ's exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day,a in ascending up into heaven,b in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,c and in coming to judge the world at the last day.d

a 1 Corinthians 15:4; b Mark 16:19; c Ephesians 1:20; c Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31

Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? By the effectual application of it to us by His Holy Spirit? Yes Or, may it be effectually applied to us without the Spirit? No Or, can those to whom the Spirit does not apply the redemption be partakers of it? No

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual effectual: completely effective application of it to usa by His Holy Spirit.b

a John 1:11-12; b Titus 3:5-6

Q. 30. How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? By working faith in us? Yes And, by that means uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling? Yes Or, may all this be done without the Spirit? No

A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us,a thus uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.b

a Ephesians 1:13-14; John 6:37, 39; Ephesians 2:8; b Ephesians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 1:9

Questions 31-40

Q. 31. What is effectual calling? Is it the work of God's Spirit? Yes In effectual calling, does the Spirit of God convince us of our sin? Yes And, of our misery? Yes Or, are those effectually called who are never thus convinced of these? No Does the Spirit enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Christ? Yes And, renew our wills? Yes Or, do our minds remain as blind and our wills as perverse as they were before? No Can this be accomplished without the Spirit? No And, does the Spirit, by all this, persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, who is freely offered to us in the Gospel? Yes Or, in spite of all this, do we remain unwilling? No Or, unable? No Or, can we be thus persuaded or enabled without the Spirit? No

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit.a He convinces us of our sin and misery,b enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ,c and renews our wills.d By these, He persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, who is freely offered to us in the Gospel.e

a 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; b Acts 2:37; c Acts 26:18; d Ezekiel 36:26-27; e John 6:44-45; Philippians 2:13

Q. 32. What benefits do those who are effectually called partake of in this life? In this life, do they partake of justification? Yes And, adoption? Yes And, sanctification? Yes And, the various benefits that, in this life, either accompany or flow from these? Yes

A. Those who are effectually called, in this life, partake of justification,a adoption,b sanctification, and the various benefits that, in this life, either accompany or flow from them.c

a Romans 8:30; b Ephesians 1:5; c 1 Corinthians 1:26, 30

Q. 33. What is justification? In justification, does God pardon all our sins? Yes Or, only some of them? No Or, are we still accounted as guilty? No And, does He accept us as righteous in His sight? Yes Because of our own merits or satisfaction [of God's justice]? No Or, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone? Yes Or, may we obtain it without faith? No Or, by faith and works together? No And, is all this an act of God's free grace? Yes Or, can we merit or deserve [grace or anything else] from God? No At least in part? No

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, in which He pardons all our sinsa and accepts us as righteous in His sight,b on the sole basis of the righteousness of Christ imputed imputed: accounted, reckoned (to the account of). This important theological term has not even the smallest hint of the frequent modern connotation of falseness or artificiality. God cannot lie., c to us. Justification is received by faith alone.d

a Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:6-8; b 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; c Romans 5:17-19; d Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9

Q. 34. What is adoption? By adoption, are we received into the number of the sons of God? Yes And, have a right to all their privileges? Yes And, is this an act of God's free grace? Yes

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace,a by which we are received into the number of, and have a right to all the privileges of, the sons of God.b

a 1 John 3:1; b John 1:12; Romans 8:17

Q. 35. What is sanctification? By sanctification, are we renewed after the image of God? Yes In the whole man? Yes Or, only in some part? No Or, do we remain unrenewed as before? No And, are we perfectly sanctified or renewed? No Or, enabled (by degrees) more and more, to die to sin and live to righteousness? Yes Are we able by ourselves to work this sanctification or renewal? No Or, to merit it at God's hands? No Or, is it a work of God's free grace? Yes

A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,a by which we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,b and are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness.c

a 2 Thessalonians 2:13; b Ephesians 4:23-24; c Romans 6:4, 6; Romans 8:1 Only the RPCNA Constitution has Romans 8:1.

Q. 36. What are the benefits that in this life accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? In this life, may we have assurance of God's love? Yes And, peace of conscience? Yes And, joy in the Holy Spirit? Yes Or, are these unobtainable until after this life? The original is unclear. A typographical error is suspected. The question may also be read, "Or, can these still be had after this life? Yes" No And, will we have an increase of grace in this life? Yes And, perseverance in grace to the end? Yes And, do all these benefits accompany or flow from our justification, adoption, and sanctification? Yes Or, can those who are not justified, adopted, and sanctified have any of these benefits? No

A. The benefits that in this life accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience,a joy in the Holy Spirit,b increase of grace,c and perseverance in grace to the end.d

a Romans 5:1-2, 5; b Romans 14:17; c Proverbs 4:18; d 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5

Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? At death, are believers' souls made perfect in holiness? Yes Or, does some corruption remain in them? No And, do they immediately pass into glory? Yes Before they are again united to their bodies? Yes Do their bodies immediately pass into glory? No Or, rest in their graves until the resurrection? Yes Are their bodies separated from Christ at death? No Or, are they still united to Christ? Yes

A. The souls of believers In New Testament Greek, the same root applies to the noun form of the word translated "faith," and the verb form translated "believe." Biblically, then, a believer is one who has saving faith in Jesus Christ. are, at their death, made perfect in holinessa and immediately pass into glory.b Their bodies, being still united to Christ,c rest in their gravesd until the resurrection. The implication is that the decay of the body in the grave or dissolution of the body by any other means is no obstacle to Almighty God, who will change the bodies of believers into a glorious body of a different nature (Matthew 22:30)., e

a Hebrews 12:23; b 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43; c 1 Thessalonians 4:14; d Isaiah 57:2; e Job 19:26-27

Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? Will believers be raised again? Yes In the same condition as they were before? No Or, will they be raised in glory? Yes And, will they be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment? Yes Or, rejected? No And, condemned? No And, will they be made perfectly blessed, fully enjoying God? Yes To all eternity? Yes Or, only for a time? No

A. At the resurrection, believers will be raised up to glory.a Thus they will be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgmentb and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of Godc to all eternity.d

a 1 Corinthians 15:43; b Matthew 25:23; Matthew 10:32; c 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12; d 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Q. 39. What is the duty that God requires of man? Does God require obedience to His revealed will? Yes Or, is it our choice whether or not we will obey Him? No And, is God's revealed will the rule of our obedience? Yes

A. The duty that God requires of man is obedience to His revealed will.

Micah 6:8; 1 Samuel 15:22

Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? Was the moral law given to man at first? Yes Or, not until afterwards? No The original has "Yes," contradicting the answer above. This is surely a typographical error. The Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 19:2 states, "After Adam's fall, this law continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness. As such, it was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in Ten Commandments." And, did God reveal that to man as the rule of his obedience? Yes

A. The rule that God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.

Romans 2:14-15; Romans 10:5

Questions 41-50

Q. 41. Where is the entire moral law summarized? Is it summarized in the Ten Commandments? Yes

A. The entire moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17

Q. 42. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? Are we to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind? Yes And, to love our neighbor as ourselves? Yes And, is this the sum of the Ten Commandments? Yes

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.

Matthew 22:37-40

Q. 43. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

Exodus 20:2

Q. 44. What does the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us? Does it teach us that God is the Lord? Yes And, that He is our God? Yes And, that He is our Redeemer? Yes Or, can we be redeemed by any other? No And, that therefore we are bound to keep all His commandments? Yes In spite of all this, may we break His commandments? No Or, at least some of them? No

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us that God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer. Therefore we are bound to keep all His Commandments.

Luke 1:74-75; 1 Peter 1:15-19

Q. 45. What is the first Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The first Commandment is, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

Exodus 20:3

Q. 46. What is required in the first Commandment? Does it require us to know God? Yes Or, may we be safely ignorant of Him? No And, are we to acknowledge Him to be the only true God? Yes And, that there is no other than He? Yes And, to be our God? Yes Or, is it enough to acknowledge Him to be God, though we do not take Him to be our God? No And, are we to worship and glorify Him accordingly? Yes To love Him, fear Him, trust in Him, and obey Him? Yes As God, and as our God? Yes

A. The first Commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God,a and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.b

a 1 Chronicles 28:9; Deuteronomy 26:17; b Matthew 4:10; Psalm 29:2

Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first Commandment? Does it forbid denying the true God to be God? Yes Or, to be our God? Yes And, neglecting to worship and glorify Him as such? Yes Or, to give that glory or worship to any other, which are due to Him alone? Yes Or, may we give that glory or worship to some other? No Or, forbear to give it to Him? No

A. The first Commandment forbids denying God.a It forbids not worshiping and glorifying the true God as Godb and our God.c It also forbids giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due to Him alone.d

a Psalm 14:1; b Romans 1:21; c Psalm 81:10-11; d Romans 1:25-26

Q. 48. What are we specially taught by the words "before Me" in the first Commandment? Do they teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of the sin of having any other God? Yes Or, does He fail to take notice of it at all? No The original has "Yes," certainly a typographical error. And, is He much displeased with it? Yes

A. The words "before Me" in the first Commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.

Ezekiel 8:5-18; Psalm 44:20-21

Q. 49. What is the second Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The second Commandment is, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Exodus 20:4-6

Q. 50. What is required in the second Commandment? Does God leave us to worship and serve Him in whatever way or manner we please? No Or, not to worship Him at all? No Or, has God appointed any religious worship and ordinances in His Word? Yes And, does this Commandment require us to receive and observe all such? Yes And, to keep them pure and intact? Yes Or, may we reject them? No Or, not observe them? No At least some of them? No Or, allow them to be polluted? No Or, corrupted? No

A. The second Commandment requires receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all of the religious worship and ordinances that God has appointed in His Word.

Deuteronomy 32:46; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:42

Questions 51-60

Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second Commandment? Does it forbid worshiping God by images or any other way not appointed in His Word? Yes Or, may we worship God by images? No Or, by any other way of our own invention? No

A. The second Commandment forbids worshiping God by imagesa or any other way not appointed in His Word.b

a Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Exodus 32:5, 8; b Deuteronomy 12:31-32

Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second Commandment? Has God a sovereignty over us? Yes And, ownership of us? Yes And, has He a zeal for His own worship? Yes And, are these reasons why we should not worship Him in any other way than what He has appointed in His Word? Yes

A. The reasons annexed annexed to: attached to, particularly something added to a larger or more important body to the second Commandment are: God's sovereignty over us,a His ownership of us,b and the zeal He has for His own worship.c

a Psalm 95:2-3, 6; b Psalm 45:11; c Exodus 34:13-14

Q. 53. What is the third Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The third Commandment is, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

Exodus 20:7

Q. 54. What is required in the third Commandment? Does it require the holy and reverent use of God's names? Yes Of His titles? Yes And, of His attributes? Yes And, of His ordinances? Yes Of His Word? Yes And, of His works? Yes Or, may any of these be used in an unholy or irreverent manner? No

A. The third Commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God's names,a titles,b attributes, attributes: characteristics or qualities, e.g., His wisdom or eternal nature, c ordinances, ordinances: prayer, sacraments, worship, etc., which He has ordained. The right and faithful use of oaths and vows is an ordinance to which the third Commandment is particularly applicable., d Word,e and works. works: creation and providence, or parts of them if in specific reference to God's handiwork, f

a Matthew 6:9; Deuteronomy 28:58; b Psalm 68:4; c Revelation 15:3-4; d Malachi 1:11, 14; e Psalm 138:1-2; f Job 36:24

Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third Commandment? Does it forbid all profaning anything by which God makes Himself known? Yes And, all abusing of these? Yes

A. The third Commandment forbids all profaning or abusing of anything by which God makes Himself known.

Malachi 1:6-7, 12; Malachi 2:2; Malachi 3:14

Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third Commandment? Is it because the Lord our God will not allow the breakers of this Commandment to escape His righteous judgments? Yes Do such breakers sometimes escape punishment from men? Yes And, may they likewise escape God's righteous judgments? No

A. The reason annexed to the third Commandment is: however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, the Lord our God will not allow them to escape His righteous judgment.

1 Samuel 2:12, 17, 22, 29; 1 Samuel 3:13; Deuteronomy 28:58-59

Q. 57. What is the fourth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The fourth Commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

Exodus 20:8-11

Q. 58. What is required in the fourth Commandment? Does it require keeping holy to God such set times as He has appointed in His Word? Yes Has God expressly appointed one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to Himself? Yes Or, has He left it to us to keep what time we please? No

A. The fourth Commandment requires keeping holy to God such set times as He has appointed in His Word; specifically one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14

Q. 59. Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath? Did God at first appoint the last day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath? The original has "first day," an obvious typographical error. Yes And, was this to be observed from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ? Yes And, is it to be observed still? No Or, the first day of the week ever since? Yes And, is that to continue to the end of the world? Yes Is this the Christian Sabbath? Yes

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. Since then, the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath, which is to continue to the end of the world.

Genesis 2:2-3; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7

Q. 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified? Is it enough to rest some part of that day? No Or, must we rest all the day? Yes Even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days? Yes Or, only from such things that are at all times sinful? No Are works of necessity and mercy to be done that day? Yes And, may we spend the rest of the time idly? No Or, must we spend the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except for time taken up by works of necessity and mercy? Yes Or, when we have spent some time in public worship, may we spend the rest of the time as we please? No

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified sanctified: made holy or kept holy by a holy resting all that day,a even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful lawful: generally in the context of the WSC, compliant with God's law on other days,b and by spending the whole time in public and private exercises of God's worship,c except for time taken up by works of necessity and mercy.d

a Exodus 20:8, 10; Exodus 16:25-28; b Nehemiah 13:15-19, 21-22; c Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; Psalm 92 Title; Isaiah 66:23; d Matthew 12:1-13

Questions 61-70

Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment? Does it forbid the omission of the duties required? Yes And, carelessly performing them? Yes And, profaning the day by idleness? Yes Or, by doing that which is in itself sinful? Yes Or, by unnecessary thoughts, words, and works about worldly employments and recreations? Yes

A. The fourth Commandment forbids:The omission, or careless performance, of the duties requiredaProfaning the day by:IdlenessbDoing that which is in itself sinfulcUnnecessary thoughts, words, or works about our worldly employments or recreationsd

a Ezekiel 22:26; Amos 8:5; Malachi 1:13; b Acts 20:7, 9; c Ezekiel 23:38; d Jeremiah 17:24-26; Isaiah 58:13

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment? Is God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments a reason why we should the more keep a seventh day holy to Him? Yes And, does God assert a special right of ownership of the seventh day? Yes And, are God's own example and His blessing the Sabbath day further reasons for us to keep it holy? Yes

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are:God allows us six days of the week for our own employmentsaGod asserts His special ownership right in the seventh dayHis own exampleHe blessed the Sabbath dayb

a Exodus 20:9; b Exodus 20:11

Q. 63. What is the fifth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The fifth Commandment is, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Exodus 20:12

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth Commandment? Does it require preserving the honor that belongs to everyone in their various places and relationships? Yes As superiors, inferiors, or equals? Yes Or, only the honor due to our natural parents? No Or, only to our superiors? No And, does it require performing all of the duties that are due to them? Yes

A. The fifth Commandment requires This is an extremely compressed answer that covers all interpersonal relationships of all kinds. The reader is strongly encouraged to study the Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 123-133, for a fuller exposition. Several commentaries are also helpful, such as those by Thomas Vincent, The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly Explained and Proved from Scripture (Still Waters Revival Books, www.PuritanDownloads.com), or Thomas Boston, Commentary on the Shorter Catechism, 2 Volumes, (Still Waters Revival Books, www.PuritanDownloads.com). preserving the honor,"Preserving the honor" includes personally honoring those to whom honor is due, but also, where appropriate, protecting and defending the honor of those to whom honor is due. and performing the duties, Here, "duties" includes both general duties such as love to neighbor and enemy, and specific duties such as parent to child and child to parent. due to everyone in their various places and relationships as None of the following terms refer in any way to the value and dignity that comes from being made in the image of God. This human dignity is neither increased nor decreased by these terms. superiors, superiors: not only those in authority over us, but also those with superior age, graces, gifts, or abilities, a inferiors, inferiors: not only those over whom we have authority, but also those who, by reason of younger age, weakness, smaller graces, lesser gifts, weaker abilities, or infirmities, are deserving of kindness, care, and aid as needed, b or equals. equals: those who are more or less equal in age, graces, gifts, or abilities. It is well worth observing that the relations of superior, inferior, and equal may all apply between the same two parties depending upon circumstances. For example a pastor and a police officer may be equal at the dinner table and unequal while behind the pulpit or on duty in a patrol car. For another example, one may have great faith but be weak in doctrine, while another is weak in faith but knows much doctrine. These have different graces and should each respect and honor the graces in the other and aid the other in his weaknesses., c

a Ephesians 5:21; b 1 Peter 2:17; c Romans 12:10

Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment? Does it forbid neglecting the honor or duty that belongs to everyone in their various places and relationships? Yes And, doing anything against it? Yes Or, may we reproach or disgrace our superiors? No Or, unduly oppose and resist them? No Or, disobey their lawful commands? No Or, may we carry ourselves proudly and scornfully toward our equals? No Or, inferiors? No

A. The fifth Commandment forbids neglecting, or doing anything against, the honor and duty due to everyone in their various places and relationships.

Matthew 15:4-6; Ezekiel 34:2-4; Romans 13:8

Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth Commandment? Is there a promise of long life and prosperity to all who keep this Commandment? Yes And, are we to understand this (and other such promises of earthly mercies) to be without limitation? No Or, only as it will serve for God's glory and their own good? Yes

A. The reason annexed to the fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity to all who keep this Commandment (as far as it will serve for God's glory and their own good).

Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3

Q. 67. What is the sixth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The sixth Commandment is, "You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13

Q. 68. What is required in the sixth Commandment? Does it require all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life? Yes And, to preserve the life of others? Yes Or, is it sufficient that we do not take it? No Or, may we use unlawful means to preserve it? No

A. The sixth Commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life From the context of this and the next question, it is clear that "life" includes not only life as opposed to death, but also all that pertains to a person's living out his or her life, such as freedom and well-being., a and the life of others.b

a Ephesians 5:28-29; b 1 Kings 18:4

Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment? Does it forbid taking our own life? Yes And, taking our neighbor's life unjustly? Yes And, whatever tends to either of these? Yes Or, does it allow hatred or malice? No Or, rash or immoderate anger? No Or, reproaches or injuries that do not actually take away life? No And, does it forbid all executions of criminals by civil governments? No Or, all taking the lives of men in lawful warfare or necessary defense? No

A. The sixth Commandment forbids taking our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatever tends toward it.

Acts 16:28; Genesis 9:6

Q. 70. What is the seventh Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The seventh Commandment is, "You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:14

Questions 71-80

Q. 71. What is required in the seventh Commandment? Does it require the preservation of our own chastity? Yes And, the chastity of our neighbors? Yes And, this in heart, speech, and behavior? Yes Or, is it sufficient to avoid gross acts of sexual sin? No

A. The seventh Commandment requires the preservation of our own and our neighbor's chastity, chastity: in this context, purity of mind, speech and body, with regard to sexual matters. The idea that chastity precludes marriage or relations with one's own spouse is utterly false. in heart, speech, and behavior.

1 Corinthians 7:2-3, 5, 34, 36; Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:2

Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment? Does it forbid all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions? Yes Or, does it allow unchaste or wanton thoughts? No Or, lascivious or wanton words? No Or, [unchaste] non-verbal signals or signs? No

A. The seventh Commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.

Matthew 15:19; Matthew 5:28; Ephesians 5:3-4

Q. 73. What is the eighth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The eighth Commandment is, "You shall not steal."

Exodus 20:15

Q. 74. What is required in the eighth Commandment? Does it require lawfully procuring and furthering our own wealth and outward estate? Yes And, the wealth and outward estate of others? Yes Or, is it sufficient to look to ourselves only, without regarding others? No Or, may we be altogether careless of either? No Or, may we use any sinful or unlawful way to procure wealth to ourselves or others? No

A. The eighth Commandment requires lawfully procuring procure: obtain by care and effort and furthering the wealth and outward estate outward estate: earthly goods and property of ourselves and others.

Genesis 30:30; 1 Timothy 5:8; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 22:1-5; Exodus 23:4-5; Genesis 47:14, 20

Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment? Does it forbid whatever does, or may, unjustly hinder our own wealth or outward estate? Yes Or, the wealth and outward estate of our neighbor? Yes Or, may we unjustly damage others to enrich ourselves? No

A. The eighth Commandment forbids whatever does, or may, unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor's wealth or outward estate.

Proverbs 21:17; Proverbs 23:20-21; Proverbs 28:19; Ephesians 4:28

Q. 76. What is the ninth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The ninth Commandment is, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Exodus 20:16

Q. 77. What is required in the ninth Commandment? Does it require maintaining and promoting truth between man and man? Yes And, of our own and our neighbor's good name? Yes Especially in witness bearing? Yes Or, is it enough to seek our own credit, though with damage to truth or the good name of others? No Or, may we be careless of either? No

A. The ninth Commandment requires maintaining and promoting:Truth between man and manaOur own and our neighbor's good nameb

especially in witness bearing Witness bearing does not imply that the occasion must be a formal court proceeding. Gossip is a form of witness bearing., c

a Zechariah 8:16; b 3 John 12, c Proverbs 14:5, 25

Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment? Does it forbid whatever is damaging to truth? Yes And, whatever is injurious to our own or our neighbor's good name? Yes Is it sometimes lawful to lie? No At least in smaller matters? No Or, for our own or others' advantage? No Or, to preserve ourselves or others? No Or, for a good purpose? No

A. The ninth Commandment forbids whatever is detrimental to truth, or injurious to our own good name, or that of our neighbor.

1 Samuel 17:28; Leviticus 19:16; Psalm 15:3

Q. 79. What is the tenth Commandment? (No intermediate questions.)

A. The tenth Commandment is, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Exodus 20:17

Q. 80. What is required in the tenth Commandment? Does it require full contentment with our own condition? Yes Without the least inward promptings or inclinations to the contrary? Yes Or, is enough that we do not use unlawful means to alter our condition? No And, must we have a right and charitable frame toward our neighbor and all that is his? Yes Rejoicing in another's good just as our own? Yes And, sympathizing with others in affliction? Yes Or, is it enough that we do not outwardly wrong them in anything? No

A. The tenth Commandment requires full contentment with our own condition,a with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor and all that is his.b

a Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6; b Job 31:29; Romans 12:15; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Questions 81-90

Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth Commandment? Does it forbid all discontentment with our own estate? Yes Even in the least inward promptings or inclinations of the heart? Yes And, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor? Yes And, all inordinate inward promptings or emotions to anything that is his? Yes May we wish his hurt? No Or, covet anything that is his? No

A. The tenth Commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate, estate: in this context: not only our outward estate (of worldly goods) but all that God has been pleased to give us, our situation in life, and so on, a envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor,b and all inordinate inclinations and emotions [or desires] to anything that is his.c

a 1 Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; 1 Corinthians 10:10; b Galatians 5:26; James 3:14, 16; c Romans 7:7-8; Romans 13:9; Deuteronomy 5:21

Q. 82. Is any man able to perfectly keep the commandments of God? Is any man able to perfectly keep the commandments of God? No Was Adam able before his fall? Yes Is any mere man since the Fall able in this life to perfectly keep them? No Was Christ able to do it in this life? Yes And, was He mere man? No Or, was He God as well as man? Yes Will the glorified saints in heaven be able to perfectly keep the commandments of God? Yes But are the saints able to do so in this life? No But do they daily break them in thought, word, and deed? Yes

A. No mere man since the Fall is able in this life to perfectly keep the commandments of God,a but daily breaks them in thought, word, and deed.b

a Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10; Galatians 5:17; b Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Romans 3:9-21; James 3:2-13

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? No Or, are some sins more heinous in the sight of God than others? Yes Are some sins in themselves more heinous than others? Yes And, are some sins made more heinous by reason of various aggravations than they would be otherwise? Yes

A. Some sins in themselves, and [others] by reason of various aggravations, aggravate: to make more serious or more grave are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Ezekiel 8:6, 13, 15; 1 John 5:16; Psalm 78:17, 32, 56

Q. 84. What does every sin deserve? Does every sin deserve God's wrath and curse? Yes In this life only? No Or, only in that which is to come? No Or, both in this life and that which is to come? Yes Is not that too great a punishment? No Even for the smallest sins? No

A. Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.

Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Lamentations 3:39; Matthew 25:41

Q. 85. What does God require of us that we may escape His wrath and curse that are due to us for sin? Is there any way to escape them? Yes And, will all escape them? No Does God require of us faith in Jesus Christ that we may escape them? Yes And, does God require repentance to life? Yes Or, will any escape God's wrath and curse who does not believe in Christ? No Or, does not repent? No Or, is it sufficient to say Christ has believed and repented for us? No Are there outward means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption? Yes And, does God require a diligent use of all these means? Yes Or, may we safely neglect any of them? No Or, use them carelessly? No Or, can we expect that those who do not use them will ordinarily escape the wrath and curse of God? No

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God that are due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance to life,a and the diligent use This by no means implies salvation by works of any kind. of all the outward means by which Christ communicates [transfers, conveys] to us the benefits of redemption.b

a Acts 20:21; b Proverbs 2:1-5; Proverbs 8:33-36; Isaiah 55:3

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ? Is it a saving grace by which we receive and trust in Christ alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the Gospel? Yes Or, may we expect to be saved by any other, without Christ? No Or, [something else] together with Christ? No Or, to be saved by Christ upon any other terms than as He is offered to us in the Gospel? No Do we receive and rest upon Christ for salvation by any other graces [besides faith]? No Or, by our good works? No Or, is it by faith only? Yes

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,a by which we receive and trust in Him alone for salvation, as He is [displayed and] offered to us in the Gospel.b

a Hebrews 10:39; b John 1:12; Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16

Q. 87. What is repentance to life? Is it a saving grace in which a sinner turns from sin to God? Yes Or, may there be repentance to life without a turning from sin? No Or, without turning to God? No And, does this arise out of a true sense of his sin? Yes And, a true perception and understanding of the mercy of God in Christ? Yes Or, may we expect a true repentance without these? No Will there be grief and hatred of sin? Yes And, a purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience? Yes Or, can he be said to turn from his sin to God, who does not grieve for his sin? No Nor hate it? No Or, who does not purpose and endeavor after new obedience? No

A. Repentance to life is a saving grace,a by which a sinner:Out of a true sense of his sinbFrom perception and understanding of the mercy of God in ChristcWith grief and hatred of his sin

turns from his sin to God,d with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.e

a Acts 11:18; b Acts 2:37-38; c Joel 2:12; Jeremiah 3:22; d Jeremiah 31:18-19; Ezekiel 36:31; e 2 Corinthians 7:11; Isaiah 1:16-17

Q. 88. What are the outward [and ordinary] means Only the RPCNA Constitution has and ordinary in the Question. by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?Are His ordinances the ordinary and outward means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?YesEspecially the Word, sacraments, and prayer?YesAre all these made effectual to the elect for salvation?YesAnd, to them only?YesOr, are they made effectual to salvation to any that are not elected?No

A. The outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer. All of these are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47

Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation? Is the Word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners? Yes And, when they are converted, is it effectual to build them up in holiness and comfort through faith to salvation? Yes Is the reading of the Word effectual to these purposes? Yes But especially the preaching of the Word? Yes And, has the Word this efficacy of itself without the Spirit? No Or, does the Spirit of God make it effectual for these purposes? Yes

A. The Spirit of God makes the Word an effectual means as it is read, but especially as it is preached, to convince and convert sinners, and to build them up in holiness and comfort through faith to salvation.

Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Psalm 19:8; Acts 20:32; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:13-17; Romans 1:16

Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? Will any negligent reading or hearing the Word fulfill the need? No Or, must we attend to it with diligence? Yes And, with preparation? Yes And, with prayer? Yes And, must we receive it with faith and love? Yes And, lay it up in our hearts? Yes And, practice it in our lives? Yes Or, is it enough to read or hear the Word, though we never take heed to lay it up or practice it? No

A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must:Attend to it with diligence,a preparation,b and prayercReceive it with faith and lovedLay it up in our heartsePractice it in our livesf

a Proverbs 8:34; b 1 Peter 2:1-2; c Psalm 119:18; d Hebrews 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; e Psalm 119:11; f Luke 8:15; James 1:25

Questions 91-100

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? Is it from any virtue inherent to the sacraments themselves? No Or in the one who administers them? No Or, is it only by the blessing of Christ and the work of His Spirit? Yes Do they become effectual in all? No Or, only in those who receive them by faith? Yes

A. The sacraments are not effectual by any virtue in them, The physical ceremonies and actions in themselves, in isolation from Christ and faith, are worthless. or in the one who administers them. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation only by the blessing of Christa and the working of His Spirit in those who receive them by faith.b

a 1 Peter 3:21; Matthew 3:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; b 1 Corinthians 12:13

Q. 92. What is a sacrament? Is it a holy ordinance instituted by Christ? Yes Or, only of man's invention? No Are sensible signs used in it? Yes Are Christ and the benefits of the covenant represented, sealed, and applied to believers by sensible signs? Yes Or, are they useless and empty signs? No Or, do they signify and confirm temporal blessings only? No

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ. By the sensible sensible: in this context, able to be perceived by human senses, such as touch, sight, taste, and so on signs of the sacrament, Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant are represented, sealed, seal: (verb) to confirm, ratify, guarantee, make secure; (noun) something that represents such a guarantee or provides the security; in Scripture, seal often has a close association in meaning with a sign. and applied to believers.

Genesis 17:7, 10; Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 11:23, 26

Q. 93. What are the sacraments of the New Testament? Baptism and the Lord's Supper? Yes Are there more sacraments of the New Testament than these two? No

A. The sacraments of the New Testament are baptisma and the Lord's Supper.b

a Matthew 28:19; b Matthew 26:26-28

Q. 94. What is baptism? Does the sacrament of baptism signify and seal our engrafting into Christ and our partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace? Yes And, does it signify and seal our engagement to be the Lord's? Yes And, is this done by washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? Yes

A. Baptism is a sacrament, in which the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,a signifies and seals our:Engraftment engraftment: the process of grafting a scion onto a stock, both being woody plants. The stock is an already rooted plant. The scion may be of a same or (usually) different species and may be a branch or whole plant above the roots. The grafting process involves making a special cut on the trunk or a branch of both the stock and scion so that the two may be joined and bound. Done right, the scion and stock become as one plant, the stock providing water and nutrients and the scion, products of photosynthesis. Both remain their own original species. The reference to engraftment is to call to mind the teaching of Christ that He is the vine and believers are the branches (John 15:1-5, Romans 11:17-24). into ChristPartaking of the benefits of the covenant of graceEngagement to be the Lord'sb

a Matthew 28:19; b Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27

Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered? Is baptism to be administered promiscuously to those outside of the visible Church, as well as to those within it? No May those who are out of the visible Church be baptized when they come to profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Christ? Yes And, before then? No Are the infants of those who are members of the visible Church to be baptized? Yes While they are infants? Yes

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any who are outside of the visible Church, visible Church: all who profess faith in Christ in all denominations until they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him.a But the infants of those who are members of the visible Church are to be baptized. As the Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Larger Catechism make clear, only one parent need be a believer., b

a Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:38; b Acts 2:38-39; Genesis 17:10; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14

Q. 96. What is the Lord's Supper? Is it a sacrament in which, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, His death is openly displayed? Yes Or, is it sufficient that only bread be given and received? No Or, only wine? No Or, has Christ appointed giving and receiving of both bread and wine? Yes And, by this giving and receiving bread and wine, do we display forth Christ's death? Yes In the Lord's Supper, are worthy receivers made partakers of Christ's body and blood, with all His benefits to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace? Yes Do all those who receive the Lord's Supper thus partake of Christ? No Or, only those who are worthy receivers? Yes Do they partake of Christ's body and blood in a physical and fleshly manner? No Or, by faith? Yes

A. The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, in which, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, His death is openly displayed and worthy receivers are made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. This partaking is not after a physical and fleshly manner, but by faith.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16

Q. 97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper? Must those who would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper examine themselves concerning their knowledge to discern the Lord's body? Yes And, of their faith to feed upon Him? Yes And, of their repentance, love, and new obedience? Yes Or, can those who are ignorant or who cannot discern the Lord's body partake worthily? No Or, who do not believe? No Or, not repent? No Or, who have no love for God? No Or, for His children? No Or, who do not endeavor to walk in new obedience? No Is there any danger of coming unworthily? Yes Do those who come unworthily eat and drink judgment to themselves? Yes

A. It is required of those who would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper that they examine themselves concerning:Their knowledge to discern the Lord's bodyaTheir faith to feed upon HimbTheir repentance,c love,d and new obediencee

Otherwise, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.f

a 1 Corinthians 11:28-29; b 2 Corinthians 13:5; c 1 Corinthians 11:31; d 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; e 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; f 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Q. 98. What is prayer? Is it only to repeat some words, though without feeling or understanding? No Or, is it an offering up of our desires to God? Yes For things agreeable to His will? Yes May we pray to some being besides God? No To saints, angels, or the virgin Mary? No Or, to images? No Must we pray in Christ's name? Yes And, in His only? Yes Trusting in Him and none else to make our prayers accepted? Yes Or, may we pray in the name of any other? No Or, for things sinful or not agreeable to God's will? No In our prayers, must we confess our sins? Yes And, thankfully acknowledge God's mercies? Yes

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to Goda for things agreeable to His will,b in the name of Christ,c with confession of our sins,d and with thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.e

a Psalm 62:8; b 1 John 5:14; c John 16:23; d Psalm 32:5-6; Daniel 9:4; e Philippians 4:6

Q. 99. What rule has God given for our direction in prayer? Is the whole Word of God of use to direct us in prayer? Yes And, is that form of prayer that Christ taught His disciples (commonly called "the Lord's Prayer") a more special rule of direction? Yes

A. The whole Word of God is useful to direct us in prayer.a But the special rule of directionRule and direction are not redundant here; the former is law, and the latter is a general pattern. is that form of prayer that Christ taught His disciples, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer."b

a 1 John 5:14; b Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4

Q. 100. What does the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us? Do the words "Our Father in heaven" teach us to draw near to God with all holy reverence? Yes And confidence? Yes As children to a father that is able to help us? Yes And, ready to help us? Yes Or, may we pray irreverently? No Or, distrustfully? No Doubting God's power to help us? No Or, His willingness to help us? No And, do the words teach us to pray with others? Yes And, for others? Yes

A. The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, Short quotes in Q. 100-107 are from the NKJV, Matthew 6:9-13. "Our Father in heaven,"a teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father [who is] able and ready to help us.b Also, it teaches us that we should pray with and for others.c

a Matthew 6:9; b Romans 8:15; Luke 11:13; c Acts 12:5; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Questions 101-107

Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition? Do we pray, in the words "Hallowed be your name," that God would enable us and others to glorify Him in all things by which He makes Himself known? Yes In His titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works? Yes And that He would arrange all things to His own glory? Yes Or, may we be altogether careless of God's glory? No

A. In the first petition, which is "Hallowed be Your name,"a we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify Him in all things by which He makes Himself known, God has made Himself known via His name, but also by His attributes, ordinances, Word, creation, and providence. From this knowledge, God's name is better known and understood. By acknowledging the credit and glory due God for His attributes, ordinances, Word, creation, and providence, we glorify His name., b and that He would arrange all things to His own glory.c

a Matthew 6:9; b Psalm 67:2-3; c Psalm 83

Q. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? Do we pray, in the words "Your kingdom come," that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed? Yes Or, may Satan's kingdom and God's kingdom stand together? No That the kingdom of grace may be advanced? Yes Ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it? Yes And, that the kingdom of glory may be hastened? Yes

A. In the second petition, which is "Your kingdom come,"a we pray, that:Satan's kingdom may be destroyedbThe kingdom of grace may be advancedcOurselves and others may be brought into it and kept in itdThe kingdom of glory may be hastenede

a Matthew 6:10; b Psalm 68:1, 18; c Revelation 12:10-11; d 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Romans 10:1; John 17:9, 20; e Revelation 22:20

Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition? Do we pray, in the words "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," that God, by His grace, would make us able to know His will? Yes And, to obey it? Yes And, to submit to it? Yes And, do so in all things? Yes As the angels do in heaven? Yes May we in some things disobey His will? No Or, grudge at it? No Or, prefer our own wills before His will? No But must we know, obey, and submit to His will in all things? Yes Are we able or willing to do His will by ourselves? No And, can we be made willing and able apart from His grace? No

A. In the third petition, which is "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,"a we pray that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things,b as the angels do in heaven.c

a Matthew 6:10; b Psalm 67; Psalm 119:36; Matthew 26:39; 2 Samuel 15:25; Job 1:21; c Psalm 103:20-21

Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? Do we pray, in the words "Give us this day our daily bread," that we may receive an appropriate portion of the good things of this life? Yes And, that from God's free gift? Yes And, enjoy His blessing with them? Yes Can we, by ourselves, procure them by our industry? No Do we deserve to have them bestowed upon us? No Or, blessed to us? No And, can the things of this life be good by themselves without God's blessing? No

A. In the fourth petition, which is "Give us this day our daily bread,"a we pray that, by God's free gift, we may receive an appropriate portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy His blessing with them.b

a Matthew 6:11; b Proverbs 30:8-9; Genesis 28:20; 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? Do we pray, in the words "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins? Yes Have we, by our sins, become debtors to God's justice? Yes Can we ourselves satisfy God's justice and so pay that debt? No Or, have them forgiven us for our own sake? No Or, only for Christ's sake? Yes Does God expect that when we desire forgiveness from Him, we should forgive others from the heart? Yes Or, is it enough that we do it in words only? No And, can we do this by ourselves? No Or, must we be enabled by His grace? Yes And, is it any encouragement to ask forgiveness from God when by His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others? Yes

A. In the fifth petition, which is "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,"a we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins.b By His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others; thus we are the more encouraged to ask God's forgiveness for our debts. It is clear from Matthew 6:14-15 that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. Conversely, if we forgive others, then God will forgive us—if we are believers in Christ. It is important to realize that forgiveness is from grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). Thus, if we forgive others, it is not the cause or grounds of our forgiveness by God, but is rather evidence of saving faith. Likewise, an unforgiving heart is evidence of lack of saving faith. With this in mind, we can then understand how our having a forgiving heart can encourage us to seek God's forgiveness of us (last sentence of A. 105): We see the evidence of saving grace in our hearts and are thus encouraged to go boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). The fifth petition is spoken from the perspective of a believer who has a forgiving spirit., c

a Matthew 6:12; b Psalm 51:1-2, 7, 9; Daniel 9:17-19; c Luke 11:4; Matthew 18:35

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? Do we pray, in the words "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," that God would keep us from being tempted to sin? Yes Or, at least support and deliver us when we are tempted? Yes Are God's children in danger of being tempted to sin like everyone else? Yes Are we able by ourselves to avoid temptation? No Or, to stand or be supported in temptation by our own strength? No Or, deliver ourselves out of temptation? No And, is anyone other than God able to do it for us? No

A. In the sixth petition, which is, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," The Greek has, literally, "the evil." This leads to the translation, "the evil one," on the assumption that the evil one is implied. Other translators ignore the definite article and simply translate "evil.", a we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin,b or support and deliver us when we are tempted.c

a Matthew 6:13; b Matthew 26:41; c 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

Q. 107. What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us? Do the words "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" See footnote below. teach us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only? Yes Or, can we have sufficient encouragement from ourselves or any other creature? No And, are we to praise Him in our prayers? Yes Ascribing to Him the kingdom, or absolute sovereignty, over all things? Yes And, almighty power to do all things? Yes And, infinite majesty and glorious excellency above all things? Yes Or, is any creature exempt from His authority? No Or, is anything too hard for His power? No Or, is any creature equal to Him in glory? No Do we say "Amen" in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard? Yes

A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen," Some ancient manuscripts omit from the end of Matthew 6:13, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Thus some translations omit, even without mention, this final text. Whether or not to include this text is a matter of textual criticism and translator’s judgment into which this editor will not venture.a teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only,b and in our prayers to praise Him, crediting kingdom, power, and glory to Him.c And, in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, "Amen."c

a Matthew 6:13; b Daniel 9:4-9, 16-19; Only the RPCNA Constitution includes Daniel 9:5-6. c 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; d 1 Corinthians 14:16; Revelation 22:20-21

The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647

Editor's Introduction

The Westminster Shorter Catechism is almost undoubtedly the best known and widely used of all catechisms. As such, many variations of it have been published, and many more variations in the proof text set have been published. The Scripture proof texts given here are the originals provided by the Westminster Divines. See Appendix C. This is in keeping with the goal of providing a faithful translation of the original WSC. Most editions of the WSC use different sets of proof texts than the original; the editor makes no judgment concerning these other sets, recognizing that others may have different goals.

Questions 1-10

Question 1. What is the chief purpose of man?

Answer. Man's chief purpose is to glorify God,a and to enjoy Him forever.b

a 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:36; b Psalm 73:25-28

Q. 2. What rule has 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,a is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.b

a 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 2:20; b 1 John 1:3-4

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures primarily teach?

A. The Scriptures primarily teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 3:16

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a spirit,a infinite,b eternal,c and unchangeable,d in His being,e wisdom,f power,g holiness,h justice, goodness, and truth.i

a John 4:24; b Job 11:7-9; c Psalm 90:2; d James 1:17; e Exodus 3:14; f Psalm 147:5; g Revelation 4:8; h Revelation 15:4; i Exodus 34:6-7

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is just one only, the living and true God.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons The Trinity is an unfathomable mystery that defies earthly analogies; persons refers to different, distinct, divine modes of being, against whom the concept of the individual human person is a very limited analogy. in the Godhead: Godhead: divine nature or essence of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.

1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will. By this counsel, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatever events or things happen.

Ephesians 1:4, 11; Romans 9:22-23

Q. 8. How does God execute execute: in this context, carry out, put into effect His decrees?

A. God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Q. 9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is God's making all things out of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space space: in this context, time span of six days, and all very good.

Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:3

Q. 10. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and female, after His own image, having knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. creature: in the context of this catechism, any created thing, not necessarily a human or animal

Genesis 1:26-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24

Questions 11-20

Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?

A. God's works of providence are His most holy,a wise,b and powerful preservingc and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.d

a Psalm 145:17; b Psalm 104:24; Isaiah 28:29; c Hebrews 1:3; d Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29-31

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state [condition] in which he was created?

A. When God had created man, He entered into a covenant covenant: a formal agreement between two parties. But God's covenants with man are special as they are dictated by God to man. Such covenants, as expressed to man, usually have many of the following features: God's declaration of who He is, a historical background, commands to man, blessings and curses for obedience or disobedience thereof, and promises of eternal significance. of life with him, promising life upon condition of perfect obedience. Also God forbade him to eat of the tree This was a real tree whose fruit is frequently called "the forbidden fruit." How it conferred knowledge is unknown as no such trees exist today. of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.

Galatians 3:12; Genesis 2:17

Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the state in which they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state in which they were created by sinning against God.

Genesis 3:6-8, 13; Ecclesiastes 7:29

Q. 14. What is sin?

A. Sin is any lack of conformity to, or transgression of, the law of God.

1 John 3:4

Q. 15. What was the sin by which our first parents fell from the state in which they were created?

A. The sin by which our first parents fell from the state in which they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:6, 12

Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

A. The covenant was made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity. Thus, all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him and fell with him in his first transgression. transgression: in this context, breaking God's law. Also, Adam's sin is passed from father to son and father to daughter by spiritual means, not biological, genetic, or epigenetic means.

Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Q. 17. Into what state did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.

Romans 5:12

Q. 18. What is sinful about that state into which man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that state into which men fell consists in both:That which is commonly called original sin:The guilt of Adam's first sinThe lack of original righteousnessThe corruption of his whole natureAll actual transgressions that proceed from it

Romans 5:12, 19; Romans 5:10-20; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:14-15; Matthew 15:19

Q. 19. What is the misery of that state into which man fell?

A. All humans, by their fall, lost communion with Goda and are under His wrath and curse.b They are thus made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.c

a Genesis 3:8, 10, 24; b Ephesians 2:2-3; Galatians 3:10; c Lamentations 3:39; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41, 46

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?

A. God, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life.a Thus He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvationSalvation must be distinguished from justification; salvation is a package containing many benefits and graces such as adoption, sanctification, divine intercession, and so forth (see Q. 33 ff. below). by a Redeemer.b

a Ephesians 1:4; b Romans 3:20-22; Galatians 3:21-22

Questions 21-30

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,a the eternal Son of God. He became man,b and thus was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.c

a 1 Timothy 2:5-6; b John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; c Romans 9:5; Luke 1:35; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:24-25

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true bodya and true human soul.b He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and born of her,c yet without sin.d

a Hebrews 2:14, 16; Hebrews 10:5; b Matthew 26:38; c Luke 1:27, 31, 35, 42; Galatians 4:4; d Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26

Q. 23. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices office: in this context, both the idea of a position of duty, trust, and authority, and the idea of a specific function apply to Christ of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, in both His states of humiliation and exaltation.

Acts 3:21-22; Hebrews 12:25; 2 Corinthians 13:3; Hebrews 5:5-7; Hebrews 7:25; Psalm 2:6; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 21:5; Psalm 2:8-11

Q. 24. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executes the office of a prophet by revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

John 1:18; 1 Peter 1:10-12; John 15:15; John 20:31

Q. 25. How does Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executes the office of a priest:In His offering up of Himself, just once, as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justicea and reconcile us to GodbIn making continual intercession for usc

a Hebrews 9:14, 28; b Hebrews 2:17; c Hebrews 7:24-25

Q. 26. How does Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to Himself,a in rulingb and defending us,c and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.d

a Acts 15:14-16; b Isaiah 33:22; c Isaiah 32:1-2; d 1 Corinthians 15:25; Psalm 110 RPCNA Constitution omits Psalm 110.

Q. 27. In what did Christ's humiliation consist?

A. Christ's humiliation In this context, humiliation refers primarily to Christ's voluntary humbling of Himself, not something imposed upon Him by outside forces, although, of course, this did occur at the hands of His earthly enemies. consisted in His:Being born, and that in a low conditionaBeing made under the lawbUndergoing the miseries of this lifecBeing subject to the wrath of God,d and the cursed death of the CrosseBeing buried,f and continuing under the power of death for a timeg

a Luke 2:7; b Galatians 4:4; c Hebrews 12:2-3; Isaiah 53:2-3; d Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; e Philippians 2:8; f 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; g Acts 2:24-27, 31

Q. 28. In what does Christ's exaltation consist?

A. Christ's exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day,a in ascending up into heaven,b in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,c and in coming to judge the world at the last day.d

a 1 Corinthians 15:4; b Mark 16:19; c Ephesians 1:20; c Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31

Q. 29. 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 effectual: completely effective application of it to usa by His Holy Spirit.b

a John 1:11-12; b Titus 3:5-6

Q. 30. How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us,a thus uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.b

a Ephesians 1:13-14; John 6:37, 39; Ephesians 2:8; b Ephesians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 1:9

Questions 31-40

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit.a He convinces us of our sin and misery,b enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ,c and renews our wills.d By these, He persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, who is freely offered to us in the Gospel.e

a 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; b Acts 2:37; c Acts 26:18; d Ezekiel 36:26-27; e John 6:44-45; Philippians 2:13

Q. 32. What benefits do those who are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. Those who are effectually called, in this life, partake of justification,a adoption,b sanctification, and the various benefits that, in this life, either accompany or flow from them.c

a Romans 8:30; b Ephesians 1:5; c 1 Corinthians 1:26, 30

Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, in which He pardons all our sinsa and accepts us as righteous in His sight,b on the sole basis of the righteousness of Christ imputed imputed: accounted, reckoned (to the account of). This important theological term has not even the smallest hint of the frequent modern connotation of falseness or artificiality. God cannot lie., c to us. Justification is received by faith alone.d

a Romans 3:24-25; Romans 4:6-8; b 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; c Romans 5:17-19; d Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9

Q. 34. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace,a by which we are received into the number of, and have a right to all the privileges of, the sons of God.b

a 1 John 3:1; b John 1:12; Romans 8:17

Q. 35. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,a by which we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,b and are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness.c

a 2 Thessalonians 2:13; b Ephesians 4:23-24; c Romans 6:4, 6; Romans 8:1 Only the RPCNA Constitution has Romans 8:1.

Q. 36. What are the benefits that in this life accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits that in this life accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience,a joy in the Holy Spirit,b increase of grace,c and perseverance in grace to the end.d

a Romans 5:1-2, 5; b Romans 14:17; c Proverbs 4:18; d 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5

Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?

A. The souls of believers In New Testament Greek, the same root applies to the noun form of the word translated "faith," and the verb form, translated "believe." Biblically, then, a believer is one who has saving faith in Jesus Christ. are, at their death, made perfect in holinessa and immediately pass into glory.b Their bodies, being still united to Christ,c rest in their gravesd until the resurrection. The implication is that the decay of the body in the grave or dissolution of the body by any other means is no obstacle to Almighty God, who will change the bodies of believers into a glorious body of a different nature (Matthew 22:30)., e

a Hebrews 12:23; b 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43; c 1 Thessalonians 4:14; d Isaiah 57:2; e Job 19:26-27

Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

A. At the resurrection, believers will be raised up to glory.a Thus they will be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgmentb and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of Godc to all eternity.d

a 1 Corinthians 15:43; b Matthew 25:23; Matthew 10:32; c 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12; d 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Q. 39. What is the duty that God requires of man?

A. The duty that God requires of man is obedience to His revealed will.

Micah 6:8; 1 Samuel 15:22

Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule that God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.

Romans 2:14-15; Romans 10:5

Questions 41-50

Q. 41. Where is the entire moral law summarized?

A. The entire moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17

Q. 42. 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.

Matthew 22:37-40

Q. 43. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

Exodus 20:2

Q. 44. What does the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us that God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer. Therefore we are bound to keep all His Commandments.

Luke 1:74-75; 1 Peter 1:15-19

Q. 45. What is the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment is, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

Exodus 20:3

Q. 46. What is required in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God,a and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.b

a 1 Chronicles 28:9; Deuteronomy 26:17; b Matthew 4:10; Psalm 29:2

Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment forbids denying God.a It forbids not worshiping and glorifying the true God as Godb and our God.c It also forbids giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due to Him alone.d

a Psalm 14:1; b Romans 1:21; c Psalm 81:10-11; d Romans 1:25-26

Q. 48. What are we specially taught by the words "before Me" in the first Commandment?

A. The words "before Me" in the first Commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.

Ezekiel 8:5-18; Psalm 44:20-21

Q. 49. What is the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment is, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Exodus 20:4-6

Q. 50. What is required in the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment requires receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all of the religious worship and ordinances that God has appointed in His Word.

Deuteronomy 32:46; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:42

Questions 51-60

Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment forbids worshiping God by imagesa or any other way not appointed in His Word.b

a Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Exodus 32:5, 8; b Deuteronomy 12:31-32

Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second Commandment?

A. The reasons annexed annexed to: attached to, particularly something added to a larger or more important body to the second Commandment are: God's sovereignty over us,a His ownership of us,b and the zeal He has for His own worship.c

a Psalm 95:2-3, 6; b Psalm 45:11; c Exodus 34:13-14

Q. 53. What is the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment is, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

Exodus 20:7

Q. 54. What is required in the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God's names,a titles,b attributes, attributes: characteristics or qualities, e.g., His wisdom or eternal nature., c ordinances, ordinances: prayer, sacraments, worship, etc., which He has ordained. The right and faithful use of oaths and vows is an ordinance to which the third Commandment is particularly applicable., d Word,e and works. works: creation and providence, or parts of them if in specific reference to God's handiwork, f

a Matthew 6:9; Deuteronomy 28:58; b Psalm 68:4; c Revelation 15:3-4; d Malachi 1:11, 14; e Psalm 138:1-2; f Job 36:24

Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment forbids all profaning or abusing of anything by which God makes Himself known.

Malachi 1:6-7, 12; Malachi 2:2; Malachi 3:14

Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third Commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the third Commandment is: however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, the Lord our God will not allow them to escape His righteous judgment.

1 Samuel 2:12, 17, 22, 29; 1 Samuel 3:13; Deuteronomy 28:58-59

Q. 57. What is the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

Exodus 20:8-11

Q. 58. What is required in the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment requires keeping holy to God such set times as He has appointed in His Word; specifically one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14

Q. 59. Which day of the seven has 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. Since then, the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath, which is to continue to the end of the world.

Genesis 2:2-3; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7

Q. 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified sanctified: made holy or kept holy by a holy resting all that day,a even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful lawful: generally in the context of the WSC, compliant with God's law on other days,b and by spending the whole time in public and private exercises of God's worship,c except for time taken up by works of necessity and mercy.d

a Exodus 20:8, 10; Exodus 16:25-28; b Nehemiah 13:15-19, 21-22; c Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; Psalm 92 Title; Isaiah 66:23; d Matthew 12:1-13

Questions 61-70

Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment forbids:The omission, or careless performance, of the duties requiredaProfaning the day by:IdlenessbDoing that which is in itself sinfulcUnnecessary thoughts, words, or works about our worldly employments or recreationsd

a Ezekiel 22:26; Amos 8:5; Malachi 1:13; b Acts 20:7, 9; c Ezekiel 23:38; d Jeremiah 17:24-26; Isaiah 58:13

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are:God allows us six days of the week for our own employmentsaGod asserts His special ownership right in the seventh dayHis own exampleHe blessed the Sabbath dayb

a Exodus 20:9; b Exodus 20:11

Q. 63. What is the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment is, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Exodus 20:12

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment requires This is an extremely compressed answer that covers all interpersonal relationships of all kinds. The reader is strongly encouraged to study the Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 123-133, for a fuller exposition. Several commentaries are also helpful, such as those by Thomas Vincent, The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly Explained and Proved from Scripture (Still Waters Revival Books, www.PuritanDownloads.com), or Thomas Boston, Commentary on the Shorter Catechism, 2 Volumes, (Still Waters Revival Books, www.PuritanDownloads.com). preserving the honor,"Preserving the honor" includes personally honoring those to whom honor is due, but also, where appropriate, protecting and defending the honor of those to whom honor is due. and performing the duties, Here, "duties" includes both general duties such as love to neighbor and enemy, and specific duties such as parent to child and child to parent. due to everyone in their various places and relationships as None of the following terms refer in any way to the value and dignity that comes from being made in the image of God. This human dignity is neither increased nor decreased by these terms. superiors, superiors: not only those in authority over us, but also those with superior age, graces, gifts, or abilities, a inferiors, inferiors: not only those over whom we have authority, but also those who, by reason of younger age, weakness, smaller graces, lesser gifts, weaker abilities, or infirmities, are deserving of kindness, care, and aid as needed, b or equals. equals: those who are more or less equal in age, graces, gifts, or abilities. It is well worth observing that the relations of superior, inferior, and equal may all apply between the same two parties depending upon circumstances. For example a pastor and a police officer may be equal at the dinner table and unequal while behind the pulpit or on duty in a patrol car. For another example, one may have great faith but be weak in doctrine, while another is weak in faith but knows much doctrine. These have different graces and should each respect and honor the graces in the other and aid the other in his weaknesses., c

a Ephesians 5:21; b 1 Peter 2:17; c Romans 12:10

Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment forbids neglecting, or doing anything against, the honor and duty due to everyone in their various places and relationships.

Matthew 15:4-6; Ezekiel 34:2-4; Romans 13:8

Q. 66. 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 to all who keep this Commandment (as far as it will serve for God's glory and their own good).

Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3

Q. 67. What is the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment is, "You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13

Q. 68. What is required in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own lifea and the life of others. From the context of this and the next question, it is clear that "life" includes not only life as opposed to death, but also all that pertains to a person's living out his or her life, such as freedom and well-being., b

a Ephesians 5:28-29; b 1 Kings 18:4

Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment forbids taking our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatever tends toward it.

Acts 16:28; Genesis 9:6

Q. 70. What is the seventh Commandment?

A. The seventh Commandment is, "You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:14

Questions 71-80

Q. 71. What is required in the seventh Commandment?

A. The seventh Commandment requires the preservation of our own and our neighbor's chastity, chastity: in this context, purity of mind, speech and body, with regard to sexual matters. The idea that chastity precludes marriage or relations with one's own spouse is utterly false. in heart, speech, and behavior.

1 Corinthians 7:2-3, 5, 34, 36; Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:2

Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment?

A. The seventh Commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.

Matthew 15:19; Matthew 5:28; Ephesians 5:3-4

Q. 73. What is the eighth Commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment is, "You shall not steal."

Exodus 20:15

Q. 74. What is required in the eighth Commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment requires lawfully procuring procure: obtain by care and effort and furthering the wealth and outward estate outward estate: earthly goods and property of ourselves and others.

Genesis 30:30; 1 Timothy 5:8; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 22:1-5; Exodus 23:4-5; Genesis 47:14, 20

Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment forbids whatever does, or may, unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor's wealth or outward estate.

Proverbs 21:17; Proverbs 23:20-21; Proverbs 28:19; Ephesians 4:28

Q. 76. What is the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment is, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Exodus 20:16

Q. 77. What is required in the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment requires maintaining and promoting:Truth between man and manaOur own and our neighbor's good nameb

especially in witness bearing Witness bearing does not imply that the occasion must be a formal court proceeding. Gossip is a form of witness bearing., c

a Zechariah 8:16; b 3 John 12, c Proverbs 14:5, 25

Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment forbids whatever is detrimental to truth, or injurious to our own good name, or that of our neighbor.

1 Samuel 17:28; Leviticus 19:16; Psalm 15:3

Q. 79. What is the tenth Commandment?

A. The tenth Commandment is, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Exodus 20:17

Q. 80. What is required in the tenth Commandment?

A. The tenth Commandment requires full contentment with our own condition,a with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor and all that is his.b

a Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6; b Job 31:29; Romans 12:15; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Questions 81-90

Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth Commandment?

A. The tenth Commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate, estate: in this context: not only our outward estate (of worldly goods) but all that God has been pleased to give us, our situation in life, and so on, a envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor,b and all inordinate inclinations and emotions [or desires] to anything that is his.c

a 1 Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; 1 Corinthians 10:10; b Galatians 5:26; James 3:14, 16; c Romans 7:7-8; Romans 13:9; Deuteronomy 5:21

Q. 82. Is any man able to perfectly keep the commandments of God?

A. No mere man since the Fall is able in this life to perfectly keep the commandments of God,a but daily breaks them in thought, word, and deed.b

a Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10; Galatians 5:17; b Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Romans 3:9-21; James 3:2-13

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and [others] by reason of various aggravations, aggravate: to make more serious or more grave are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Ezekiel 8:6, 13, 15; 1 John 5:16; Psalm 78:17, 32, 56

Q. 84. What does every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.

Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Lamentations 3:39; Matthew 25:41

Q. 85. What does God require of us that we may escape His wrath and curse that are due to us for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God that are due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance to life,a and the diligent use This by no means implies salvation by works of any kind. of all the outward means by which Christ communicates [transfers, conveys] to us the benefits of redemption.b

a Acts 20:21; b Proverbs 2:1-5; Proverbs 8:33-36; Isaiah 55:3

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,a by which we receive and trust in Him alone for salvation, as He is [displayed and] offered to us in the Gospel.b

a Hebrews 10:39; b John 1:12; Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16

Q. 87. What is repentance to life?

A. Repentance to life is a saving grace,a by which a sinner:Out of a true sense of his sinbFrom perception and understanding of the mercy of God in ChristcWith grief and hatred of his sin

turns from his sin to God,d with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.e

a Acts 11:18; b Acts 2:37-38; c Joel 2:12; Jeremiah 3:22; d Jeremiah 31:18-19; Ezekiel 36:31; e 2 Corinthians 7:11; Isaiah 1:16-17

Q. 88. What are the outward [and ordinary] means Only the RPCNA Constitution has and ordinary in the Question. by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer. All of these are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47

Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God makes the Word an effectual means as it is read, but especially as it is preached, to convince and convert sinners, and to build them up in holiness and comfort through faith to salvation.

Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Psalm 19:8; Acts 20:32; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Romans 10:13-17; Romans 1:16

Q. 90. 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 to it with diligence,a preparation,b and prayercReceive it with faith and lovedLay it up in our heartsePractice it in our livesf

a Proverbs 8:34; b 1 Peter 2:1-2; c Psalm 119:18; d Hebrews 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; e Psalm 119:11; f Luke 8:15; James 1:25

Questions 91-100

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments are not effectual by any virtue in them, The physical ceremonies and actions in themselves, in isolation from Christ and faith, are worthless. or in the one who administers them. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation only by the blessing of Christa and the working of His Spirit in those who receive them by faith.b

a 1 Peter 3:21; Matthew 3:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; b 1 Corinthians 12:13

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ. By the sensible sensible: in this context, able to be perceived by human senses, such as touch, sight, taste, and so on signs of the sacrament, Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant are represented, sealed, seal: (verb) to confirm, ratify, guarantee, make secure; (noun) something that represents such a guarantee or provides the security; in Scripture, seal often has a close association in meaning with a sign. and applied to believers.

Genesis 17:7, 10; Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 11:23, 26

Q. 93. What are the sacraments of the New Testament?

A. The sacraments of the New Testament are baptisma and the Lord's Supper.b

a Matthew 28:19; b Matthew 26:26-28

Q. 94. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is a sacrament, in which the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,a signifies and seals our:Engraftment engraftment: the process of grafting a scion onto a stock, both being woody plants. The stock is an already rooted plant. The scion may be of a same or (usually) different species and may be a branch or whole plant above the roots. The grafting process involves making a special cut on the trunk or a branch of both the stock and scion so that the two may be joined and bound. Done right, the scion and stock become as one plant, the stock providing water and nutrients and the scion, products of photosynthesis. Both remain their own original species. The reference to engraftment is to call to mind the teaching of Christ that He is the vine and believers are the branches (John 15:1-5, Romans 11:17-24). into ChristPartaking of the benefits of the covenant of graceEngagement to be the Lord'sb

a Matthew 28:19; b Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27

Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any who are outside of the visible Church, visible Church: all who profess faith in Christ in all denominations until they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him.a But the infants of those who are members of the visible Church are to be baptized. As the Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Larger Catechism make clear, only one parent need be a believer., b

a Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:38; b Acts 2:38-39; Genesis 17:10; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14

Q. 96. What is the Lord's Supper?

A. The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, in which, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, His death is openly displayed and worthy receivers are made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. This partaking is not after a physical and fleshly manner, but by faith.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16

Q. 97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper?

A. It is required of those who would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper that they examine themselves concerning:Their knowledge to discern the Lord's bodyaTheir faith to feed upon HimbTheir repentance,c love,d and new obediencee

Otherwise, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.f

a 1 Corinthians 11:28-29; b 2 Corinthians 13:5; c 1 Corinthians 11:31; d 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; e 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; f 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Q. 98. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to Goda for things agreeable to His will,b in the name of Christ,c with confession of our sins,d and with thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.e

a Psalm 62:8; b 1 John 5:14; c John 16:23; d Psalm 32:5-6; Daniel 9:4; e Philippians 4:6

Q. 99. What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is useful to direct us in prayer.a But the special rule of directionRule and direction are not redundant here; the former is law, and the latter is a general pattern. is that form of prayer that Christ taught His disciples, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer."b

a 1 John 5:14; b Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4

Q. 100. What does the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, Short quotes in Q. 100-107 are from the NKJV, Matthew 6:9-13. "Our Father in heaven,"a teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father [who is] able and ready to help us.b Also, it teaches us that we should pray with and for others.c

a Matthew 6:9; b Romans 8:15; Luke 11:13; c Acts 12:5; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Questions 101-107

Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. In the first petition, which is "Hallowed be Your name,"a we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify Him in all things by which He makes Himself known, God has made Himself known via His name, but also by His attributes, ordinances, Word, creation, and providence. From this knowledge, God's name is better known and understood. By acknowledging the credit and glory due God for His attributes, ordinances, Word, creation, and providence, we glorify His name., b and that He would arrange all things to His own glory.c

a Matthew 6:9; b Psalm 67:2-3; c Psalm 83

Q. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, which is "Your kingdom come,"a we pray, that:Satan's kingdom may be destroyedbThe kingdom of grace may be advancedcOurselves and others may be brought into it and kept in itdThe kingdom of glory may be hastenede

a Matthew 6:10; b Psalm 68:1, 18; c Revelation 12:10-11; d 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Romans 10:1; John 17:9, 20; e Revelation 22:20

Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, which is "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,"a we pray that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things,b as the angels do in heaven.c

a Matthew 6:10; b Psalm 67; Psalm 119:36; Matthew 26:39; 2 Samuel 15:25; Job 1:21; c Psalm 103:20-21

Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is "Give us this day our daily bread,"a we pray that, by God's free gift, we may receive an appropriate portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy His blessing with them.b

a Matthew 6:11; b Proverbs 30:8-9; Genesis 28:20; 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Q. 105. 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,"a we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins.b By His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others; thus we are the more encouraged to ask God's forgiveness for our debts. It is clear from Matthew 6:14-15 that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. Conversely, if we forgive others, then God will forgive us—if we are believers in Christ. It is important to realize that forgiveness is from grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). Thus, if we forgive others, it is not the cause or grounds of our forgiveness by God, but is rather evidence of saving faith. Likewise, an unforgiving heart is evidence of lack of saving faith. With this in mind, we can then understand how our having a forgiving heart can encourage us to seek God's forgiveness of us (last sentence of A. 105): We see the evidence of saving grace in our hearts and are thus encouraged to go boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). The fifth petition is spoken from the perspective of a believer who has a forgiving spirit., c

a Matthew 6:12; b Psalm 51:1-2, 7, 9; Daniel 9:17-19; c Luke 11:4; Matthew 18:35

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, which is, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," The Greek has, literally, "the evil." This leads to the translation, "the evil one," on the assumption that the evil one is implied. Other translators ignore the definite article and simply translate "evil.", a we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin,b or support and deliver us when we are tempted.c

a Matthew 6:13; b Matthew 26:41; c 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

Q. 107. What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen," Some ancient manuscripts omit from the end of Matthew 6:13, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Thus some translations omit, even without mention, this final text. Whether or not to include this text is a matter of textual criticism and translator’s judgment into which this editor will not venture.a teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only,b and in our prayers to praise Him, crediting kingdom, power, and glory to Him.c And, in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, "Amen."d

a Matthew 6:13; b Daniel 9:4-9, 16-19; c 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; d 1 Corinthians 14:16; Revelation 22:20-21

The Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647

Introduction

The original Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) was finished by the Westminster Assembly in 1646 without Scripture proofs. Parliament required the Assembly to provide Scripture proofs, which were finished in 1647. William Maxwell, DD, Hetherington, LLD, 346. Since that time, various denominations have incorporated the WCF into their denominational standards, beginning with the Church of Scotland in 1647. However, most denominations have either produced revisions of the WCF or declared exceptions to parts of the original WCF prior to incorporating the WCF into their denominational standards. Although some of these later editions of the WCF have been translated into twentieth-century or later English, the editor is aware of only a single translation of the original 1647 WCF into contemporary American English. Board of Education and Publication, Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, The Modern Language Revision of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Pittsburgh, PA: Crown & Covenant Publications, 2000). The editor acknowledges some helpfulness of this work for the present document. Other similar editions of the same translation exist. See, for example, http://opc.org/documents/MESV_frames.html. (Accessed May 18, 2015)

Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scripture

1. The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly display the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that they leave men inexcusable.a However, they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of His will that is necessary for salvation.b Therefore it pleased the Lord, at various times, and in different ways, to reveal Himself and to declare His will to His Church. When the WCF uses Church (capitalized), it refers to the whole body of believers in Jesus Christ, His bride., c Afterward, He was pleased to commit this revelation entirely into writing:For the better preservation and propagation of the truthFor the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against:The corruption of the flesh Scripture uses flesh in many ways and space prohibits a full exposition herein. As used in "the corruption of the flesh," it refers to man as a whole creature (body, mind, will, and soul) who, in all parts, is sinful and fallen from holiness. Thus, the flesh is a source of temptation to sin, and is often set in contrast to the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers in Jesus Christ.The malice of SatanThe world the world: anything on earth that is against God, d

This makes the Holy Scripture absolutely necessarye because those former ways of God's revealing His will to His people have now ceased.f

a Romans 2:14-15; Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-3; Romans 1:32; Romans 2:1; b 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13-14; c Hebrews 1:1; d Proverbs 22:19-21; Luke 1:3-4; Romans 15:4; Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Isaiah 8:19-20; e 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:19; f Hebrews 1:1-2

2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:Of the Old Testament: Of the New Testament:GenesisEcclesiastesMatthew1 TimothyExodusThe Song of Songs Mark2 TimothyLeviticus [Song of Solomon]LukeTitusNumbersIsaiahJohnPhilemonDeuteronomyJeremiahActsHebrewsJoshuaLamentationsRomansJamesJudgesEzekiel1 Corinthians1 PeterRuthDaniel2 Corinthians2 Peter1 SamuelHoseaGalatians1 John2 SamuelJoelEphesians2 John1 KingsAmosPhilippians3 John2 KingsObadiahColossiansJude1 ChroniclesJonah1 ThessaloniansRevelation2 ChroniclesMicah2 ThessaloniansEzraNahumNehemiahHabakkukEstherZephaniahJobHaggaiPsalmsZechariahProverbsMalachi

All of these books are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith In the context of the Christian religion, stated most briefly, faith is unconditional trust in Jesus Christ—a spiritual gift of God. Faith is the noun form. Believe is the verb form. More broadly, faith may include all of the consequences of this trust in Christ, including all that Christians believe, how they live out their lives, establish systems of doctrine, form churches, and so on. It is in this light that we may speak of the Christian Faith. and life.

Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:16

3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, Examples of apocrypha include: 1, 2, 3, 4 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Esther chapter 10 past verse 3 (canonical Esther ends with verse 3), Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) (not to be confused with canonical Ecclesiastes), Baruch, Epistle of Jeremy, Song of the Three Children, Story of Susanna, The Idol Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manassas, 1, 2, 3, 4 Maccabees, and many others. not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon canon: the collection of the inspired books of the Bible of Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God. They are to be no more approved or made use of than any other human writings.

Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2; 2 Peter 1:21

4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, does not depend upon the testimony of any man or church, but solely upon God (who is truth itself), the author of Scripture. Therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.

2 Peter 1:19, 21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture.a And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy efficacy: completely effective in accomplishing a particular result of the doctrine, doctrine: teaching, whether simple or complex the majesty of the style, the consistency of all the parts, the intent of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full revelation it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection of Scripture—these are arguments by which it abundantly evidences [shows] itself to be the Word of God. Yet nonetheless, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of Scripture is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.b

a 1 Timothy 3:15; b 1 John 2:20, 27; John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; Isaiah 59:21

6. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory and man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence"Good and necessary consequence" means not only that the conclusion may be deduced from the premises but that, given the premises of the argument, the conclusion cannot possibly be false. may be deduced from Scripture. Nothing at any time is to be added to this whole counsel of God, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men.a Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word.b Also, there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.c

a 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; b John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; Schaff has 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10, 12. c 1 Corinthians 11:13-14; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40

7. All things in Scripture are not equally plain in themselves nor equally clear to all.a Yet those things that are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are quite clearly propounded propounded: in this context, put forth for acceptance or adoption and opened in some place of Scripture or another. Thus, not only the learned, but the unlearned, by a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.b

a 2 Peter 3:16; b Psalm 119:105, 130

8. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the people of God of old. The New Testament was written in Greek, which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations. These, being directly inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic.a Thus, in all controversies of religion the Church is to appeal to them as the ultimate authority.b But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who:Have a right to, and a valid claim to have, the ScripturesAre commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search themc

Therefore they are to be translated into the common language[s] of every nation into which they come,d so that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they:May worship Him in an acceptable mannereMay have hope through patience and the comfort of the Scripturesf

a Matthew 5:18; b Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39, 46 c John 5:39; d 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11-12, 24, 27-28; e Colossians 3:16; f Romans 15:4

9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not many, but one), This statement does not preclude the Scriptures from using literary devices that purposefully convey multiple or double meanings, such as Isaiah 28:13, whose sound in the Hebrew is of babbling. In this example, the one and only true and full sense includes both the written meaning and the audio effect. it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

2 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 15:15-16 Schaff has Acts 15:15.

10. The supreme judge by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined; and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits are to be examined; can be none other than the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture, whose sentence [judgment] we are to accept.

Matthew 22:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:25

Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity

1. There is just one only,a living, and true God:b who is infinite in being and perfection;c a most pure spirit;d invisiblee without body, parts,f or passions; passion: as used here, an emotion outside of one's own voluntary control. As God is immutable and brings all things to pass, He is also impassible—not subject to external forces, pain, suffering or involuntary emotions. Far from being cold or unemotional, His most holy and genuine emotions are perfectly governed by His infinite wisdom, knowledge, holiness, perfection and steadfast, unchanging character. Since God is eternally all-knowing, our sin offends Him eternally and Christ's perfect obedience pleases Him eternally. Scriptural references to God's "repentance" are anthropomorphic descriptions by which God condescends to speak to our level of understanding. Such anthropomorphic usages are common in Scripture., g unchangeable, h immense,i eternal,j without limits,k almighty,l most wise,m most holy,n most free,o most absolute;p working all things according to His own unchangeable and most righteous willq for His own glory;r most loving,s gracious, merciful, long-suffering, long-suffering: in this context, patiently enduring continual sin against Him abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, iniquity: gross injustice, wickedness transgression, transgression: disobedience of law, command, or duty and sin; Sin refers to an offense against God by disobeying Him, even deep in one's heart. Any harm to man is secondary in seriousness., t the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him;u and nevertheless most just and terrible in His judgments,v hating all sin,w and who will by no means clear the guilty.x

a Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; b 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Jeremiah 10:10; c Job 11:7-9; Job 26:14; d John 4:24; e 1 Timothy 1:17; f Deuteronomy 4:15-16; John 4:24; Luke 24:39; g Acts 14:11, 15; h James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; i 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23-24; j Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; k Psalm 145:3; l Genesis 17:1; Revelation 4:8; m Romans 16:27; n Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; o Psalm 115:3; p Exodus 3:14; q Ephesians 1:11; r Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; s 1 John 4:8, 16; t Exodus 34:6-7; u Hebrews 11:6; v Nehemiah 9:32-33; w Psalm 5:5-6; x Nahum 1:2-3; Exodus 34:7

2. God has all life,a glory,b goodness,c and blessednessd in and of Himself. He is alone, in and by Himself, all self-sufficient. He does not stand in need of any creatures Any created thing, not limited to an animal or human. that He has made,e nor does He derive any glory from them,f but only displays His own glory in, by, to, and upon them. He is the only source Various versions have fountain or foundation. The Latin translation (Schaff, Creeds of Christendom) has fons, meaning source, fountain or principal cause. As the use of fountain in the sense of source is uncommon today, the editor translates source. Note: The WCF original was in English; the Latin translation was made in 1656. of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.g He has most sovereign dominion over all things, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatever He pleases.h In His sight all things are open, clear, and obvious.i His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent of any creature;j thus nothing is to Him contingent contingent: depending upon something uncertain or unknown or uncertain.k He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands.l To Him is due from angels and men and every other creature whatever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.m

a John 5:26; b Acts 7:2; c Psalm 119:68; d 1 Timothy 6:15; Romans 9:5; e Acts 17:24-25; f Job 22:2-3; g Romans 11:36; h Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:15; Daniel 4:25, 35; i Hebrews 4:13; j Romans 11:33-34; Psalm 147:5; k Acts 15:18; Ezekiel 11:5; l Psalm 145:17; Romans 7:12; m Revelation 5:12-14

3. In the unity of the Godhead Godhead: divine nature or essence of God there are three persons, The Trinity is an unfathomable mystery that defies earthly analogies; persons refers to different, distinct, divine modes of being, against whom the concept of the individual human person is a very limited analogy. of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.a The Father is from none, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son is eternally begotten by the Father.b The Holy Spirit is eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.c

a 1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; b John 1:14, 18; c John 15:26; Galatians 4:6

Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree

1. God, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordained ordain: to decree and establish, to cause to happen all things and events that happen;a yet in such manner that neither is God the author [originator] of sin,b nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures. Nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes If something is dropped, it will fall due to gravity. This is an example of a second cause. Natural laws are laws because God executes His providence in nature in a consistent and orderly manner in keeping with His holy, wise, faithful, and logical character. Miracles are merely when He does something different for a special purpose. taken away, but rather established.c

a Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; b James 1:13, 17; 1 John 1:5; c Acts 2:23; Matthew 17:12; Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11; Proverbs 16:33

2. God knows all things and events that may or can happen upon all supposed conditions.a Yet, He has not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future or as that which would happen under such conditions.b

a Acts 15:18; 1 Samuel 23:11-12; Matthew 11:21, 23; b Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angelsa are predestinated [predetermined] to everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.b

a 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41; b Romans 9:22-23; Ephesians 1:5-6; Proverbs 16:4

4. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably so marked out. Their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.

2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18

5. Those of mankind who are predestinated to life, God has chosen in Christ to everlasting glory:Before the foundation of the world was laidfoundation of the world was laid: the first step in creating the earth (Genesis 1:1) in formless and void condition According to His eternal and unchangeable purposeAccording to the secret counsel and good pleasure of His willaOut of His mere free grace grace: the freely given and unmerited favor of God and loveWithout being moved by any foresight, as a condition or cause, with respect to:Faith or good works, or perseverance in themAny other thing in the creaturebAll to the praise of His glorious gracec

a Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; b Romans 9:11, 13, 16; Ephesians 1:4, 9; c Ephesians 1:6, 12

6. God has appointed the elect elect: all those who are expressly chosen by God for eternal life to glory. Therefore, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, He has foreordained all of the means [progressing] to glorification.a For which cause, those who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are Redeemed by Christb Effectually called to faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due timeJustified, justify: to declare guiltless adopted, and sanctified sanctify: to make holy, set apart for God. In the Christian life, to progressively die more and more to sin and live more and more for Christ., c Kept through His power, through faith, to salvationd

Neither are any others redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, Salvation and justification are not the same thing. Justification is a one-time act in which the believer is declared free of the guilt of sin. Salvation is a whole package of gifts, including justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification, and so on. but the elect only. The ordering of items in these lists refers to the time-order in which God brings them to pass., e

a 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; b 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Titus 2:14; c Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; d 1 Peter 1:5; e John 17:9; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:64-65; John 8:47; John 10:26; 1 John 2:19.

7. God was pleased to pass by the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin:To the praise of His glorious justiceAccording to the unsearchable unsearchable: knowable by humans only to a limited extent, if at all counsel of His own will, by which He extends or withholds mercy as He pleasesFor the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures

Matthew 11:25-26; Romans 9:17-18, 21-22; 2 Timothy 2:19-20; Jude 4; 1 Peter 2:8

8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, in such manner that:a Men who attend to the will of God revealed in His Word and yield obedience to it, may:From the certainty of their effectual calling, be assured of their eternal election.b

Thus, this doctrine will afford reasons for praise, reverence, and admiration of God,c and reasons for humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all who sincerely obey the Gospel.d

a Romans 9:20; Romans 11:33; Deuteronomy 29:29; b 2 Peter 1:10; c Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33; d Romans 11:5-6, 20; 2 Peter 1:10; Romans 8:33; Luke 10:20

Chapter 4: Of Creation

1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirita to create the world and all things in it, whether visible or invisible:Out of nothingTo clearly show and display the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodnessbIn the beginning beginning: the beginning of created time. The time we experience is part of the created universe. As such, God is no more governed or affected by our time than by any other part of His Creation. The eternity that God knows—for want of a better term—is not the same kind of thing as the time we experience, nor is it simply an infinite amount of our time.In the space span of time of six days These were roughly twenty-four-hour days. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate another possibility. The creation narrative is simple and straightforward and not poetic in any way.All very goodc

a Hebrews 1:2; John 1:2-3; Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Job 33:4; b Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:12; Psalm 104:24; Psalm 33:5-6; c Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16; Acts 17:24

2. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female,a with immortal souls endowed with the ability to reason,b and with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. He made them after His own image,c with the law of God written in their hearts,d and with power to fulfill it.e Yet, He left them to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change; thus with a possibility of their transgressing this law.f Besides this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. While they kept this command they were happy in their communion with Godg and had dominion over the creatures.h

a Genesis 1:27; b Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; Matthew 10:28; c Genesis 1:26; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; d Romans 2:14-15; e Ecclesiastes 7:29; f Genesis 3:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29; g Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:8-11, 23; h Genesis 1:26, 28

Chapter 5: Of Providence

1. God, the great Creator of all things, upholds,a directs, arranges, and governs all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least:cBy His most wise and holy providencedAccording to His infallible foreknowledgeeAccording to the free and unchangeable counsel of His own willfTo the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercyg

a Hebrews 1:3; b Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 135:6; Acts 17:25-26, 28; Job 38-41; c Matthew 10:29-31; d Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 104:24; Psalm 145:17; e Acts 15:18; Psalm 94:8-11; f Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 33:10-11; g Isaiah 63:14; Ephesians 3:10; Romans 9:17; Genesis 45:7; Psalm 145:7

2. In relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass unchangeably and infallibly.a However, by the same providence, He orders them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, whether necessarily, freely, or contingently.b

a Acts 2:23; b Genesis 8:22; Jeremiah 31:35; Exodus 21:13; Deuteronomy 19:5; 1 Kings 22:28, 34; Isaiah 10:6-7

3. In His ordinary providence, God makes use of means,a yet is free to work without,b above,c and against them at His pleasure.d

a Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10-11; Hosea 2:21-22; b Hosea 1:7; Matthew 4:4; Job 34:20; c Romans 4:19-21; d 2 Kings 6:6; Daniel 3:27

4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so clearly display themselves in His providence that His providence extends itself even to the first fall fall: in this context, the sin of Adam in eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the sin's consequences and all other sins of angels and men.a This is not by a bare permission,b but such as has joined with it both a most wise and powerful confinementc and by God otherwise ordering and governing sins, in a diverse dispensation, dispensation: administration, divine ordering of the affairs of the world all for His own holy purposes.d However, the providence of God is such that the sinfulness of sins proceeds only from the creature and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author [originator] or approver of sin.e

a Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; 1 Kings 22:22-23; 1 Chronicles 10:4, 13-14; 2 Samuel 16:10; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28; b Acts 14:16; c Psalm 76:10; 2 Kings 19:28; d Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:6-7, 12; e James 1:13-14, 17; 1 John 2:16; Psalm 50:21

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God oftentimes leaves, for a season, His own children to various temptations and to the corruption of their own hearts:To chastise them for their former sins or to reveal to them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their heartsThat they may be humbledaTo raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon HimselfTo make them more watchful against all future occasions of sinFor various other just and holy purposesb

a 2 Chronicles 32:25-26, 31; 2 Samuel 24:1; b 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Psalm 73; Psalm 77:1-12; Mark 14:66-72; John 21:15-17

6. Sometimes God, as a righteous judge, blinds and hardens wicked and ungodly men as punishment for former sins.a He withholds His grace from them, by which they might have been enlightened in their understandings and worked upon in their hearts.b What is more, sometimes He also withdraws the gifts that they hadc and exposes them to such objects that their corruption makes occasions of sin.d Besides all this, He gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan.e Thus it happens that they harden themselves, even under those means that God uses for the softening of others.f

a Romans 1:24, 26, 28; Romans 11:7-8; b Deuteronomy 29:4; c Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; d Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12-13; e Psalm 81:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; f Exodus 7:3; Exodus 8:15, 32; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16; Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:7-8; Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:26-27

7. As the providence of God reaches to all creatures in general, so after a most special manner it takes care of His Church and arranges all things to Her good.

1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8-9; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 43:3-5, 14

Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment of Sin

1. Our first parents, Adam and Eve being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit.a This, their sin, God was pleased to permit, according to His wise and holy counsel, having resolved to order it to His own glory.b

a Genesis 3:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; b Romans 11:32

2. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God,a and thus became dead in sinb and completely defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.c

a Genesis 3:6-8; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 3:23; b Genesis 2:17; Ephesians 2:1; c Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19

3. Because they were the root of all mankind,a the guilt of this sin was imputed impute to: charge to, reckon to, or account to. In this important theological term, the frequent modern connotation of falseness is entirely absent; God cannot lie. to all their posterity. Likewise the same death in sin and corrupted nature were also conveyed to all their posterity. These descend from them by ordinary generation. Adam's corruption and sin is passed from father to son and father to daughter by spiritual means, not biological, genetic, or epigenetic means., b

a Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:16-17 and Acts 17:26; Romans 5:12, 15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45, 49; The RPCNA Constitution omits 1 Corinthians 15:45. b Psalm 51:5; Genesis 5:3; Job 14:4; Job 15:14

4. As a result of this original corruption, we are utterly averse, disabled, and made opposite to all good,a and are entirely inclined to all evil.b Thus all actual transgressions proceed from this original corruption.c

a Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7; Romans 7:18; Colossians 1:21; b Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Romans 3:10-12; c James 1:14-15; Ephesians 2:2-3; Matthew 15:19

5. During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated. Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit by which the sinner is graciously given a heart to believe the Gospel., a And although this corruption is pardoned and mortified The discipline of progressive mortification (putting to death) of sin by self-examination, prayer, confession, and repentance from particular sins is a vital part of sanctification and growth in Christ. [put to death] though Christ, both the corruption itself and all the motions motions: in this context, actual sins that we commit. We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners (corrupt). from it are truly and properly sin.b

a 1 John 1:8, 10; Romans 7:14, 17-18, 23; James 3:2; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; b Romans 7:5, 7-8, 25; Galatians 5:17

6. Every sin, both original original sin: that sin and corruption inherited from Adam and actual, is a transgression of the righteous law of God and contrary to it.a Thus, in its own nature, sin brings guilt upon the sinner,b by which he is bound over to the wrath of Godc and curse of the law,d and thus made subject to death,e with all miseries spiritual,f temporal,g and eternal.h

a 1 John 3:4; b Romans 2:15; Romans 3:9, 19; c Ephesians 2:3; d Galatians 3:10; e Romans 6:23; f Ephesians 4:18; g Romans 8:20; Lamentations 3:39; h Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:9

Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant with Man

1. Reasoning reasoning: in this context, endowed with the ability to reason creatures owe obedience to God as their Creator. However, the distance between God and any creature is so great that they could never have any enjoyment of Him as their blessedness and reward, except by some voluntary condescension on God's part. This condescension He has been pleased to express by way of covenant.

Isaiah 40:13-17; Job 9:32-33; 1 Samuel 2:25; Psalm 113:5-6; Psalm 100:2-3; Job 22:2-3; Job 35:7-8; Luke 17:10; Acts 17:24-25

2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works,a in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity,b upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.c

a Galatians 3:12; b Romans 10:5; Romans 5:12-20; c Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10

3. Man, by his fall, made himself incapable of life by that covenant. Thus the Lord was pleased to make a second,a commonly called the covenant of grace. In it, He freely offers to sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him that they may be saved.b He further promises to all those who are ordained to life that He will give His Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe.c

a Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:3; Romans 3:20-21; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 42:6; b Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16; Romans 10:6, 9; Galatians 3:11; c Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 6:44-45

4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a Testament [will], in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator [maker of a will], and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it that are bequeathed [granted] by the will.

Hebrews 9:15-17; Hebrews 7:22; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25

5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law than in the time of the Gospel.a Under the law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types type: a person or thing that foreshadows a greater person or thing to come in fulfillment of a divine promise and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews. All these pointed forward to Christ to come.b And they were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious through the operation of the Spirit to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,c by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal salvation. The covenant under this administration is called the Old Testament.d

a 2 Corinthians 3:6-9; b Hebrews 8-10; Romans 4:11; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 5:7; c 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebrews 11:13; John 8:56; d Galatians 3:7-9, 14

6. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance, substance: the target or reality foreshadowed by the earlier types, a was exhibited, exhibited: shown forth to the world the ordinances in which this covenant is administered are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments sacrament: baptism and the Lord's Supper. See Ch. 27. of baptism and the Lord's Supper.b The ordinances are fewer in number and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory; yet in them, the covenant is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacyc to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles.d The covenant under this administration is called the New Testament.e There are not therefore two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same covenant under different dispensations.f

a Colossians 2:17; b Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; c Hebrews 12:22-28; Jeremiah 31:33-34; d Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:15-19; e Luke 22:20; f Galatians 3:14, 16; Romans 3:21-23, 30; Psalm 32:1; Romans 4:3, 6, 16-17, 23-24; Hebrews 13:8; Acts 15:11

Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator

1. It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and mana—the Prophet,b Priest,c and King;d the Head and Savior of His Church;e the Heir of all things;f and Judge of the world.g From all eternity, God gave Christ a people to be His seed seed: in this context, offspring, in particular, those granted the grace of adoption as sons by the Father, h and to be by Him—in time in time: in due season or in physical (created) time—redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.i

a Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19-20; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; b Acts 3:22; c Hebrews 5:5-6; d Psalm 2:6; Luke 1:33; e Ephesians 5:23; f Hebrews 1:2; g Acts 17:31; h John 17:6; Psalm 22:30; Isaiah 53:10; i 1 Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 55:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:30

2. When the fullness of time was come, the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, took upon Himself man's nature,a with all the essential properties and common infirmities of human nature. Yet He was without sin,b being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, and made of her substance.c Thus, two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, In Christ no part or attribute was converted from human to divine or vice versa. composition, composition: assembling of different parts together or confusion.d This person is very God and very man; yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.e

a John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:20; Philippians 2:6; Galatians 4:4 b Hebrews 2:14, 16-17; Hebrews 4:15; c Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Galatians 4:4; d Luke 1:35; Colossians 2:9; Romans 9:5; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 3:16; e Romans 1:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:5

3. The Lord Jesus, in His human nature (united to the divine), was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure.a In the Holy Spirit, Christ had all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,b as it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in Christ.c So that, being holy, innocent, undefiled, and full of grace and truth,d the Lord Jesus might be thoroughly furnished to execute execute: carry out fully and completely all that is required the office of a Mediator and surety.e This office He did not take to Himself, but was called to it by His Father,f who put all power and judgment into His hand and gave Him commandment to execute the same.g

a Psalm 45:7; John 3:34; b Colossians 2:3; c Colossians 1:19; d Hebrews 7:26; John 1:14; e Acts 10:38; Hebrews 12:24; Hebrews 7:22; f Hebrews 5:4-5; g John 5:22, 27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36

4. This office the Lord Jesus most willingly undertook.a So that He might execute it, He:Was made under the law,b and perfectly fulfilled itcEndured most grievous torments directly in His soul,d and most painful sufferings in His bodyeWas crucified and diedfWas buried and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption [decay]g

On the third day He arose from the dead,h with the same body in which He suffered,i with which also He ascended into heaven. There He sits at the right hand of His Father,j making intercession,k and will return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.l

a Psalm 40:7-8; Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; b Galatians 4:4; c Matthew 3:15; Matthew 5:17; d Matthew 26:37-38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; e Matthew 26-27; f Philippians 2:8; g Acts 2:23-24, 27; Acts 13:37; Romans 6:9; h 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; i John 20:25, 27; j Mark 16:19; k Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 7:25; l Romans 14:9-10; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; Matthew 13:40-42; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4

5. The Lord Jesus, through the eternal Spirit, offered up to God, just once, His perfect obedience and sacrifice of Himself. By these He has fully satisfied the justice of His Fathera and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father has given to Him.b

a Romans 5:19; Hebrews 9:14, 16; Hebrews 10:14; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 3:25-26; b Daniel 9:24, 26; Colossians 1:19-20; Ephesians 1:11, 14; John 17:2; Hebrews 9:12, 15

6. The work of redemption was not actually accomplished by Christ until after His incarnation. incarnation: becoming man Yet, in all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, the virtue, efficacy, and benefits of the work of redemption were communicated [imparted, transferred] to the elect. This was done in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices in which He was revealed and signified to be:The seed of the woman who would bruise the serpent's headThe Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Galatians 4:4-5; Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8; Hebrews 13:8

7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, nature: in this context, Christ's human nature or His divine nature with each nature doing what is distinctive to itself.a Yet, by reason of the unity of the person [of Christ], that which is distinctive to one nature is sometimes, in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated denominated: indicated, typically by implication by the other nature.b

a Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 3:18; b Acts 20:28; John 3:13; 1 John 3:16

8. To all those for whom Christ has purchased redemption, He certainly and effectually applies and communicates [imparts, transfers] that redemption.a He makes intercession for themb and reveals to them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation.c He effectually persuades them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governs their hearts by His Word and Spirit.d He overcomes all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most in harmony with His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.e

a John 6:37, 39; John 10:15-16; b 1 John 2:1-2; Romans 8:34; c John 15:13, 15; Ephesians 1:7-9; John 17:6; d John 14:26; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Romans 8:9, 14; Romans 15:18-19; John 17:17; e Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Malachi 4:2-3; Colossians 2:15

Chapter 9: Of Free Will

1. God has endowed the will of man with that natural liberty that is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good or evil.

Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19

2. In his state [condition] of innocence, state of innocence: the state of man prior to the fall of Adam into sin man had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God; but changeably, so that he could possibly fall from it.

Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6

3. By his fall into a state of sin, man has entirely lost all ability of his will toward any spiritual good accompanying salvation.a Therefore, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,b and being dead in sin,c is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself or to prepare himself for conversion.d

a Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7; John 15:5; b Romans 3:10, 12; c Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; d John 6:44, 65; Ephesians 2:2-5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Titus 3:3-5

4. When God converts a sinner, and transfers him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin.a And by His grace alone, God enables him to freely will and to freely do that which is spiritually good.b Yet, because of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but also wills that which is evil.c

a Colossians 1:13; John 8:34, 36; b Philippians 2:13; Romans 6:18, 22; c Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23

5. Only in the state of glory is the will of man made perfectly and unchangeably free to good alone.

Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 12:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24

Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling

1. All of those whom God has predestined to life, and those only, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time to call effectually: effectually: effective—God's call will be heeded and effective for all of His intended purposes, aBy His Word and SpiritbOut of that state of sin and death in which they are by natureInto grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.c

He:Enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of GoddTakes away their hearts of stone, heart of stone: a heart hardened, set against God and gives to them hearts of flesh heart of flesh: a healthy heart that is as it should be, sensitive to God, eRenews their willsDetermines [foreordains] them to that which is good by His almighty powerfEffectually draws them to Jesus Christ,g yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.h

a Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11; b 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 6; c Romans 8:2; Ephesians 2:1-5; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; d Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12; Ephesians 1:17-18; e Ezekiel 36:26; f Ezekiel 11:19; Philippians 2:13; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; g Ephesians 1:19; John 6:44-45; h Song of Solomon 1:4; Psalm 110:3; John 6:37; Romans 6:16-18

2. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man,a who is altogether a passive recipient. But once made spiritually alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit,b a man is, by this transformation, enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.c

a 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-5; Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9; Romans 9:11; b 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:5; c John 6:37; Ezekiel 36:27; John 5:25

3. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,a who works when, and where, and how He pleases.b Likewise also, Christ saves all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.c

a Luke 18:15-16 and Acts 2:38-39 and John 3:3, 5 and 1 John 5:12 and Romans 8:9 compared;

b John 3:8; c 1 John 5:12; Acts 4:12

4. Others, not elected, never truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved.a This is true even though they may be called by the ministry of the Wordb and may have some common operations of the Spirit.c Much less can men who do not profess profess: openly acknowledge the Christian religion be saved in any other way at all, no matter how diligently they frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.d And to assert and maintain that they may is very pernicious pernicious: highly injurious, destructive, deadly and to be detested.e

b Matthew 22:14; c Matthew 7:22; Matthew 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-6; The original ends in verse 5, strangely truncating the passage. It is assumed to be a typographical error. a John 6:64-66; John 8:24; d Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:12; John 4:22; John 17:3; e 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:6-8

Chapter 11: Of Justification

1. Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifiesa by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous. He does this:Not by infusing righteousness into themNot for anything done [by God] in them or done by themFor Christ's sake aloneNot by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical evangelical: pertaining to the Gospel, the Good News about eternal life and forgiveness of sins in Christ for those who believe in Him obedience to them as their righteousnessOnly by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ to them.b

The called receive Christ and rely on Him and His righteousness by faith. This faith does not come from themselves; it is the gift of God.c

a Romans 8:30; Romans 3:24; b Romans 4:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; Romans 3:22, 24-25, 27-28; Titus 3:5, 7; Ephesians 1:7; Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 5:17-19; c Acts 10:43; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 2:7-8

2. When the called receive and rely on Christ and His righteousness, faith is the only instrument of justification;a yet faith is not alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied with all other saving graces. It is no dead faith, but works by love.b

a John 1:12; Romans 3:28; Romans 5:1; b James 2:17, 22, 26; Galatians 5:6

3. Christ, by His obedience and death, fully paid the debt of all those who are thus justified, and made a proper, real, and full satisfaction to His Father's justice in their behalf.a Their justification is only of free grace,d so that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.e This may be seen because Christ was given by the Father for sinners,b and Christ's obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their stead;c and both freely, not for anything in the sinner.d

a Romans 5:8-10, 19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10, 14; Daniel 9:24, 26; Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12; b Romans 8:32; c 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 5:2; d Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; e Romans 3:26; Ephesians 2:7

4. God, from all eternity, decreed to justify all the elect,a and Christ, in the fullness of time, died for their sins and rose again for their justification.b Nevertheless, they are not justified until the Holy Spirit, in due time, actually applies Christ to them.c

a Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2, 19-20; Romans 8:30; b Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:25; c Colossians 1:21-22; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:3-7 Schaff omits verse 3.

5. God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified,a and they can never fall from the state of justification.b However they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance countenance: face, in this context: especially as connoting approval and pleasure restored to them until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.c

a Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; 1 John 2:1-2; b Luke 22:32; John 10:28; Hebrews 10:14; c Psalm 89:31-33; Psalm 51:7-12; Psalm 32:5; Matthew 26:75; 1 Corinthians 11:30, 32; Luke 1:20

6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.

Galatians 3:9, 13-14; Romans 4:22-24; Hebrews 13:8

Chapter 12: Of Adoption

1. God graciously condescends to grant—in and for His only Son, Jesus Christ—that all those who are justified will be made partakers of the grace of adoption,a by which they:Are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges, of the children of GodbHave His name put upon themcReceive the spirit of adoptiondHave access to the throne of grace with boldnesseAre enabled to cry Abba,Abba: Syriac, Chaldee for "father," connotes affection and close personal relationship rather than formal respect FatherfAre pitied,g protected,h provided foriAre chastened by Him as by a father,j yet never cast offkAre sealed seal: (verb) to confirm, ratify, guarantee, make secure; (noun) something that represents such a guarantee or provides the security; in Scripture, seal often has a close association in meaning with a sign to the day of redemptionlInherit the promises,m as heirs of everlasting salvation.n

a Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4-5; b Romans 8:17; John 1:12; c Jeremiah 14:9; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 3:12; d Romans 8:15; e Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:2; f Galatians 4:6; g Psalm 103:13; h Proverbs 14:26; i Matthew 6:30, 32; 1 Peter 5:7; j Hebrews 12:6; k Lamentations 3:31; l Ephesians 4:30; m Hebrews 6:12; n 1 Peter 1:3-4; Hebrews 1:14

Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

1. Those who are effectually called and regenerated have a new heart and a new spirit created in them. They are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue [merit] of Christ's death and resurrection,a by [means of] His Word and Spirit dwelling in them.b The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,c and the various individual lusts of the body of sin are more and more weakened and mortified.d Moreover, the regenerated are more and more made alive and strengthened in all saving graces,e to the practice of true holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.f

a 1 Corinthians 6:11; Acts 20:32; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6; b John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; c Romans 6:6, 14; d Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:13; e Colossians 1:11; Ephesians 3:16-19; f 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14

2. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man;a yet it is imperfect in this life, since there still abide some remnants of corruption in every part [of man].b Thus there arises a continual and irreconcilable war: the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.c

a 1 Thessalonians 5:23; b 1 John 1:10; Romans 7:18, 23; Philippians 3:12; c Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11

3. In this war, the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail.a However, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome.b And thus the saints saint: one of the elect. The practice of some denominations of specifically designating only certain individuals as saints (above "ordinary Christians") is contrary to Scripture. grow in grace,c progressing in holiness in the fear of God.d

a Romans 7:23; b Romans 6:14; 1 John 5:4; Ephesians 4:15-16; c 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; d 2 Corinthians 7:1

Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

1. The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,a is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts.b Faith is ordinarily given through the ministry of the Word.c Faith is increased and strengthened by the ministry of the Word, the administration of the sacraments, and prayer.d

a Hebrews 10:39; b 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 1:17-19; Ephesians 2:8; c Romans 10:14, 17; d 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Romans 4:11; Luke 17:5; Romans 1:16-17

2. By this faith, a Christian Christian: an elect, regenerate disciple of Jesus Christ. The contemporary, broader use of "Christian" to refer to any person or denomination that professes some level of acceptance of Christ's teachings is foreign to Scripture. believes to be true whatever is revealed in the Word due to the authority of God Himself speaking in it.a He acts in an appropriate manner to what each particular passage in the Word contains: yielding obedience to the commands,b trembling at the threatenings,c and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.d But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and trusting in Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.e

a John 4:42; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:10; Acts 24:14; b Romans 16:26; c Isaiah 66:2; d Hebrews 11:13; 1 Timothy 4:8; e John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11

3. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong.a Often, and in many ways, it may be assailed and weakened. But it gets the victory,b growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,c who is both the author and finisher of our faith.d

a Hebrews 5:13-14; Romans 4:19-20; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:10; b Luke 22:31-32; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5; c Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:22; Colossians 2:2; d Hebrews 12:2

Chapter 15: Of Repentance to Life

1. Repentance to life is an evangelical grace,a the doctrine of which is to be preached by every minister minister: in this context, an ordained clergyman who preaches the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some denominations that are faithful to the true Gospel use other terms such as priest, preacher, pastor, and so forth. of the Gospel, to the same degree as the doctrine of faith in Christ.b

a Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; b Luke 24:47; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21

2. By repentance to life a sinner has the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, which are contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God. Also, the sinner comprehends God's mercy in Christ to those who are penitent. He therefore grieves for and hates his sins, so as to turn from all of them to God,a purposing and endeavoring to walk with Him in all the ways of His commandments.b

a Ezekiel 18:30-31; Ezekiel 36:31; Isaiah 30:22; Psalm 51:4; Jeremiah 31:18-19; Joel 2:12-13; Amos 5:15; Psalm 119:128; 2 Corinthians 7:11; b Psalm 119:6, 59, 106; Luke 1:6; 2 Kings 23:25

3. Repentance is not to be trusted in as any satisfaction for sin, or as any cause of the pardon of sin;a this pardon is the act of God's free grace in Christ.b Yet, repentance is of such necessity to all sinners that none may expect pardon without it.c

a Ezekiel 36:31-32; Ezekiel 16:61-63; b Hosea 14:2, 4; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; c Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30-31

4. Every sin, no matter how small, deserves damnation. damnation: divine judgment into eternal hellfire , a But there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.b

a Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12; Matthew 12:36; b Isaiah 55:7; Romans 8:1; Isaiah 1:16, 18

5. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularly.

Psalm 19:13; Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15

6. Every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon of them;a upon which, and the forsaking of them, he will find mercy.b Similarly, he that sinfully offends against Here, the editor translates scandalize as "sinfully offends against." This older use of scandalize does not imply that the sin must be major or widely public; it does imply that the sin is at least known to the one offended. Editorial opinion: The editor also wishes to note that this teaching must surely also apply in cases in which the one offended is unaware of the offense, e.g., secret theft. his brother or the Church of Christ ought to be willing, by a private or public confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those who are offended.c The offended are then to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.d

a Psalm 51:4-5, 7, 9, 14; Psalm 32:5-6; b Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; c James 5:16; Luke 17:3-4; Joshua 7:19; Psalm 51; d 2 Corinthians 2:8

Chapter 16: Of Good Works

1. Good works are only those that God has commanded in His holy Word,a and not those that, without scriptural warrant, are devised by men out of blind zeal or upon any pretense of good intention. A cursory reading might suggest that specific and exact biblical warrant must be found for all human actions. However, only a very small portion of Scripture consists of specific do's and don'ts. Rather, Scripture typically teaches by narrative, principle, or example, e.g., the Golden Rule or Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is in this light that WCF 16:1 must be understood., b

a Micah 6:8; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 13:21; b Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13; 1 Peter 1:18; Romans 10:2; John 16:2; 1 Samuel 15:21-23

2. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.a By them believers show their thankfulness,b strengthen their assurance,c edify their brethren,d adorn the profession of the Gospel,e stop the mouths of the adversaries,f and glorify God.g Believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.h Thus having their fruit to holiness, they may have the outcome, eternal life.i

a James 2:18, 22; b Psalm 116:12-13; 1 Peter 2:9; c 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-10; d 2 Corinthians 9:2; Matthew 5:16; e Titus 2:5, 9-12; 1 Timothy 6:1; f 1 Peter 2:15; g 1 Peter 2:12; Philippians 1:11; John 15:8; h Ephesians 2:10; i Romans 6:22

3. The ability of believers to do good works is not at all from themselves, but solely from the Spirit of Christ.a Besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence by the same Holy Spirit—to work in them to will and to do of His good pleasure—so that they may be enabled to do good works.b Yet they are not to grow negligent in good works as though they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but rather they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.c

a John 15:4-6; RPCNA Constitution omits verse 6. Ezekiel 36:26-27; b Philippians 2:13; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 3:5; c Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; 2 Peter 1:3, 5, 10-11; Isaiah 64:7; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 26:6-7; Jude 20-21

4. Those who in their obedience attain to the greatest height that is possible in this life are so far from being able to supererogate supererogate: to (supposedly) do greater, more, or better works than God requires. This concept is a blasphemous smear on God's perfect and unchangeable holiness. and to do more than God requires, that they actually fall short of much that they are in duty bound to do.

Luke 17:10; Nehemiah 13:22; Job 9:2-3; Galatians 5:17

5. We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, because:There is a great disproportion disproportion: disparity, mismatch, e.g., as between a gnat and an elephant that is between our best works and the glory to come;There is infinite distance between us and God; God cannot profit by our best works; Nor can our best works satisfy for the debt of our former sins;aWhen we have done all we can, we have done only our duty, and are unprofitable unprofitable: not useless, but more must be input than comes out, c.f., an unprofitable business servants;bAs they are good, they proceed from His Spirit;c but as they are done by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.d

a Romans 3:20; Romans 4:2, 4, 6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 8:18; Psalm 16:2; Job 22:2-3; Job 35:7-8; b Luke 17:10; c Galatians 5:22-23; d Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:15, 18; Psalm 143:2; Psalm 130:3

6. Yet nevertheless, because the persons of believers are accepted through Christ, their good works are also accepted in Him.a This acceptance is not as though they were in this life completely blameless and above reproof in God's sight;b but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.c

a Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Exodus 28:38; Genesis 4:4 with Hebrews 11:4; b Job 9:20; Psalm 143:2; c Hebrews 13:20-21; 2 Corinthians 8:12; Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 25:21, 23

7. Works done by unregenerate men are sinful and cannot please God or make a man suitable to receive grace from God.e This is because they:Do not proceed from a heart purified by faithbAre not done in a right manner according to the WordcAre not done for a right reason: the glory of God.d

This is true, even though, for the matter of them, they may be things that God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others.a And yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.f

a 2 Kings 10:30-31; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Philippians 1:15-16, 18; b Genesis 4:3-5 with Hebrews 11:4, 6; c 1 Corinthians 13:3; Isaiah 1:12; d Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; e Haggai 2:14; Titus 1:15; Amos 5:21-22; Hosea 1:4; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; f Psalm 14:4; Psalm 36:3; Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41-43, 45; Matthew 23:23

Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints

1. God has accepted His saints in His Beloved, His Beloved: Jesus Christ effectually called them, and sanctified them by His Spirit. Hence, His saints can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace, but will certainly persevere in it to the end, and be eternally saved.

Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:10; John 10:28-29; 1 John 3:9; 1 Peter 1:5, 9

2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon:The unchangeableness of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the FatheraThe efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus ChristbThe abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed seed of God: The meaning is uncertain. The phrase is used in 1 Peter 1:23 and 1 John 3:9. Probably this refers to being born again, not from natural seed, but from spiritual seed. Matthew Henry (Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1 Peter 1:23) suggests that the seed likely refers to the Word of God. This latter interpretation is consistent with the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:11). The analogy may be made from the seed (sperm) of natural generation and birth to being born again of the Word and Holy Spirit. of God within themcThe nature of the covenant of grace.d

From all of these arise also the certainty and infallibility of the perseverance of the saints.e

a 2 Timothy 2:18-19; Jeremiah 31:3; b Hebrews 10:10, 14; Hebrews 13:20-21; Hebrews 9:12-15; Romans 8:33-39; John 17:11, 24; Luke 22:32; Hebrews 7:25; c John 14:16-17; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:9; d Jeremiah 32:40; e John 10:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 John 2:19