Q.1
Who is the only self-existent Being?
ANSWER. God is the only self-existent Being.
Ex. 3. 14; Psa. 90. 2; Isa. 45. 5, 22; Jn. 8.58.
Q.2 Ought everyone to believe that there is a God?
ANSWER. Everyone ought to believe that there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not.
Psa. 9.17; Ecc. 12.13; Mark 16. 16; Jn. 8.24 & 16.8-9; 2Thess.2. 11-12.
Q.3 How may we know that there is a God?
ANSWER. The works of creation and providence plainly declare that there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do it effectually to the salvation of His people.
Job 38 & 39; Psa. 19; Jn. 16.8-14 & 17.8; 1Cor. 2.10.
Q.4 What is the Word of God?
ANSWER. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.
Psa. 119.140; Prov. 30.5; Isa. 40.8; 2Tim. 3.14-17.
Q.5 What things are chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?
ANSWER. The Holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man is to believe concerning God, and what God requires of man.
Ecc. 12.13-14; Mic. 6.8; 2Tim. 3.14-17.
Q.6 What is God?
ANSWER. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
Ex. 34. 5-7; Jn. 4.24; 1Tim. 1.17 & 6.15-16; Heb. 12.29; Rev. 22.13.
Q.7 Are there more Gods than one?
ANSWER. There is but one only living and true God.
Deut. 6.4; Isa. 45.5-6, 21-22; 1Tim. 2.5. Rom. 8.28-30 & 9.6-24; Eph. 1.11-12; 2Thess. 2.13-14.
Q.8 How many Persons are there in the Godhead?
ANSWER. There are three Persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and these Three are One, the same in essence, and equal in power and glory.
Matt. 3.16-17 & 12.31-32 & 28. 19; Jn. 5.23 & 15.26; 2Cor. 13.14; 1Jn. 5.7.
Q.9 Can God be frustrated in His purposes and designs?
ANSWER. No, for He works all things after the counsel of His own will, and will do all His pleasure.
Job 23.13; Isa. 43.13 & 46.10; Matt. 28.18; Eph. 1.11-12.
Q.10 What are the decrees of God?
ANSWER. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Isa. 46.10; Rom. 8.28-30 & 9.6-24; Eph. 1.11-12; 2Thess. 2.13-14.
Q.11 How does God execute his decrees?
ANSWER. God executes his decrees in the works of creation, providence and grace.
Num. 23.19-23; Job 37.13; Psa. 107.25-30; Dan. 4.35; Rev. 4.11.
Q.12 What is the work of creation?
ANSWER. The work of creation is God's, making all things out of nothing by the word of His power, and all very good.
Gen. 1; Jn. 1.1-3; Col. 1.16; Heb. 11.3.
Q.13 How did God create man?
ANSWER. God created man, male and female; in the image of God created He them, with dominion over the creatures.
Gen. 1.26-31 & 2.7, 18-23; Psa. 8.3-8 & 119.73; Matt. 19.4-6; Mark 10.6-9.
Q.14 What are God's works of providence?
ANSWER. God's works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing of all His creatures and all their actions.
1 Sam. 3. 18; Job 23.13-14; Psa. 31.15 & 103.19 & 145.15-16; Prov. 5.21 & 16.9, 33 & 20.24; Matt 10.29; Heb. 1.3.
Q.15 What are God's works of grace?
ANSWER. God's works of grace are the rich displays of His everlasting love in redemption, regeneration and the glorious works connected therewith.
Jer. 31.3; Eph. 2; Phil. 2.13; Rev. 1.5-6.
Q.16 What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein He created him?
ANSWER. When God created man He gave him a law, promising him a continuance of the life and blessings which he then possessed on condition of his perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil upon pain of death.
Gen. 2.15-17.
Q.17 Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
ANSWER. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created by sinning against God.
Gen. 3; Ecc. 7.29.
Q.18 What is sin?
ANSWER. Sin is the transgression of the law of God.
l Jn. 3.4.
Q.19 What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
ANSWER. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating of the forbidden fruit.
Gen. 3.6-7.
Q.20 Did all mankind fall in Adam's transgression?
ANSWER. All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation lay in his loins, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.
1Kin. 8.46; Ecc. 7.20; 19" class="scriptRef">Rom. 3.9-19, 23 & 5.12, 19; 1Cor. 15. 21-22.
Q.21 Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
ANSWER. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
Gen. 3. 7-24; Jer. 17.9; Rom. 3.10-12 & 5.12 & 8.22.
Q.22 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
ANSWER. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all the actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Psa.51.5 & 58.3; Isa.1.6 & 6.5 & 64.6; Jer. 17.9; Matt.15.19; Rom. 3.10 & 7.14.
Q.23 What is the misery of that estate whereunto man fell?
ANSWER. All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, incurred the curse of the law, and so were made liable to all the miseries of this life, and to death itself; and all who die in sin must endure the pains of hell for ever.
Gen. 3. 16-24; Job 5.7 & 14.1-2; Isa. 64.6; Matt. 22.13 & 25.41; Rom. 3.23 & 8.7; 1Cor. 2.14.
Q.24 Did God leave all mankind to perish in that estate of sin and misery?
ANSWER. No; God, having out of His own good pleasure from eternity elected some of them to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of that estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer.
Rom. 3.21-25 & 9.6-24; Eph. 1.4-7; 1Thess. 5.9; 2Thess. 2.13; 1 Pet. 1.2.
Q.25 What is meant by a covenant of grace?
ANSWER. The covenant engagement entered into, in the counsels of eternity, by the Triune God in behalf of the elect; in which covenant the elect were given to the Person of the Son, and made His care and charge, and all spiritual blessings were treasured up and secured in Him, and so made sure to all the seed of promise.
2Sam. 23.5; Psa. 89.27-37; Isa. 55.3; Hos. 2. 23; Jn. 17.2; Heb. 2.13 & 8.10.
Q.26 On whom did the conditions of the covenant fall?
ANSWER. The Second Person in the Trinity, who, knowing the elect would destroy themselves by sin, engaged to be accountable for them, and to take all the consequences connected therewith upon Himself, and in His own time to send them the Holy Spirit, who should teach them all truth; and, at last, present them to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.
Isa. 9. 6-7; Jn. 16.7-14 & 17.8-15; Eph. 5.25-27; Heb. 9.28.
Q.27 Is there anything in the covenant of grace of a precarious or uncertain nature?
ANSWER. No; for it is ordered in all things and sure, and is confirmed by the promise and oath of God.
2Sam. 23.5; Psa. 89. 33-37; Jer. 33.20-21; 24.35" class="scriptRef">Matt. 24. 35; Jn. 17.12, 24; Rom. 11.29.
Q.28 Are the called according to God's purpose to take any consolation from the glory and stability of this covenant?
ANSWER. Yes; for it contains all their salvation, and all their desire.
2Sam. 23.5; Isa. 54.10; Jn. 10.28-29; Heb. 6.17-20.
Q.29 Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
ANSWER. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ who, being the Lord of life and glory, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and Man in two distinct natures but one Person for ever.
Gen. 3.15; Matt. 1.21, 23; Jn. 1.14; 1 Tim. 2.5 & 3.16; Heb. 1.1-9 & 2.9 & 13.8.
Q.30 How did Christ, the Lord of life and glory, become man?
ANSWER. Christ, the Lord of life and glory, became man by taking upon Him the nature of His people, being conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary (by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost) and born of her, yet without sin.
Isa. 7.14; Matt. 1.20-23; Luke 1. 31-35; Jn. 1.14; Gal. 4.4; Phil. 2.6-8; Heb. 2.14-18.
Q.31 What offices does Christ execute as the Redeemer of God's elect?
ANSWER. Christ, as the Redeemer of God's elect, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.
(Prophet) Luke 7. 16; Jn. 1.1,14 & 6.14 & 13.19; Acts3.22-25 & 7.37-38.
(Priest) Heb. 2. 17-18 & 3.1 & 4.14-16 & 5.5-7 & 7.24-28 & 10.19-22.
(King) Psa. 2.6 & 24.7-10; Psa. 45; Zech. 9.9; Rev. 11.15 & 19.16.
Q.32 How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
ANSWER. Christ executes the office of a prophet in revealing to the elect, by His word and Spirit, the will of God in their salvation.
Jn. 1.18 & 6.33,45,63 & 10.27-28 & 13.19 & 14.26 & 15.15.
Q.33 How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
ANSWER. Christ executes the office of a priest in His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile the elect unto God, and in making continual intercession for them.
Isa. 53.6-11; Rom. 8.34; 2Cor. 5.19-21; Heb. 2.17 & 7.25 & 9.28.
Q.34 How does Christ execute the office of a king?
ANSWER. Christ executes the office of a king by subduing the elect to Himself, ruling and defending them, and conquering all His and their enemies.
Psa. 110.1-3; 1Cor. 15.25; Phil. 2.9-11; Heb. 1.8.
Q.35 Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?
ANSWER. Christ's humiliation consisted in His being born of a woman, made under the law, and becoming a servant, though He was Lord of all; in His undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; and in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
Isa. 53; Matt. 12.40 & 27.46; Luke 22.42-44; 1Cor. 15.3-4; 2Cor. 8.9; Gal. 4.4; Phil. 2.5-8; Heb. 5.7-8.
Q.36 Wherein consists Christ's exaltation?
ANSWER. Christ's exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day; in ascending up into heaven with the elect on His breast as trophies of victory; in sitting at the right hand of the Father; and in coming to judge the world at the last day, accompanied by all His holy angels, and His Bride adorned in His glory, who shall meet Him in the air at His coming; and in His sitting upon His throne of glory, to be admired and honoured by all the redeemed throng, for ever and ever.
Luke 24.1-7; Act. 1.9-11; Rom. 8.34; 1Cor. 15.4; Eph. 1.20-23; Phil. 2.9-11; lThess. 4. 16-18; 2Thess. 1.10; Rev. 5.11-14 & 20.11 & 21.2-4.
Q.37 What special blessings do God's people derive from the Lord Jesus Christ?
ANSWER. As all spiritual blessings are treasured up and secured in Christ, so they are dealt out to the elect as is most for God's glory to give, and His people's good to receive.
Jn. 1.16; Rom. 8.28-39; Eph. 1.3-6; Phil. 4.19.
Q.38 What is Jesus Christ unto the elect?
ANSWER. Jesus Christ is made of God unto the elect wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption; He is their head, life, strength, portion and their all in all.
Psa. 18.1-2 & 73.25-26 & 142.5; S of S. 5.9-16; Jer. 23.6; 1Cor. 1.30-31; 2Cor. 5.21; Eph. 1.22-23 & 5.23; Col. 3.3-4,11.
Q.39 How are the elect made partakers of the redemption by Christ?
ANSWER. The elect are made partakers of the redemption by Christ in the effectual application of it to them by His Spirit.
Zech. 4. 6; Jn. 3.27 & 14.26; 1Cor. 2.10 & 6.11; Eph. 2.1; Col. 2.13.
Q.40 How does the Spirit apply the redemption by Christ to the elect?
ANSWER. The Spirit applies the redemption by Christ to the elect by working faith in them, and thereby bringing them to a knowledge of their union to Christ in effectual calling.
Jn. 6.29 & 16.8-15; 1Cor. 1.8-9; Eph. 2.8-10 & 3.17-19; Phil. 2.13; 2Tim.1.9; Heb. 3.1.
Q.41 What is effectual calling?
ANSWER. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit whereby, convincing them of sin, enlightening their minds in the knowledge of Christ, and creating them anew, He enables the elect to embrace Jesus Christ, freely given to them in the gospel.
Jn. 6.37 & 16.8-11,13-14 & 17.3; 2 Cor. 4.6; Eph. 2.1; 1Jn. 2.27; Rev. 22.17.
Q.42 What blessings do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
ANSWER. They that are effectually called do, in this life, partake of justification, adoption, sanctification and the several blessings which do in this life accompany them.
Psa. 68.18; Rom. 5.1-2 & 8.30-32; 1Cor. 1.30; Gal. 4.6; Eph. 1.5.
Q.43 What is justification?
ANSWER. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein the elect are accepted as righteous in God's sight alone, for the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and they receive it by faith.
Rom. 4.3-5,24-25 & 5.18-19; 2Cor. 5.21; Gal. 3.5-11; Phil. 3.9; Tit. 3.7.
Q.44 What is adoption?
ANSWER. Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby the elect are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.
Jer.31.9; Rom. 8.15-17; 2Cor. 6.17-18; Gal. 4.4-7; 1Jn. 3.1-2.
Q.45 What is sanctification? .
ANSWER. Sanctification may be taken in a three fold sense.
1Thess. 5.23.
Q.46 What is the first sense of sanctification?
ANSWER. To sanctify is to appoint, consecrate, or set apart any person or thing to a holy and special use; thus the elect were sanctified by God the Father.
Ex. 30.28-29; Lev. 20.24; Psa. 4.3; Jn. 17.17; 2Cor. 6.17; Jude 1.1.
Q.47 What is the second sense of sanctification?
ANSWER. The elect are sanctified by the blood of Christ, which blots out their transgressions as a cloud, has satisfied divine justice, removed the curse and purges the conscience from dead works.
Is. 43.25 & 44.22; Jn. 17.19; lCor. 1.2,6-I1; Eph. 2.13; 14" class="scriptRef">Col. 2.13-14; Heb. 9.14 & 10.10,14 & 13.12.
Q.48 What is the third sense of sanctification?
ANSWER. The third sense of sanctification is the work of God's Spirit, whereby the elect are renewed after the image of God, which is called the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Rom. 12.2 & 15.16; Eph. 4.22-24 & 5.26-27; Col. 3.10; Tit 3.4-6.
Q.49 What law was Christ made under in His estate of humiliation?
ANSWER. The law of works.