WSC 3 and 4

Question 0

Q30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer 0

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

Question 1

Q29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer 1

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

Question 2

Q31. What is effectual calling?

Answer 2

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel.

Question 3

Q32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

Answer 3

A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.

Question 4

Q33. What is justification?

Answer 4

Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ to us, and received by faith alone.

Question 5

Q34. What is adoption?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Q35. What is sanctification?

Answer 6

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Question 7

Q36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

Answer 7

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Question 8

Q85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?

Answer 8

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.

Question 9

Q86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Answer 9

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Question 10

Q87. What is repentance unto life?

Answer 10

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.

Question 11

Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?

Answer 11

A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.

Question 12

Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

Answer 12

No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Question 13

Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

Answer 13

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Question 14

Q84. What doth every sin deserve?

Answer 14

Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

Question 15

Q37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?

Answer 15

The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection.

Question 16

Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

Answer 16

At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgement, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

Question 17

Q88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

Answer 17

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Question 18

Q91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

Answer 18

The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Question 19

Q92. What is a sacrament?

Answer 19

A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Question 20

Q93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

Answer 20

The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

Question 21

Q94. What is baptism?

Answer 21

Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Question 22

Q95. To whom is baptism to be administered?

Answer 22

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are the members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Question 23

Q96. What is the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 23

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Question 24

Q97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 24

It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgement to themselves.

Question 25

Q98. What is prayer?

Answer 25

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.