>Question #22: What then must a Christian believe?Answer: Everything God promises us in the gospel. That gospel is summarized for us in the articles of our Christian faith— a creed beyond doubt, and confessed throughout the world. (Matt. 28:18-20; John 20:30-31)Question #23: What are these articles?Answer: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of … Continue reading >Catechism #22 & #23

>Question #20: Are all saved through Christ just as all were lost through Adam?Answer: No. Only those are saved who by true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his blessings (Matt. 7:14; John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21).Question #21: What is true faith?Answer: True faith is not only a knowledge and conviction that … Continue reading >Catechism #20 & #21

>Question #14: Can another creature—any at all—pay this debt for us?Answer: No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for what a human is guilty of. Besides,no mere creature can bear the weight of God's eternal anger against sin and release others from it (Ezek. 18:4, 20; Heb. 2:14-18; Ps. 49:7-9; 130:3).Question #15: … Continue reading >Catechism Question #14 & #15

>As we came to Question #12 and #13 this morning, me and the boys have made a turn from discussing human misery to discussing deliverance.Question #12: According to God's righteous judgment we deserve punishment both in this world and forever after: how then can we escape this punishment and return to God's favor?Answer: God requires … Continue reading >Catechism #12 & 13

>Question #10: Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?Answer: Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity. He has declared: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to … Continue reading >Catechism #10 & 11