19:7-14; 12:18-27; II

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1 A New Covenant Catechism [Based on the A Puritan Catechism, compiled by Rev. C.H. Spurgeon from the Westminster Assembly s and Baptist Catechisms] {Published originally about October 14, 1855, when Spurgeon s sermon contained an announcement of the new catechism} (Rewritten and significantly modified in 2004/05 by Rev. Wes Pastor from a New Covenant perspective) Introductory Matters 1. Question: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. (Psalm 73:25,26; I Corinthians 10:31) 2. Question: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify Him? Answer: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy Him forever. (Psalm 19:7-14; Mark 12:18-27; II Timothy 3:16) 3. Question: What do the Scriptures principally teach? Answer: The Scriptures principally teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to save sinners through His death, burial, and resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:3-4; Luke 24:13-49; I Timothy 1:15) Person & Work of God the Father 4. Question: What is God? Answer: God is Spirit: infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love, purity and truth. (John 4:24; I Timothy 1:17; Exodus 3:14, 34:6-7; I John 1:5, 4:8; Revelation 4:8) 5. Question: Are there more Gods than one? Answer: There is but one only, the living and true God. (Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; John 5:44; I Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14 ) 6. Question: 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 God, the same in essence, and equal in power and glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:10-11; Ephesians 1:3-14, 4:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14) 7. Question: What are the decrees of God? Answer: The decrees of God are His eternal purposes according to the counsel of His own will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatever comes to pass. (Psalm 135:5-6; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 46:8-11; Lamentations 3:37-38; Daniel 4:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-14) 8. Question: How does God execute his decrees? Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and the works of providence, which teach His creatures the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 2:1-3; Ephesians 1:3-14; Revelation 4:11) 9. Question: What is the work of creation? Answer: The work of creation is a picture of redemption through Christ Jesus, with God making all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in six normal consecutive days, and all very good. (Genesis 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Heb. 11:3, John 1:1-18) 10. Question: How did God create man? Answer: God created Adam from the dust of the earth and Eve from Adam s rib, according to His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over all. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 21-22; I Corinthians 11:8-9) 11. Question: What is God s providence? Answer: God s providence is His wise and absolute rule over all of His creation, including all of man s actions, in order to proclaim the glorious gospel of His Son to the end of His eternal glory. (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-14) 12. Question: What is the fulfillment of God s works of creation and providence? Answer: The fulfillment of God s works of creation and providence is the redemption of Christ s church to the praise of the glory of God s grace. (Ephesians 1:3-14, 3:1-13, 5:22-33) 13. Question: How is this redemption accomplished? Answer: This redemption is accomplished by a covenant of grace, which God entered into with Abraham and His seed, that seed being Christ. (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-8; Galatians 3:15-29)

2 State & Fall of Adam 14. Question: What was man s moral state when God created him? Answer: When God created Adam and Eve, they were pure and holy and in intimate fellowship with God and each other, living in Paradise and restricted from eating of only one tree upon pain of death. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:8-9, 16-17, 24-25) 15. Question: Did our first parents continue in the holy state in which they were created? Answer: Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own wills, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God and eating the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3:6-8; II Corinthians 11:3) 16. Question: What is sin? Answer: Sin is unbelief, manifesting itself in any disobedience to, or transgression of God s law. (Romans 14:23; I John 3:4) 17. Question: Did Adam s unbelief affect him only? Answer: No! Adam s sin was imputed to all of humanity, since through the disobedience of the one, the many were made sinners. (Genesis 4:1-8; Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:22) 18. Question: Into what estate did the fall bring humanity? Answer: The fall brought humanity into a state of sin and misery. (Genesis 3:14-24; Titus 3:3) 19. Question: What is the state of sin into which man fell? Answer: The state of sin consists in the guilt of Adam s first sin, the loss of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual sins which proceed from it. (Genesis 8:21; Psalm 51:3; Mark 7:14-23; Romans 3:9-18, 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3) 20. Question: What is the state of misery into which man fell? Answer: The state of misery consists in lost communion with God, placement under His wrath and curse, and subjection to all the miseries in this life, including death and the pains of hell forever. (Gen. 3:8-24; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15) Person & Work of God the Son 21. Question: Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery? Answer: No! God, out of His good pleasure, elected some to everlasting life in order to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvation by a redeemer. (Ex. 33:17-19; Jn. 6:35-40; Rom. 8:28-30, 9:1-18) 22. Question: Who is the redeemer of God s elect? Answer: The only redeemer of God s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became fully man while remaining fully God, being one person with two distinct natures. (John 10:11-18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25-27; I Tim. 2:3) 23. Question: How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Answer: Christ, being the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true human body and soul, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:14-18; Hebrews 2:9-18, 4:14-16) 24. Question: What offices does Christ execute as our redeemer? Answer: Christ as our redeemer executes the office of a prophet, of a priest and of a king, both in His state of humiliation and exaltation. (Deut. 18:18-19; Acts 3:22; Psalm 110; Hebrews 5:5-6; Psalm 2:4-9; Revelation 11:15) 25. Question: How does Christ execute the office of a prophet? Answer: Christ executes the office of a prophet by revealing to us God s will for our salvation by His Word and Spirit. (Deuteronomy 18:18-22; John 1:14-18, 14:26, 20:31; Acts 3:11-26) 26. Question: How does Christ execute the office of a priest? Answer: Christ executes the office of a priest by offering up Himself as a once-for-all sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and in making continual intercession for us. (Exodus 32:11-14; Leviticus 16; Hebrew 7:25-28; I John 2:1-2) 27. Question: How does Christ execute the office of a king? Answer: Christ executes the office of a king in subduing His people through conversion and in restraining and conquering all of His enemies. (Psalm 2:7-9; John 10:27-30; Acts 3:26; Revelation 19:11-16) 28. Question: What are the parts of Christ s humiliation? Answer: Christ s humiliation consists of being born of a woman, in a low condition, under the Law, and undergoing life s miseries, the wrath of God and the cursed death of a cross. (Luke 2:1-20; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14-18) 29. Question: What are the parts of Christ s exaltation? Answer: Christ s exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (Dan. 7:13-14; I Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 17:31; Rev. 1:7-8)

3 Person & Work of God the Spirit 30. Question: How do we partake of the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: We partake of the redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us by His Holy Spirit. (Genesis 2:7; John 1:12-13, 3:1-8; Titus 3:4-7) 31. Question: Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His role? Answer: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, sent by both the Father and Son to apply the benefits of Christ s redemption to those chosen by the Father through His indwelling ministry. (Jer. 31:31-34; Acts 1:4-5; John 3:1-8) 32. Question: How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us and by that faith uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Rom. 8:29-30; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:8-9). 33. Question: What is effectual calling? Answer: 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 does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel. (Ezek. 36:26-28; John 6:44,65, 16:7-11; Acts 2:37; I Cor. 2:6-16) 34. Question: What benefits do those who are effectually called receive in this life? Answer: Those who are effectually called receive in this life the blessings of justification, adoption, sanctification, and other various benefits which either accompany or flow from them. (Rom. 8:28-30; I Cor. 1:30-31; Eph. 1:3-6) 35. Question: What is justification? Answer: Justification is an act of God s free grace which comes through faith alone, wherein He pardons all our sins and constitutes sinners as righteous on the basis of Christ s imputed righteousness. (Gen. 15:1-6; Rom. 1:15-17, 4:1-8, 5:12-21) 36. Question: What does it mean to be justified by works? Answer: Justification by works means being justified by a faith which produces and requires works, since works are the necessary completion of true justifying faith. (Deut. 28:1-14; Matthew 7:21-23, 25:31-46; Romans 2:1-16; James 2:14-26) 37. Question: What is adoption? Answer: Adoption is an act of God s free grace whereby we are predestined and actually received into God s family and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:3-6; I John 3:1) 38. Question: What is sanctification? Answer: Sanctification, flowing from and an integral part of justification, is a work of God s Spirit, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after God s image and are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness. (Rom. 6:1-8:17; Eph. 4:20-24; II Thes. 2:13; Heb. 10:10-14) 39. Question: What benefits in this life flow from justification? Answer: In this life, the benefits are assurance of God s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase in grace, and perseverance to the end. (Proverbs 4:8; Romans 5:1-5, 14:17; I Peter 1:3-5; I John 5:13) 40. Question: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death? Answer: At their death, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness and do immediately come into Christ s presence and their bodies do rest in their graves until the resurrection. (Job 19:26; Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Heb 12:23) 41. Question: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? Answer: At the resurrection, believers will be raised up in glory as they meet Christ, their souls being joined to their resurrected bodies and their fellowship being with one another and with God for all eternity in Paradise. (Isaiah 66:17-25; I Cor. 15:35-58; I Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 21:1-22:5) 42. Question: What shall be done to the wicked at their death? Answer: At their death, the souls of the wicked shall be cast into the torments of Hades and their bodies will remain in their graves until the final resurrection and that terrible day of judgment. (Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:19-30; John 5:28-29) 43. Question: What will God do to the wicked on the day of judgment? Answer: On the day of judgment, the bodies of the wicked will be raised out of their graves, and shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to eternal suffering, with the devil and his angels. (Mt. 25:41; II Thes. 1:6-9; Rev. 20:11-15)

4 Role & Meaning of God s Law 44. Question: What law did God first reveal to man for his obedience? Answer: The law God first revealed to man for his obedience is the Mosaic Covenant, which is summarized in the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-21; Matthew 19:16-19; Romans 2:12-16) 45. Question: Is this Mosaic Covenant a covenant of works, rather than a covenant of grace? Answer: No! The Mosaic Covenant is a covenant of grace through faith emphasizing that only the doers of the law are justified, since faith without works is dead. (Deut. 30:11-14; Romans 2:13, 7:7-25; James 1:22-25, 2:14-26) 46. Question: Why did God give the Ten Commandments to man? Answer: God gave man the Ten Commandments to expose his sin and thereby lead him to faith in Christ and to be the standard for righteous living in the Christian life. (Mt. 5:17-18, 22:34-40; Rom. 7:7-12; II Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:1-29) 47. Question: How does Scripture summarize the Ten Commandments? Answer: The first four commandments are summarized by the great commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and the last six commandments by the second great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:4-5, 30:11-15; Mt. 22:37-40; Rom. 10:8-10) 48. Question: What is the first commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The first commandment is, You shall have no other gods before Me, which is fulfilled through loving Christ supremely, as the true Son of God. (Ex. 20:1-3; Mt. 10:34-39; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 14:25-35; John 14:15-24) 49. Question: What is the second commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The second commandment is, You shall not make for yourself any graven image, which is fulfilled by worshipping Christ only, as the true glory of God. (Ex. 20:4-6, 33:25-35; John 1:14-18, 14:7-9; Heb. 1:1-3) 50. Question: What is the third commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The third commandment is, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, which is fulfilled by following Christ sincerely, as the true righteousness of God. (Ex. 20:7; Mt. 5:33-37, 7:21-23; I Cor. 15:1-2; Jas. 2:14-26) 51. Question: What is the fourth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, which is fulfilled by believing in Christ completely, as the true Sabbath of God. (Ex. 20:8-11; Mt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:1-11) 52. Question: What is the fifth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The fifth commandment is, Honor your father and your mother, and is fulfilled by a faith working through love which favors the brethren, not just one s blood family. (Ex. 20:12; Mk. 3:20-35; Jn. 13:34-35; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:6) 53. Question: What is the sixth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The sixth commandment is, You shall not murder, and is fulfilled by a faith working through love which remains reconciled to, not angry with the brethren. (Ex. 20:13; Mt. 5:21-26; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 1:19-21) 54. Question: What is the seventh commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The seventh commandment is, You shall not commit adultery, and is fulfilled by a faith working through love which is pure, not immoral toward the brethren. (Ex. 20:14; Mt. 5:27-32; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:19-24) 55. Question: What is the eighth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The eighth commandment is, You shall not steal, and is fulfilled by a faith working though love which shares with, not steals from the brethren. (Ex. 20:15; Eph. 4:28; Rom. 13:8-10) 56. Question: What is the ninth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The ninth commandment is, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, and is fulfilled by a faith working though love which deals truthfully, not falsely with the brethren. (Ex. 20:16; Rom. 13:8-10; Eph. 4:25-27; Rev. 21:8, 22:15) 57. Question: What is the tenth commandment and how is it fulfilled in the gospel of Christ? Answer: The tenth commandment is, You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor, and is fulfilled by a faith working though love which is content, not covetous toward the brethren. (Ex. 20:17; Rom. 7:7-12, 13:8-10; Phil. 4:10-13) 58. Question: Is any man able to keep perfectly the Law of God? Answer: No mere man, since the fall, is able to keep perfectly the commandments of God, since there is none righteous, not even one, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Gen. 8:21; Rom. 3:10-12, 23; Gal. 3:10)

5 59. Question: What does every sin deserve? Answer: Every sin deserves God s wrath and curse, both in this life and in that which is to come. (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 2:6-10, 6:23) Reception & Means of God s Grace 60. Question: How may we escape His wrath and curse due to us for our sin? Answer: To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, which includes trusting in His blood and righteousness alone and repenting for the past, leading to holiness of life. (Genesis 15:6; John 3:16-18; Romans 3:21-31; Acts 16:29-31) 61. Question: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is set forth in the gospel. (Ezek. 36:22-36; John 1:12-13; Phil. 3:7-11) 62. Question: What is repentance to life? Answer: Repentance to life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sins and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it to God, in delightful servitude and love. (Jeremiah 31:18-19; Acts 2:37, 11:18; II Tim. 2:24-25) 63. Question: What is the final test of true faith and repentance? Answer: True faith and repentance will always and clearly be marked by love for the brethren. (John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:6; I John 4:7-21) 64. Question: What are the outward means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of redemption? Answer: The outward means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of Christ s redemption are the Word, by which souls are born again, Baptism, the Lord s Supper, Prayer, and Singing, all by which believers are further edified in their faith. (Acts 2:42; Rom. 10:14-17; Eph. 5:18-19; I Peter 1:22-25; Jude 20-21) 65. Question: What is the normal context for experiencing these outward means of grace? Answer: The normal context for experiencing these outward means of grace is the local church, which is the pillar and support of the truth. (I Tim. 3:14-16; Rev 1:10-11) 66. Question: How is the Word of God a means of grace? Answer: The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convicting and converting sinners and of building up the saints in their most holy faith. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 10:14-17; Jude 20-21) 67. Question: How is the Word to be received that it may become effectual to salvation? Answer: To become effectual to salvation, the Word must be received with all humility, in a spirit of repentance. (John 8:31-32; James 1:19-27) 68. Question: How are Baptism and the Lord s Supper a means of grace? Answer: Baptism and the Lord s Supper are means of grace which powerfully symbolize the only true way of receiving God s saving grace in Christ, which is by faith alone. (Romans 6:1-11; I Corinthians 11:23-34) 69. Question: What is baptism? Answer: Baptism is an ordinance of the New Covenant, instituted by Jesus Christ, and signifying the washing of sins, the circumcision of the heart, and union with Him in His death, burial and ultimately, His resurrection, by faith alone. (Ezekiel 36:25; John 3:5; Romans 6:1-5; Titus 3:4-7) 70. Question: To whom is baptism to be administered? Answer: Baptism is to be administered only to believers, since only believers have been washed of their sins, circumcised in their hearts, and joined to Christ by faith alone. (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-41, 8:26-36, 38-40) 71. Question: Are the infants of believers to be baptized as they were circumcised in the Old Covenant? Answer: No! Infants should not be baptized, since baptism signifies the completion of that which was but prophesied in circumcision, namely that one must be born again. (Gen. 17:9-14; Ezek. 36:22-36; John 3:1-8; Rom. 2:25-28; Col. 2:9-14) 72. Question: What is the proper mode of baptism? Answer: The proper mode of baptism appears to be immersion, or the dipping of the whole person in water, in the name of the triune God, as instituted by Christ and practiced by the apostles. (Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 8:38-39)

6 73. Question: What is the Lord s Supper? Answer: The Lord s Supper is an ordinance of the New Covenant, instituted by Jesus Christ as a wordless proclamation of His death for sinners through the breaking of the bread, which signifies His broken body, and through the drinking of the cup, which signifies His shed blood. (Mt. 26:26-28; I Corinthians 11:23-34) 74. Question: Who is to partake of the Lord s Supper? Answer: Only believers are to partake of the Lord s Supper, since only believers share in the crucified body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that by faith alone. (Acts 2:42, 20:7; I Corinthians 11:23-34) 75. Question: What does it mean to eat and drink in an unworthy manner? Answer: To eat and drink in an unworthy manner is to judge Christ s body incorrectly, showing partiality toward some, instead of demonstrating love to all the brethren. (John 13:34-35; I Corinthians 11:23-34; James 2:1-26) 76. Question: How is prayer a means of grace? Answer: Prayer is the language of faith and therefore the primary means of laying hold of God s saving grace toward us who believe in Christ. (Mt. 6:9-15, 7:7-11; Jn. 15:7; Eph. 1:15-22; Heb. 11:1-12:3; James 4:2-3) 77. Question: How is the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs a means of grace? Answer: The singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is a means of grace which teaches and admonishes the Word of grace through congregational singing. (Ex. 15:1-21; Psalms 1-150; Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:16) Concluding Matters 78. Question: Who is responsible to rule and manage the local church? Answer: The elders are responsible to rule and manage the church, having met clear standards, having real authority as a plurality, and being distinct from deacons, who enable the elders to minister the Word and to pray. (Acts 6:1-6; I Tim. 3:1-13, 5:17; Titus 1:5-9) 79. Question: What is the duty of elders to their local church? Answer: Elders must shepherd the flock voluntarily, eagerly, and by way of example, using the Word skillfully to exhort and refute, as those accountable to God for the condition of their flocks. (Titus 1:9; I Peter 5:1-4; Heb. 13:17) 80. Question: What is the duty of believers to their local church and her elders? Answer: Believers are responsible to love one another in the local church, praying, serving, and preferring each other, and are pointedly commanded to esteem, imitate, and submit to their elders with a pleasant and cooperative spirit. (I Thessalonians 5:12-13; I Timothy 5:17-18; Hebrews 13:7, 17)