Answer: First, that all and every one, who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, partakers of him, and of all his riches and gifts; (a) secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members. (b)
(a)
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also
may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 Cor.1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called
unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom.8:32 He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things? 1 Cor.12:12 For as the body is one, and hath
many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:
so also is Christ. 1 Cor.12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been
all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor.6:17 But he that is joined unto the
Lord is one spirit. (b) 1 Cor.12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I
have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1
Cor.13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Cor.13:5 Doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil; Philip.2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. Philip.2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus: Philip.2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: Philip.2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philip.2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Question 56. What believest thou concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?
Answer: That God, for the sake of Christ's satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; (a) but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ, (b) that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God. (c)
(a)
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 2 Cor.5:19 To wit, that God was
in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor.5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him. (b) Jer.31:34 And they shall teach no more
every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for
they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no
more. Ps.103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy
diseases; Ps.103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee
with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Ps.103:10 He hath not dealt with us
after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Ps.103:12 As far
as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from
us. Mic.7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will
subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the
sea. Rom.7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of
my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my
members. Rom.7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death? Rom.7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with
the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (c)
Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom.8:2 For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. Rom.8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh: Rom.8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Question
57. What comfort does the "resurrection of the body" afford thee?
Answer: That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its head; (a) but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ. (b)
(a)
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me
in paradise. Philip.1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philip.1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to
be with Christ; which is far better: (b) 1 Cor.15:53 For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor.15:54 So
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Job 19:25 For I know that my
redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job
19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I
see God: 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
like him; for we shall see him as he is. Philip.3:21 Who shall change our vile
body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the
working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Question 58. What comfort takest thou from the article of "life everlasting"?
Answer: That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, (a) after this life, I shall inherit perfect salvation, which "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man" to conceive, and that to praise God therein for ever. (b)
(a)
2 Cor.5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our
house which is from heaven: 2 Cor.5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not
be found naked. (b) 1 Cor.2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Question 59. But what does it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
Answer: That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. (a)
(a)
Hab.2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just
shall live by his faith. Rom.1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Question 60. How are thou righteous before God?
Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; (a) so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, (b) and am still inclined to all evil; (c) notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, (d) but only of mere grace, (e) grants and imputes to me, (f) the perfect satisfaction, (g) righteousness and holiness of Christ; (h) even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (i) inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. (j)
(a)
Rom.3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; Rom.3:22 Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for
there is no difference: Rom.3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; Rom.3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom.3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Rom.3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law. Rom.5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ: Rom.5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Gal.2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Eph.2:8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph.2:9 Not
of works, lest any man should boast. Philip.3:9 And be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (b) Rom.3:9 What
then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (c) Rom.7:23 But I see another
law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (d) Tit.3:5 Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Deut.9:6
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to
possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Ezek.36:22
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this
for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have
profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. (e) Rom.3:24 Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Eph.2:8 For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: (f) Rom.4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt. Rom.4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 2 Cor.5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation. (g) 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not
for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (h) 1 John 2:1 My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (i) 2
Cor.5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. (j) Rom.3:22 Even the righteousness of
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
for there is no difference: John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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