August Questions
Question 31: August 2
QUESTION 31: What do we believe by true faith ?
Answer: Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creeda expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.b The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic c church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Scripture: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
Answer: Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creeda expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.b The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic c church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Scripture: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
- a.) The Apostles’ Creed contains a basic summary of the apostles’ teaching. The creed began developing in the 2nd century A.D. and continued to be developed until the 8th century A.D.
- b.) This phrase was added to the Apostles’ Creed in the 8th century A.D. That Christ “descended into hell” is based primarily on an interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-20 with little additional Scriptural support. Because the statement is a late addition, has little Biblical support, and is not a universally recognized element of faith, we believe the statement should be removed from the current form of the Apostles’ Creed. For more information, read Wayne Grudem’s article entitled, “He Did Not Descent into Hell: A Plea for Following Scripture Instead of the Apostles’ Creed,” available at www.fellowshipjoplin.org/catechism.
- c.) When catholic is used with a lowercase ‘c,’ it simply means universal. This statement signifies that we believe that all believers make up the church of Jesus Christ on earth.
Question 32: August 9
QUESTION 32: What do justification and sanctification mean?a
Answer: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us.b Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.c
Scripture: To those who are elect exiles…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Answer: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us.b Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.c
Scripture: To those who are elect exiles…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 37, 39, and 40.
- b.) Romans 3:24. And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:18-19. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's isobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Ephesians 1:7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Galatians 2:16. Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. See also 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9, and Titus 3:5, 7.
- c.) Romans 6:11. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Ephesians 4:23-24. And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. See also Ezekiel 36:27, Romans 6:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 3:16-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and 1 Peter 2:24.
Question 33: August 16
QUESTION 33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else ?
Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.a
Scripture: Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.a
Scripture: Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
- a.) Romans 3:24. and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. See also 2 Timothy 1:12 and Jude 24.
Question 34: August 23
QUESTION 34: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word ?
Answer: Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God;a so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits;b and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.c
Scripture: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12)
Answer: Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God;a so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits;b and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.c
Scripture: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12)
- a.) Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
- b.) 1 Thessalonians 1:3-5. Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
- c.) Matthew 5:14-16. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Question 35: August 30
QUESTION 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?a
Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.b
Scripture: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:4-6)
Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.b
Scripture: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:4-6)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 34.
- b.) Romans 8:9. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 1 Corinthians 12:3. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.