Tabernacle Presbyterian Church & The New City Catechism

Question #31, What do we believe by true faith?

Q. What do we believe by true faith? A. Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed 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. 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 church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Question #30 - What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Q. What is faith in Jesus Christ? A. Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Children's Answer: Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Question #29

Q. How can we be saved? A. Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.
Children's Answer: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.

Question #28

Q. What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith? A. At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.
Children's Answer: They will be cast out from the presence of God, into hell, to be justly punished, forever.

Question #27

Q. Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ? A. No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being.
Children's Answer: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.

Question #26

Q. What else does Christ’s death redeem? A. Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.
Children's Answer: Every part of fallen creation.

Question #25

Q. Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? A. Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.
Children's Answer: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God will remember our sins no more.

Question #24

Q. Why must the Redeemer be truly God? A. That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
Children's Answer: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.

Question #23

Q. Why must the Redeemer be truly God? A. That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
Children's Answer: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.

Question #22

A. Why must the Redeemer be truly human? Q. That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and also that he might sympathize with our weaknesses.
Children's Answer: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.