A Weekly Reading from the


Lord’s Day 7: Saving Faith

Lord’s Day 7

Saving Faith

Divine Deliverance

Question 20

Are all men then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?

Answer

No; 1 only those who are ingrafted into him, and, receive all his benefits, by a true faith. 2

Question 21

What is true faith?

Answer

True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, 3 but also an assured confidence, 4 which the Holy Ghost 5 works by the gospel in my heart; 6 that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, 7 are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits. 8

Question 22

What is then necessary for a christian to believe?

Answer

All things promised us in the gospel, 9 which the articles of our catholic undoubted christian faith briefly teach us.

Question 23

What are these articles?

Answer
  1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: 2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell: 5. The third day he rose again from the dead: 6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: 7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead: 8. I believe in the Holy Ghost: 9. I believe a holy catholic church: the communion of saints: 10. The forgiveness of sins: 11. The resurrection of the body: 12. And the life everlasting.
· · ·