This week we begin with Question 31 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 31: What do we believe by true faith? Answer: 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, suffer

Question 26: What else does Christ’s death redeem? Answer: 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. The final two visions of the book of Revelation are of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-8), followed by a vision of the New Jerusalem, the holy city coming down out of heaven (Rev. 21:9-22:5). In these alternate pictures of the same reality, G

Question 26: What else does Christ’s death redeem? Answer: 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. Jesus Christ came into this world as a man, where he lived his life in obedience to God and died in the place of men. The redeeming work of Christ was for the primary purpose of achieving the forgiveness of sins and the counting of righteousness to t

This week we begin with Question 26 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 26: What else does Christ’s death redeem? Answer: 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. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, it was not only humanity that was affected by their acti

Question 16: What is sin? Answer: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation. What is the result of our sin? The catechism identifies “death and the disintegration of all creation.” God made us as his image to rule over his world so that it would flourish. But when humanity fell into sin, leading

Question 5: What else did God create? Answer: God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule. God does all things in wisdom, and that means every facet of creation has been designed by him for some purpose. As his creatures, we flourish when we live according to his design. When we rebel against his design, we find ourselves fighting against the fabric of reality, leading to frustration and, ultimat

Question 5: What else did God create? Answer: God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule. What do we mean when we say something is “good”? “That was a good movie.” “That was a good burger.” “My son is a good baseball player.” “She is a good friend.” In all of these examples (and many more we could add), the word “good” means “well-suited to purpose.” A good movie fulfills the purpose of a movie:

This week we come to Question 5 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 1 of the catechism (questions 1-20), which focuses on God, creation and the fall, and the law. Question 5: What else did God create? Answer: God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule. When it comes to giving an account for the existence of the universe, we basically have four options. One option is that the universe has al

God is Creator and Sustainer, which leads us to affirm the doctrines of creation and providence.

Without a clear, biblical doctrine of creation, the gospel makes no sense.

How does the Bible picture the culmination of Christ's redeeming work?

Christ died to redeem humanity. But how does the redemption of humanity affect the earth itself?

Sin's effects on the earth turned it into a graveyard, which it was never intended to be.

What is the connection between our sin and redemption and the creation itself? What does God have planned for the earth?

We live wisely when we live according to God's design instead of rebelling against it. The book of Proverbs shows that this is true wisdom.

What does it mean that God created the world "very good"? What has gone wrong, and how is it made right?

When it comes to our understanding of God and creation, we basically have four options: pantheism, atheism, panentheism, or theism.

God is creator and sustainer of all. Scripture teaches the distinct doctrines of creation and providence.