This week we begin with Question 51 of the New City Catechism, found in part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 51: Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension? Answer: Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. One part of the Bible's story th

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; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus taught his disciples that they were to be the salt of the earth and t

This week we begin with Question 33 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. 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. Why can’t we rely on our good works to

This week we begin with Question 32 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 32: What do justification and sanctification mean? Answer: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us. The saving work of Christ affects two things about

Question 29: How can we be saved? Answer: 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. Conversion to Christ through faith and repentance results in our justification before God, which includes t

Question 25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? Answer: 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. In the previous installment I noted that there are two things that must happen for us to have eternal life: (1) we must have our sins forgiven, which removes God’s wrath from us; (2) we must have righteousness counted

Question 25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? Answer: 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. If we are going to be right with God and inherit eternal life, two things need to happen: (1) we must have our sins forgiven, which removes God’s wrath from us; (2) we must have righteousness counted to us, which enti

Question 24: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die? Answer: Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life. All of history is moving toward a final judgment, the moment when God’s righteousness will be fully revealed as he

Question 15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose? Answer: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. The law holds up God’s holy standard before us, and in so doing demonstrates how sinful we are. In this way, the law points us to our need for a Savior and prepares the way for us to rest in Christ a

Question 13: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? Answer: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed. The catechism rightly says “no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.” By inserting the word “mere,” it indicates that One who is fully human, but not merely human, namely, Jesus Christ the God-man, has indeed fulfilled the law of God perfectly. The sinlessness of

Question 12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments? Answer: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. Our survey through the ten commandments has brought us face-to-face with the reality that God’s law is holy, righteous, and good, and we are not. Because we are in Adam, we have inherited sin and guilt from birth that issues forth in inner mo

This week we come to Question 7 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 1 (questions 1-20), which focuses on God, creation and the fall, and the law. Question 7: What does the law of God require? Answer: Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done. God’s law reflects his holy character. It is give

The ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven fulfills the destiny of our design: to rule over the world to come, and even over angels.

There is no greater defense of the gospel than the holy lives of those who profess to believe it.

Can we rely partly on God's grace and partly on our own efforts for salvation? Absolutely not.

Salvation affects both our standing with God and our personal condition. Both elements are necessary.

God demands absolute perfection, and in Christ, that is exactly what we have.

The forgiveness of our sins is one half of justification, but the other half is the counting of Christ's righteousness to us.

In order to be right with God, our sins must be forgiven. The death of Christ has secured this blessing for his people.

The final judgment is necessary to Christian teaching. How does Jesus' death relate to it? What does it mean for us?