But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:1 (ESV)
1. Who is God?
God is spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He is holy, wise, powerful, just, and good.
(Exodus 3:14; Exodus 34:7; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 107:8; Job 11:7-9; Malachi 3:6; John 4:24; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 6:18; James 1:17; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 15:4)
2. How does God reveal Himself to humanity?
God reveals Himself sufficiently to all humanity through His creation and His implanting of a conscience. This general revelation is sufficient to make no man ignorant of Him and for all to be equally guilty of their rebellion against Him.
(Romans 1:18-20; Romans 2:14-15)
3. Does God reveal Himself more specifically?
Yes, God revealed himself specifically to Israel by means of the ten commandments, the Levitical laws and sacrifices, and through the prophets; He reveals Himself to all humanity finally through His Son Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures.
(Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17-19; Galatians 3:23-27; Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 1:1-2)
4. Is there more than one God?
There is only one God, the only creator who is the living and true God.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6)
5. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, of the same substance, equal in power and glory.
(Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16–17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
6. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Faith in Jesus Christ describes our trust in His work alone for our salvation and His return for our rescue.
(John 1:12; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; Revelation 22:20)
7. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity that is sent to those who have faith in Jesus Christ to change their affections in agreement with His and to remind them of their adoption to God.
(Ezekiel 36:22-27; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 16:7-14)
8. What is the purpose of humanity?
Our purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31; Psalm 86:9; Romans 11:36; Psalm 16:5–11; Psalm 144:15; Isaiah 12:2)
9. How does humanity bring glory to God?
We glorify God by reminding ourselves and revealing to others how worthy God is of our adoration. We do this through our trust and enjoyment of Him; the glad sacrifice of our time, resources, and talents to the benefit of His Kingdom.
(Matthew 5:16, John 15:8, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Philippian 1:9-11; Romans 12:1)
10. In what ways does God tell us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
God reveals this to us through His Word contained in the Scriptures of the 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.
(Ephesians 2:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:3–4; Galatians 1:8–9)
11. What else do the Scriptures reveal?
The Scriptures reveal the character of God, His promises, how He has worked in the past, and what duty He requires of us.
(John 20:31; 2 Timothy 1:13; Micah 6:8; 1 Samuel 15:22)
12. What is the duty which God requires of man?
The duty which God requires of man is obedience to His revealed will and to act as ambassadors, representing God to the world, and proclaiming His message of reconciliation.
(Micah 6:8; Deuteronomy 29:29; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
13. Are the Scriptures wholly sufficient to reveal God?
Yes, the Scriptures are inspired and preserved by God such that they are wholly sufficient for a life of faith.
(2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:23-25; Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25)
14. Does God reveal Himself in other ways to humanity?
God reveals Himself through the work of the Holy Spirit in our conscience and through His church to remind one another of His words.
(2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 4:15; Hebrews 3:13)
15. What is the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
Conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit where He reveals that our thoughts, actions, or feelings are not in alignment with God’s and needing of repentance and correction.
(John 16:8; 2 Corinthians 7:10)
16. In what way is God sovereign?
God is sovereign over His eternal purpose such that He has foreordained all that comes to pass.
(Ephesians 1:4–11; Romans 9:22–23; Isaiah 46:10)
17. How does God execute His sovereign will?
God executes His will through His works of creation and providence.
(Revelation 4:11; Daniel 4:35)
18. What is the work of creation?
All things that exist were created by God, out of nothing, by His word, and are all very good.
(Genesis 1:1, 31; Hebrews 11:3)
19. How did God create humans?
God personally created all humanity, male and female, by breathing life into them; creating them after His own image.
(Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 139:13-16)
20. What is the work of providence?
Providence is God’s governing and preserving all of His creation and all their actions by His wisdom and power and conforming all effects to His sovereign will.
(Psalm 139:1-6; Psalm 145:17; Psalm 104:24; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29–31; Romans 8:28)
21. How did Adam and Eve dwell before they sinned?
Adam and Eve were provided a one-flesh partnership and were given the work of populating the earth, subduing it through their dominion, and to work and keep it.
(Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 2:24)
22. Did Adam and Eve continue in the state of their creation?
Adam and Eve, being left to the freedom of their own will, did not trust God, rebelled against Him and fell from the state in which they were created.
(Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 3:6–8)
23. What is sin?
Sin is rebellious distrust of God. It includes both intentional rebellion and unintentional transgression of God’s law or will.
(1 John 3:4; James 4:17; Romans 3:23)
24. What is idolatry?
Idolatry is the placing of trust on created things rather than the Creator for our peace, joy, and contentment.
(Romans 1:21-25)
25. Did all humanity fall in Adam’s first act of rebellion?
God made a covenant with Adam and his descendants such that his fall propagated to all humanity that descended from him by ordinary generation.
(Romans 5:12, 18–19; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22)
26. What was the state of man resulting from the fall?
All mankind, by their rebellion, broke their relationship with God, are under His wrath, and experience the miseries of this life, death, and eternal separation from Him in hell.
(Genesis 3:8, 24; Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41, 46)
27. What were other results of the fall?
All creation was impacted by the transgression of Adam resulting in the decay of the human body and the world, disease, violence, difficulty, and death of all things.
(Romans 8:19-22)
28. Did God abandon all mankind in this fallen state?
God, out of His good pleasure, from before the foundations of the world, determined that some would be rescued from this state of rebellion, sin, and misery and bring them into a state of salvation by sending a Redeemer.
(Ephesians 1:4; Romans 3:20–22; Galatians 3:21–22)
29. What did God first reveal to man for his obedience?
The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law as revealed in the Ten Commandments.
(Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 2:14-15)
30. Is any man able to perfectly keep the moral law of God?
No mere human, since the fall, is able to perfectly keep the moral law of God, but routinely breaks them in thought, word, and deed.
(Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; James 3:2)
31. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
All sins constitute equal rebellion against the authority of God. Sins committed intentionally are more heinous than unintentional sins as they demonstrate conscientious and continued rebellion against God.
(Hebrews 10:26, 1 John 3:6)
32. What does every sin deserve?
Every sin is a usurpation of our infinite God’s authority and undermines His Lordship in our lives and thus deserves infinite wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.
(Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Matthew 25:41)
33. What does God require, that we may escape His wrath and curse due to sin?
God requires of us confession and repentance of known sins and a trust in the redeeming plan of God through His Son Jesus Christ. This is authenticated by an outwardly changed life that produces fruit in service to God as ambassadors of Christ.
(James 5:16; Acts 2:38; John 3:16; Galatians 5:17; James 5:22-25; Galatians 5:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).
34. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was and continues to be both God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever.
(1 Timothy 2:5–6; Acts 4:12; John 1:1, 14; Galatians 4:4–5; Colossians 2:9)
35. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true body and a reasoning soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary such that He was born of her and yet without sin.
(Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 26:38; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Luke 2:7; Hebrews 4:15)
36. Why was it necessary that the Redeemer be fully man?
That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and that He might sympathize with our weaknesses.
(Hebrews 2:17)
37. Why was it necessary that the Redeemer be fully God?
No other besides God with His divine nature could endure the infinite penalty due to the sin of humanity, live a life of perfect obedience, and raise Himself from the grave, then willingly apply the results to both Himself and the redeemed
(Acts 2:24; Romans 5:19; Hebrews 5:8-9)
38. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
Christ executes the offices of prophet, priest, and king, both in His state of humiliation and exaltation.
(Deuteronomy 18:18; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 5:5–6; Psalm 2:6)
39. How does Christ execute the office of prophet?
Christ executes the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
(John 1:18; John 15:15; 1 Corinthians 2:13–14)
40. How does Christ execute the office of priest?
Christ executes the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, to reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
(Hebrews 9:28; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Hebrews 7:25)
41. How does Christ execute the office of king?
Christ executes the office of king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His, and our, enemies
(Acts 15:14–16; Isaiah 33:22; 1 Corinthians 15:25, 1 Peter 1:17-21)
42. What was the manner of Christ’s humiliation?
It consisted in His departure from heaven and emptying of himself, being born in a low condition, under the law, enduring the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, death on a cross; buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
(Philippians 2:7; Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:46; Philippians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 2:24–27)
43. What is the manner of Christ’s exaltation?
Christ’s exaltation consists in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day and reigning forever and ever.
(1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3; Acts 17:31)
44. What else did Jesus Christ redeem?
Jesus began the work of redemption and renewal that will ultimately and finally redeem all of creation in a new heaven and a new earth.
(Isaiah 11:6-9; Colossians 1:19-20; Revelation 21:1-4; Revelation 22:3-5)
45. How are we redeemed by Christ?
We were purchased by the blood of Christ which has been effectively applied to us by His Holy Spirit.
(Titus 3:5–6; 1 Corinthians 6:11)
46. How does the Spirit apply this redemption to us?
The Holy Spirit works faith in us, which unites us to Christ through an effectual calling.
(Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:9)
47. What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of the Holy Spirit where He convinces us of our sin, enlightens our minds to the knowledge of Christ, renews our wills, and persuades and enables us to receive the free gift offered to us by Jesus Christ.
(2 Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 2:37; Acts 26:18; Ezekiel 36:26; John 6:44–45)
48. What benefits do those who are effectually called receive?
Those whom God has effectually called receive justification, adoption, sanctification, and the various benefits which accompany these in this life.
(Romans 5:1; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:3)
49. What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace, by which the just wrath of God toward us was laid on Christ cancelling our past and future record of debt. God simultaneously applied Christ’s righteousness to us, thereby fully reconciling us to Himself.
(Romans 3:24; Romans 3:23-26; 1 John 4:10; Colossians 2:13-14; Philippians 3:9; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:19)
50. What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace after having been justified, we are received by God as His reconciled children.
(1 John 3:1; Luke 10:20; Romans 8:17)
51. What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the ongoing work of God’s free grace, whereby we are being made into the likeness of Christ through the continual conviction of sin and by the increased bearing of spiritual fruit. Enabling us to increasingly die to our sin and live to righteousness to bring glory to God.
(2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Galatians 5:22-24; Romans 6:4, 6, 14)
52. What are the benefits that accompany our justification, adoption, and sanctification?
The benefits which in this life accompany our justification, adoption, and sanctification are: assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, contentment in Christ, increase of grace, and perseverance to the end.
(Romans 5:5; Romans 5:1; Romans 14:17; Proverbs 4:18; 1 Peter 1:5; Philippians 4:12-13)
53. What are not benefits of justification, adoption, and sanctification?
God does not promise avoidance of temptation, comfort, convenience, material blessing, health, or long life.
(Mark 10:21-22; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
54. Does God remove any of these benefits once applied to a believer?
God does not remove justification, adoption, sanctification, or the benefits thereof once applied lest He be given to error or changed His mind, neither of which are possible.
(Deuteronomy 32:4; Matthew 5:48; Malachi 3:6)
55. What are the consequences for those who are not redeemed?
Those who have not received justification, adoption, and sanctification remain in their sin and deficiency of righteousness and will face the just judgment for their rebellion against an infinite God. They will be separated from God and suffer eternally in hell being continually destroyed.
(John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
56. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and immediately pass into glory, the presence of Christ, while their bodies remain in their graves until they are resurrected.
(Hebrews 12:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:53)
57. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their resurrection?
At the resurrection, the bodies of believers will be glorified, they will be acquitted in the day of judgment and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for all eternity.
(1 Corinthians 15:43; Matthew 25:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
58. What is the danger in relying on our own merit and works for salvation?
To rely upon our own merit or work is to deny the necessity of God’s justification, adoption, and sanctification, thus showing contempt for the only means by which God has given man to be saved.
(John 14:6; Ephesians 2:4-9)
59. What is repentance unto life?
Repentance unto life is a gift of God, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of their sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, turns from their sin with grief and hatred toward it and turns toward God with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.
(Acts 11:18; Luke 15:7; Joel 2:13)
60. What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The Gospel is the good news that God has redeemed us by His grace alone through faith and trust in the free gift of His Son Jesus Christ who conquered Satan, sin, and death on our behalf.
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
61. How does Christ remind us of the benefits of our redemption?
Christ reminds us of the benefits of our redemption through His Word, the sacraments, and prayer.
(Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:42, 46–47)
62. How is the Word effective for salvation?
The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners.
(Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:17)
63. How is the Word effective for sanctification?
We must attend to it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love; meditate on it in our hearts; and practice it in our lives.
(Psalm 119:11; 18; James 1:22; Hebrews 4:2)
64. What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, in which, by common acts, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
(Romans 4:11; 1 Corinthians 11:26)
65. What are the sacraments of the New Testament?
The sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
(Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
66. How are the sacraments effective for salvation?
The sacraments become effective for salvation not from any virtue in them or in the one who administers them, but only due to the blessing of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in those who receive them in faith.
(1 Corinthians 3:6–7; 1 Peter 3:21)
67. What is Baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament, in which the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, signifies our being united to Christ in His burial and His resurrection.
(Romans 6:4; Titus 3:5)
68. Who is to be Baptized?
Baptism is to be administered to any that profess their faith in Christ and desire to obey Him.
(Acts 2:38–39)
69. What is the Lord’s Supper?
The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament that remembers the work of Jesus Christ and His death by partaking of His body and blood in a worthy manner thus receiving spiritual nourishment.
(1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
70. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?
It is required of those who would worthily receive the Lord’s Supper that they examine themselves and discern the body of the church; lest they come to partake without repentance or faith and eat and drink judgment on themselves.
(1 Corinthians 11:27–30)
71. What is prayer?
God gives us prayer to communicate directly with Him, through Christ, by the help of the Holy Spirit, with confession of our sins, thankful acknowledgement of His mercies, and to make requests we believe are agreeable to His will.
(Philippians 4:6; 1 John 5:14; John 16:23–24)
72. In what manner is prayer effective?
God answers all prayers offered up in agreement with His will. For those requests contrary to His will, He graciously reminds us that our desires are imperfect and effectively aligns our desires and will with His.
(1 John 5:14-15; James 5:16-17)
73. For what purpose is the gathering of the redeemed?
The gathering of the redeemed is a weekly occurrence by which believers gather to corporately worship God under Biblical leadership, in song, proclaim the Gospel from God’s Word, remember Christ through the Lord’s Supper, and to fellowship with one another by sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:42; Romans 12:4-8; Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 10:25)
74. Why is the gathering of the redeemed essential for faith?
The frequent gathering of believers in corporate worship stirs up one another to love and good works and encourages us through the tribulations of this life by reminding us of the Gospel and equipping us for the ministry of reconciliation.
(Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
75. In what ways does humanity encounter temptation?
Humanity is tempted when lured and enticed to satisfy natural desires in ways contrary to that which God has intended and provided.
(Philippians 4:11-13; James 1:14)
76. What power do the redeemed have over temptation?
God has given His redeemed the Holy Spirit who changes their desires to be increasingly in agreement with Him and by giving discernment to understand the inadequacy of the temptation.
(Galatians 5:16-17)
77. Who is Satan?
Satan is a created angel who first rebelled against God and who, since the fall of man, has been actively tempting and deceiving humanity while accusing them of their failures.
(Genesis 3:1-10; Revelation 12:10; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:3)
78. In what ways may the redeemed discern the will of God for their lives?
The Holy Spirit changes the hearts of the redeemed thereby renewing their minds such that they might discern the will of God. Yet when in error, God conforms every decision made in faith for the good of those who love him.
(Romans 8:28; Romans 11:36; Romans 12:2; Romans 14:23)
79. How should the redeemed engage with authorities over them?
God has given all authority by His will and good pleasure and commands us to obey the authorities inasmuch as they do not cause us to sin.
(Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; Acts 5:29)
80. How should the redeemed engage with the world around them?
The redeemed must remain holy (separate) from the world yet remain in the world and amongst the lost as ambassadors of Christ entrusted with His message of reconciliation.
(John 17:14-18; 1 John 5:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
81. What is our future hope in Christ?
Our future hope rests in the imminent return of Christ to be glorified in His saints when He comes in power and glory to gather believers to Himself.
(2 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
82. What is our final hope of eternity?
Our final hope is in Christ, that we will live with Him immortally in a new heaven and a new earth in perfected bodies without sin, sorrow, or death.
(Revelation 21:1-4; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 Corinthians 15:53)