Redeemer Rockford Students

Answer: The Lord’s Supper is a holy ordinance of the church. By eating bread and drinking the cup according to Christ’s appointment we show forth his death. Those who eat and drink in a worthy manner partake of Christ’s body and blood, not physically, but spiritually in that by faith they are nourished with the benefits he purchased, and grow in grace.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 10:16.

Answer: It is required of those who would worthily (that is, suitably) partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves--of their knowledge, that they discern the Lord’s body; their faith, that they feed upon him; and their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:8; 11:27-31; 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Answer: Baptism is a holy ordinance, in which immersion in the water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, signifies our being joined to Christ and our sharing the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27.

Answer: Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; and to no other.

Scripture: Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36; 10:47, 48; Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16.

Answer: The infants of believers are not to be baptized; because there is neither command nor example in the Holy Scriptures, nor implication from them to baptize such. But baptism is made an expression of faith.

Scripture: Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26, 27.

Answer: Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38, 39.

Answer: It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give themselves to some visible and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Scripture: Acts 2:46, 47; 9:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 10:25; Romans 16:5.

Answer: The visible church is the organized society of professing believers, in all ages and places, wherein the gospel is truly preached and the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper administered in true faith.

Scripture: Acts 2:42; 20:7; 7:38; Ephesians 4:11, 12.

Answer. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.

Scripture: Ephesians 1:10; 1:22, 23; John 10:16; 11:52.

Answer: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effective means of salvation, not from any virtue in them or in him that administers them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in those who by faith receive them.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7; 12:13.

Answer: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper differ from the other ordinances of God in that they were specially instituted by Christ to represent and apply to believers the benefits of the new covenant by visible and outward signs.

Scripture: Acts 22:16; Matthew 26:26-28; 28:19; Romans 6:4.

Are you a sinner? Are you seeking rest? have you been burned by the church? Is Christmas a weary time for you? Are you seeking relief from guilt? In this sermon Pastor JT zero's in on the very heart of Christ and thus what makes the incarnation of Christ such good news to poor sinners and sufferers. 

Many preachers use this story of the lions den to point to Daniel as a moral example for Christian living. But how would that of encouraged those suffering exiles to whom Daniel's book was written for? Pastor JT shows us how Daniel 6 points to someone much greater and better than Daniel and how the gospel is our only source of salvation in this life. 

Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means by which Christ gives to us the benefits of redemption?

The outward and ordinary means by which Christ gives to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer, and all these are made effective in the salvation of the elect.[a]

[a]. Mat 28:18-20;   Acts 2:41-42

Q. 89. How is the Word of God made effective to salvation?

The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effective means of convincing and converting sinners, and building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, to salvation.[a]

[a]. Neh 8:8-9;   Acts 20:32;   Rom 10:14-17;   2 Tim 3:15-17

Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effective to salvation?

We must attend to the Word with diligence, preparation and prayer,[a] receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives,[b] so that it may become effective to salvation.

[a]. Deu 6:16-18;   Psa 119:18;   1 Pet 2:1-2

Q. 85. What does God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?

To escape the wrath and curse due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and repentance leading to life[a] together with the diligent use of all the outward means by which Christ gives to us the benefits of redemption.[b]

[a]. Mark 1:15;   Acts 20:21

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace[a] by which we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is freely offered to us in the gospel.[b]

[a]. Eph 2:8-9;   cf. Rom 4:16

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?

Repentance leading to life is a saving grace,[a] by which a sinner having truly realised his sin and grasped the mercy of God in Christ,[b] turns from his sin with grief and hatred and turns to God[c] with full resolve and effort after new obedience.[d]

[a]. Acts 11:18;   2 Tim 2:25

Q. 82. Is any man able to keep the commandments of God perfectly?

No mere human person, since the fall, is able to keep the commandments of God perfectly in this life, but breaks them daily in thought, word, and deed.[a]

[a]. Gen 8:21;   Rom 3:9-18, 23

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally sinful?

Some sins, because of their nature and the circumstances, are more sinful in the sight of God than others.[a]

[a]. Eze 8:6, 13, 15;   Mat 11:20-24;   John 19:11

Q. 84. What does every sin deserve?

/Although some sins will be more severely punished than others,[a]/ yet every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and the life that is to come.[b]

[a]. Mat 11:21-24;   Luk 12:47-48

In part 1 of Daniel chapter 6 we learn of the way in which Gods Pilgrims (Christians) are to live in the world but not of the world. 

The theme of Daniel Chapter 5 is: God levels human Arrogance. When man looks up and sees God for who he is, how can he not be humbled? In this passage King Belshazzar is humbled and judged for his sin, while Daniel is exalted.