HC Workbook LD 1-26

1997 Edition

FOREWORD

                This workbook has been prepared at the request of the 1974 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America.  The two volumes provide sufficient material for a two-year period of instruction for young people fourteen and fifteen years of age.  In our sequence of catechism books, this workbook belongs between the New Testament for Seniors and Essentials of Reformed Doctrine books.  Although the workbook can be used with the existing Heidelberg Catechism for Juniors book, its real purpose is that it be used with the Heidelberg Catechism itself; following this method, the actual Lord’s Days are memorized by the student.  The workbook then serves the purpose of assisting the student in the understanding of the Lord’s Days and provoking him into thinking through this instruction.

            Pastors:  Fifty-two lessons are provided in the workbook.  This will allow for two thirty-lesson catechism seasons.  Four weeks each year are available for testing or for discussion periods.  It is suggested that the booklet The Three Forms of Unity be used as the textbook.  This booklet is much handier than the Psalter, and will encourage the student to follow instructions in looking up information in the other confessions.  It is presupposed that the student knows the books of the Bible so he can find his way through the Scriptures easily.

            The key to the use of the workbook is flexibility.  There are three parts to the total picture of instruction:  the students’ memorizing of the Lord’s Days, the students’ filling in of the workbook, and the pastor’s presentation in class.  The workbook ought to be used carefully and with flexibility so that the presentation of the gospel in the classroom does not suffer.  In other words, the workbook is not meant to be the sole means of instruction.  The pastor can decide if the lessons are graded in class or handed in sometimes, if the material of the workbook is gone over thoroughly or only a few key questions are discussed.  Each pastor can integrate the workbook into his system as he sees fit.

            Parents:  The young people are encouraged to discuss questions and issues with their parents.  In several instances this is the only way the correct answer can be obtained.

            May the Lord bless this effort in presenting the priceless heritage of Reformed truth to our youth, that they may experience the comfort that belongs to the covenant friends of the Most High God!

Rev. D.H. Kuiper

Lynden, Washington

A.                        Introduction to the Catechism.  (You may want to discuss this part with your parents.)

1.     When was the Heidelberg Catechism written?  _____________  Who were the authors of the Catechism?  ______________________ and _____________________________  Under what circumstances was the Catechism written?  ­­__________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2.     When did the Catechism become one of the official creeds of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands?  __________________  What churches beside our own have the Heidelberg Catechism as one of their creeds?  __________________________________

3.     What does Article 68 of the Church Order say about the Catechism?  _______________ _______________________________________________________________________

B.    The emphasis of the Catechism.

1.     In addition to the Catechism, our churches have the _____________________ and the ___________________________ as our creeds or confessions.

2.     Read the first article of each of the other creeds.  Their subjects are __________________ _________________________ and __________________________________________.

3.     Rather than taking the doctrinal approach, the Catechism takes the practical, personal approach, stressing the idea of comfort.

a.      Comfort is needed:

___  only by the aged.

___  only by the sick.

___  by all people at some time.

___  by everyone at all times.

b.     In what wrong things might a young person try to find his comfort?  _____________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      True comfort allows a person to live happily as well as ________________________.

4.     Give at least two reasons why the blood of Christ is called precious.  ________________ _______________________________________________________________________

5.     Job is an example of a man who stood in need of great comfort and who received it abundantly.

a.      Read Job 1:13-22 and tell why Job stood in need of comfort.  ___________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Read Job 19:25-27 and tell why he was able to be comforted in the midst of all his woes.  _______________________________________________________________
C.  The division of the Catechism.

1.     What three things must we know if we are to have true comfort?  __________________, ___________________________, _____________________________

2.     We can find this threefold division expressed in a single passage:  Romans 7:24, 25.  Quote the proper phrases to show this.

a.      Misery — “__________________________________________________________.”

b.     Deliverance — “______________________________________________________.”

c.      Gratitude — “________________________________________________________.”

      This Lord’s Day instructs us in the fact that the true nature and extent of our misery can only be known out of the Law of God.  The Law, here, refers to the Ten Commandments.  Since we cannot keep the Ten Commandments, we are taught that our misery arises out of our sin and our guilt.

A.    Answer these questions carefully in your own words:

1.     What is sin?  After reading I John 3:4, write a definition of sin.  _________________ ____________________________________________________________________

2.     Did a sinless man ever live?  According to I John 1:8-19 and Romans 3:12, the answer is very plainly _________________.

3.     Is it possible for a person to sin without knowing it?  Read Luke 23:34 and I Timothy 1:13.   _____________________

a.      Is ignorance an excuse for sin?  ___________________

b.     Does ignorance make a sin a different kind of sin?  ______________

4.     Sin is a very terrible thing.  Today most people do not even talk about sin anymore; they are not concerned with what is right and wrong.  After reading Isaiah 59:1, 2; Psalm 51:14; and Galatians 3:10, give several reasons why sin is such a serious matter.

a.      Isaiah 59:1, 2 — ___________________________________________________

b.     Psalm 51:14 — ____________________________________________________

c.      Galatians 3:10 — __________________________________________________

5.     It is commonly believed that sin is committed only when a person does some evil act.  But see Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28; and James 4:17.   These verses make plain that sin is also committed in our __________________ and with our ___________________.

6.     Scripture uses many terms for sin.  Give several other words or synonyms for sin.

a.      __________________________

b.     __________________________

c.      __________________________

d.     __________________________

7.     Our sin is our misery due to the fact that the result of sin or the wages of sin is _________________.  (See Genesis 2:17 and Romans 6:23.)

B.    Mark with T or F to indicate whether the statement is true or false.

      ___ 1.  Christ teaches us that some of the Ten Commandments are more important than others.

      ___ 2.  It is possible to love God and hate the neighbor.

      ___ 3.  It is impossible to love the neighbor and hate God.

      ___ 4.  It is possible to keep some commandments and break others.

      ___ 5.  Love is the keeping of the law.

      ___ 6.  God Himself must tell us what is sinful if we are to know our sins.

      ___ 7.  What is sinful in one age might be perfectly all right in another.

      ___ 8.   All men by nature are haters of God and of one another.

      ___ 9.  The Ten Commandments are still God’s rule for our life today.

      ___ 10.  Our misery is rooted in what we are, rather than what we do.

      ___ 11.  The better we know our sinful selves, the more we will take our refuge in the cross of Christ.

      ___ 12.  God’s way of working is that He first humbles us and then exalts us.

      ___ 13.  God loves us because we love Him.

      ___ 14.  Young people really do not have to concern themselves with the matter of sin.

      ___ 15.  Christ did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

      ___ 16.  We can find other ways of serving God than keeping the law.

      ___ 17.  If everyone does a certain thing, this thing cannot be sinful.

      ___ 18.  A slight understanding of our sin leads to a small cross and little reason for gratitude.

      ___ 19.  It is bad to talk about sin because it might make a person worry.

      ___ 20.  God is satisfied if we keep part of the law at least part of the time.

      This Lord’s Day includes instruction on the creation of man, his fall into sin, and the depravity that followed for the human race.  This is a very good method to follow.  If man is prone to hate God and the neighbor, it makes good sense to trace man back to his origins to discover the reason for his sinful condition.  Before answering the following questions, read Article 14 of the Belgic Confession and Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Third and Fourth Heads of the Canons of Dordt.

A.    Answer each question with a word or two.

1.     Man was created in the image of God and after His likeness.  From Colossians 3:10 and Ephesians 4:24 we learn that the image of God in man consisted of _________________, _______________________, and __________________________.

2.     That man is a special creature is indicated by the unique way in which God created him.  Read Genesis 1:26 and 2:7.  Give two details that show that man’s creation was different from that of all the other creatures.

a.      _____________________________________________________________________

b.     _____________________________________________________________________

3.     According to Lord’s Day III, man was originally created that he might _______________ God his Creator, ________________ Him, and ____________________ in eternal happiness to glorify and praise Him.

4.     The relation that Adam and Eve have toward us and all the human race is that of _______________________________.

5.     Did the fall of Adam and Eve into sin affect us?  ____________  How?  (In answering this question, refer again to Canons, III/IV, Art. 2.)  ____________________________.

6.     Romans 5:12 is a very important text in respect to the doctrine of original sin.  Look at this text carefully and answer the following questions:

a.      By what one man did sin enter the world?  _________________________

b.     What is the relationship between sin and death?  ____________________________

c.      In the phrase, “… and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned …,” when did “all” sin, at the time of Adam or during men’s own lifetime?  ___________

7.     Depravity means wickedness and corruption.  Total depravity emphasizes that depravity or wickedness extends to every part of man’s nature and to every member of the human race.

a.      List the parts of the human nature that have come under the power of sin.  (Hint — see 4^th answer of Lord’s Day 2.)

1)     ____________________________          3)   ____________________________

2)     ____________________________          4)   ____________________________

b.     Quote a verse from Romans 3 that proves that every man is depraved.  “___________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

c.      What does Psalm 51:5 teach about our depravity?  ___________________________

8.     Because of total depravity, we are so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good and are inclined to all wickedness.  State the 3^rd point of common grace.  ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

      Is the theory of common grace contrary to the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt?  ________________

9.     God’s grace in Christ is the only way that depraved man can be delivered from his proneness to hate God and the neighbor.

a.      What is grace?  _______________________________________________________

b.     What act of God’s grace, specifically, is necessary if a man is to perform any good?  ____________________________________________________________________

B.    True or False (T or F)

      ___ 1.  Man can never blame God for what he is or does.

      ___ 2.  The days of the creation week could not have been long periods of time.

      ___ 3.  It makes little difference whether Genesis 1-3 are literally true or not.

      ___ 4.  God created man wicked and perverse.

      ___ 5.  Adam was capable of loving God perfectly according to his creation.

      ___ 6.  A baby is worthy of death the moment he is born.

      ___ 7.  There is a little bad in the best of us and a little good in the worst of us.

      ___ 8.  Man by himself is absolutely incapable of performing any good before God.

      ___ 9.  Every person is sinful because he imitates those around him.

      ___ 10.  We have nothing to do with the deeds of Adam and Eve.

C.    Match the term with its definition or description by placing a number in each blank.

1.     Creation                 ___ a. An act of willful disobedience against the law of God.

2.     Image of God         ___ b. Man is born dead in trespasses and sin.

3.     The Fall                  ___ c. An area created as a picture of heaven.

4.     Total Depravity       ___ d. A well-watered area near the Euphrates River.

5.     Common Grace      ___ e. Each one of us sinned when Adam sinned.

6.     Original Sin             ___ f. A birth by which the power of death is broken.

7.     Grace                     ___ g. God spoke and it was done, He commanded and it stood fast.

8.     Regeneration          ___ h. The view that God’s grace is upon all men.

9.     Eden                      ___ i. The creaturely reflection of God’s perfections in man.

10. Paradise                 ___ j. The shining forth of God’s beauty when He bestows undeserved

                                                   favor upon His people.

      Up to this point, we have seen that natural man is a hater of God and his neighbor, is incapable of doing any good, and thus has come under the curse of God which is death.  In this Lord’s Day we are presented with many attributes or virtues of God:  His justice, mercy, and most high majesty.  We can look at these three questions and answers as three attempts of sinful man to escape the consequences of his sin without forsaking his sin.  Knowing that we are depraved and miserable, perhaps we begin to think along these lines:

1.     God is not fair in requiring of me what I cannot do.

2.     Maybe there is no such thing as punishment for sin.

3.     God’s mercy will take care of everything, so why worry?

The answers of the Catechism set our thinking straight.  If we are to find a way out of our misery, it must be God’s way out, not ours.

A.    Answer these questions, looking up the biblical passages where indicated.

1.     For man to suggest that God is not just is a terrible thing.  Read Deuteronomy 32:4 and find six words that describe the perfect justice of God.  ______________, ____________, _________________, _______________, _______________, and _________________

2.     Although the devil tempted and deceived our first parents, their fall was an act of willful disobedience.  This means that man wanted to sin.

a.      What excellent gifts were lost through the fall?  (Canons III/IV, Art. 1)  __________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     What replaced these excellent gifts?  (same article) ___________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      To what does Adam’s posterity refer?  _____________________________________

d.     Canons III/IV, Art. 2 states that corruption came upon the human race, not by ________________ but by the propagation of a _____________________________.

3.     Answer 10 speaks of two different kinds of sin.  List them and describe them.

      ______________ sin means ________________________________________________.

      ______________ sin means ________________________________________________.

4.     God hates all sin and will punish all sin.

a.      Is sin punished in this lifetime?  ________  How?  ___________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Is sin punished eternally in hell?  _______  After reading Luke 16:24 and Revelation 20:15, tell what language the Bible uses to describe the punishment of hell.  _____________________________________________________________________

5.     God is not only ___________, but also ________________________.

a.      Can God, in His mercy,  ignore the fact that we have sinned?  ____________

b.     Would God be God if He allowed sin to go unpunished?  ____________

c.      Which shows loving concern on the part of parents — if they let their children do what they want, or if they correct, warn, and administer some punishment?  Give a reason for your answer.  _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

6.     Clearly, if man is to be delivered from his misery, the way of deliverance will have to take into account both the justice and mercy of God.

a.      Read Psalm 85:10.   This verse actually speaks of mercy and justice using slightly different terms.  What words are similar to justice?  ________________ and __________________  What word belongs with mercy?  __________________ 

b.     Where did mercy and truth meet together?  ______________________________

B.    Underline the best ending to the beginning of the phrase.

1.     That God is just means: 

a.      no one can ever be saved.

b.     His justice will have to be satisfied.

c.      He is cruel when He punishes.

2.     According to his creation, man was: 

a.      able to choose to obey or disobey God.

b.     already inclined to sin.

c.      not able to love God perfectly.

3.     The will of fallen man is: 

a.      still able to choose what is right.

b.     finds it difficult to choose the good.

c.      never desires what is good.

4.     Adam’s sin was so serious because: 

a.      it was committed in the beautiful Garden.

b.     it was against the covenant God.

c.      it meant he had to leave Paradise.

5.     The temptation and fall:

a.      happened according to the eternal will of God.

b.     was permitted to happen by God.

c.      happened against the will of God.

6.     Since the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:

a.      we ought to give the devil no place in our lives.

b.     we need not be concerned because Christ will protect us.

c.      we can live as close to the world as possible.

7.     The “most high majesty of God” impresses upon us that:

a.      God is to be feared and obeyed.

b.     that God is so high we can never know Him.

c.      that God is not interested in the affairs of man.

      Question 12 gets right to the point of deliverance:  “… is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?”  But these important matters are not to be rushed.  Very carefully the Catechism exhausts every human possibility to show the hopelessness of man in himself.  In the last Question and Answer we are given the requirements of the Mediator, but He is not yet identified for us.

A.    Throughout the Word of God it is emphasized that man can do nothing to satisfy God’s justice, or to provide a way out of his misery.  Salvation is entirely of the Lord.  Here are a few examples of this truth:

1.     Read Genesis 3:7, 21.

a.      Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness by covering themselves with _______ ______________.  However, this could not cover their sin and shame.

b.     Therefore God provided them with ____________________ ____________.

c.      In what way did this point them to Christ?  _________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

d.     Since we read of sacrifice in Genesis 4:3, 4, may we conclude that God had instructed Adam and Eve concerning sacrifice when He gave them coats of skins?  _________

2.     Read Genesis 16:1-4 and Hebrews 11:11, 12.

a.      God had promised to send Abraham seed in whom all the world would be blessed, and that seed was Christ.  Yet, Abraham and Sarah had no children and they were past the years of childbearing.  What did Abraham and Sarah decide to do?  ___________ ____________________________________________________________________

      Was this pleasing to God?  __________

b.     When it was unmistakable that Abraham and Sarah could not have children, God sent Isaac.  By what power was Isaac conceived?  __________________ (Heb. 11:11, 12)

c.      Hence it is clear that ________________ can never bring forth Christ.

3.     Read Luke 1:30-35.

a.      God had promised David that his son would sit on the throne forever.  But at this time there was no proper descendant of David for _______________ to have as a husband.  The line of David came down to a lone virgin.

b.     When all is hopeless and dark, God reveals His salvation by causing the __________ _________________ to come upon Mary so that that which is born of her is called ________________________.

4.     Luke 18:27 sums this up very well.  Quote this text.  “____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

B.    Fill in the blanks.

1.     This Lord’s Day stresses that God’s justice must be satisfied and His mercy can never be in conflict with His justice.

a.      What is the idea of satisfaction?  __________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

b.     Why cannot we make this satisfaction?  ____________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      What are the two reasons why another creature cannot satisfy for us?  ____________ _____________________________________________________________________

2.     Read Hebrews 9:11, 12.

a.      Did the blood of animals satisfy for sin during the Old Testament times?  _________

b.     What was the significance of animal blood?  ________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

3.     What are the requirements of a mediator and deliverer?

a.      ___________________________

b.     ___________________________

c.      ___________________________

4.     In the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:12) our sins are called debts.

a.      What is the idea of a debt?  _____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     If we stopped sinning at this moment, would God be satisfied with us?  __________ Explain.   ____________________________________________________________

5.     At the end of this Lord’s Day it looks almost impossible that we should ever be delivered.  But God is faithful!  What name of Christ describes best the idea of Answer 15?  __________________________  (See Isaiah 7:14.)

      In this lesson the Mediator is set forth as to His requirements.  We learn of our Mediator in the holy gospel, which comes to us in the Scriptures.  Hence, we can very profitably study the doctrine of Scripture here.

A.    Fill in the blanks.

1.     Why cannot a sinner satisfy for the sins of another person?  ________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

2.     That God requires that “the same nature which sinned shall make satisfaction,” means that the Mediator will have to have a ______________ ____________________.

3.     Answer 17 contains these elements:

a.      The human nature of the Mediator must be sustained by the ____________________ ____________________________.

b.     The human nature must obtain ______________________ and _________________.

c.      The Mediator must then give these things He has obtained to ______________.

4.     Our Lord Jesus Christ is in one _________________ both very God and a ___________ _____________________.

5.     I Corinthians 1:30, 31 reads, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  That, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

a.      Skim through the last part of I Corinthians 1.   With what is wisdom contrasted?  _____________________________________________________________________

b.     If man could save himself, or if salvation were of works, would verse 31 be true?  _________  Explain.  ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      Hence it is clear that God has arranged all things so that the salvation of His people would result in His ___________________________.

6.     Where do we learn who and what the Mediator is?  ______________________________  Romans 10:14, 15 makes clear that we do not learn this by reading the Bible, but through ________________________________.

a.      Answer 19 really states that the holy gospel from beginning to end is Christ.  The Bible on every page gives us God’s revelation of Himself in His Son, who is the Word.

1)     Quote the first announcement of the gospel in Paradise and circle the word that refers to Christ.  “__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

2)     Quote Genesis 22:18, which was spoken to the patriarch Abraham.  “__________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

3)     Quote a verse from Isaiah 53 that shows how the prophet spoke of the coming Messiah.  “________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

4)     Quote Hebrews 7:27, which shows that Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament sacrifice.  “________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

5)     Quote Romans 10:4, which shows that the fulfillment of the law is in Christ:  “_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.”

b.     The holy gospel is trustworthy only if it is true!  In II Timothy 3:16 and II Peter 1:21 the Bible sets forth its own teaching on the inspiration of the Word of God.  Read these verses, consult your parents if necessary, and answer these questions:

1)     What is meant by inspiration?  _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

2)     What do we mean by verbal inspiration?  ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

3)     What is meant by infallible inspiration?  _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4)     What is the idea of a clear or perspicuous Bible?  __________________________ __________________________________________________________________

5)     What is meant by organic inspiration?  __________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

      Lord’s Day 7 presents faith both as a bond (an engrafting into Christ) and as an activity in the life of every child of God.  We are saved by grace through faith.  Only when we conceive of faith as an engrafting into Christ can we understand that it is not of ourselves, but is the gift of God.  This important, Reformed, biblical doctrine must be thoroughly understood and appreciated.

A.    Faith as a bond.

1.     The Bible speaks of faith as a living bond or engrafting in John 15:5 and Romans 11:17-20.   Read these passages.  As you know, branches can be grafted from one tree into another.  However, these branches must be alive, and they must have the same kind of life in them as the tree into which they are to be grafted.

a.      The entire human race belongs to one tree, the tree of Adam.  This tree is ________________________ and produces no fruit unto God.

b.     Branches from this dead tree can be made living branches only through _________ ______________________________________.  (See Question and Answer 8.)

c.      When God regenerates a person, He places that person in union with Christ.  Thus the life of Christ flows to us through the living bond of faith, and the result is that we produce ____________________________________________________________.

d.     The new tree, or vine, of Christ, receives all His benefits by ____________________ ____________________________________________________________________.

e.      Do all men belong to the new tree of Christ?  ______________

f.       According to John 15:1, 2, God is the _____________________ who cares for the vine in two ways:

1)     _________________________________________________________________.

2)     _________________________________________________________________.

2.     The Belgic Confession has a beautiful article on faith, Article 22.  Read it carefully.  Concentrate on the last few sentences of this article.  We do not find the word “bond” here, but we do find a similar word, “instrument.”

a.      Quote the words from the last sentence that show that the bond of faith can never be broken.  “_____________________________________________________.”

b.     The article also states that faith itself does not justify for it is “__________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

B.    Faith as the believer’s activity.

1.     When the regenerated, engrafted child of God hears the preaching of the gospel, he is called, comes to faith, and is converted.

a.      The Catechism describes this true faith as __________________________________ and ______________________________________.

b.     What is the difference between knowing God and knowing about God?  __________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      Is it possible to have confidence without knowledge?  _________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

2.     It is very important to notice the relationship between election and faith.

a.      A person must certainly believe if he is to inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Read John 3:16 and 36.

b.     But the question is, who will believe?  Read John 10:26.

1)     Which is first, being a sheep or believing?  ______________________________

2)     When or how does a person become a sheep?  ____________________________ _________________________________________________________________

c.      Which is first, having eternal life or believing?  ______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

d.     The Canons have much to say about saving faith.  Read the Canons I, Articles 6 and 9.

1)     Quote the first line of Article 6:  “______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

2)     Read Article 9 again.  Election is called the _________________ out of which flows forth ______________________, __________________, ______________ ________________________, and ____________________ as fruits and effects.

3)     We are not chosen because of faith but __________________________________.

      This lesson presents us with one of the most difficult truths to be found in the Bible, namely, the doctrine of the Trinity.  The reason why the Trinity is so difficult for us to understand is that in this study we say something about the very Being of God, and God is incomprehensible.  Briefly stated, that God is Triune means that there are three Persons in the one Essence of God.  The word Triune, although not found in the Bible, gets this truth across very nicely.

A.    In the Bible, God has revealed in a progressively clearer way that He is Triune.  The Old Testament suggests the Trinity; the New Testament teaches it clearly.  Copy the texts that are indicated, underlining those words which show that God is more than one Person.

1.     Genesis 1:26 — “_________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

2.     Psalm 33:6 — “___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

3.     Matthew 28:19 — “_______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

4.     II Corinthians 13:14 — “___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

5.     I John 5:7 — “____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

B.    Question and Answer 24 of the Catechism may not be interpreted as if each Person of the Trinity did separate work.  The following exercise will make this clear.  Fill in the blanks.

1.     God reveals Himself as Father in the act of creation.  But John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16 teach that _______________________ also created.

2.     God reveals Himself as our Redeemer in the work of Christ.  In Titus 2:10, God is called our _______________________________.

3.     God reveals Himself as Sanctifier in the Holy Spirit.  Quote I Peter 1:22 here:  “_______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

4.     The point is that all three Persons are engaged in all the thoughts and works of God.  We may not imagine that God is composed of three parts; a pie cut into thirds is not an adequate example or picture of this great mystery.  The Bible teaches that the three Persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-essential.

5.     The Belgic Confession, Article 8, states this concerning the three Persons of the Trinity:

a.      The Father is the _____________, _______________, and ________________ of all things visible and invisible.

b.     The Son is the ________________, _________________, and _________________.

c.      The Holy Ghost is the __________________________ and ____________________, proceeding from the Father and the Son.

C.    Thought questions; use your Bibles, our creeds, or ask your parents.

1.     When Jesus prayed, using the word Father, did He refer to the first Person of the Trinity or to the Triune God?  _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2.     When we pray to our Father, do we pray to the first Person or to the Triune God?  _______________________________________________________________________

3.     The Belgic Confession, Article 9, lists those in the history of the church who do not believe in the Trinity.  Mention these groups or persons.  _________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

4.     Who, today, do not believe in a Triune God?  ___________________________________

      Although this Lord’s Day speaks of God as the Maker of heaven and earth, the main point is not creation.  Creation is introduced here to show the great power of God over all things; and hence He is the almighty Father.  The key point, then, is the Fatherhood of God over us!

A.    Fill in the blanks carefully.

1.     The language of this answer is filled with trust and assurance.  Find the words which express this:  __________________________, _________________________________, _________________________________________

2.     This trust is based on the knowledge that God is the Father of our _________________ _______________________________, and is for His sake _______________________.

3.     The answer speaks of God being willing and able to do many things for His people. 

a.      List the various ways in which Answer 26 speaks of God’s power.  ______________ _____________________________________________________________________

b.     The willingness of God to do all things for us is based on the ___________________ of our Father.

4.     During this lifetime we need many things supplied by our Father.

a.      For the body we need __________________________________________________.

b.     For the soul we need ___________________________________________________.

5.     To what does “this valley of tears” refer?  _____________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

6.     Give an example of an evil that God sends us that He is able to turn to our advantage. _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

B.    Mark with a T or F.

      ___ 1.  After the first day of creation, there was a chaotic or mixed state of earth and water.

      ___ 2.  There was no light until the sun, moon, and stars were created.

      ___ 3.  The order in which each creature was created shows that all things are related and              

                  dependent.

      ___ 4.  God’s purpose in creation was that it should remain perfect always.

      ___ 5.  Before the Fall, Adam knew God as Father.

      ___ 6.  A good father never punishes his children.

      ___ 7.  Man was created as the highest of the earthly creatures.

      ___ 8.  Not all men are children of God.

      ___ 9.  We are children of God because we have been adopted in Christ.

      ___ 10.  After God created all things, He has nothing more to do with them.

C.    In each blank place the number of the day on which that creature was made.

      ___  Fowl                          ___  Seas                                 ___  Fish

      ___  Animals                      ___  Light                                 ___  Man

      ___  Stars                          ___  Dry land                           ___  Plants

D.    Thought questions.

1.     Does the expression “to make something out of nothing” refer to all of God’s creative work, or to God’s work on the first day only?  __________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2.     Quote the words from Genesis 1 that make clear that the days of creation were not long periods of time.  “_________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

3.     Quote the words from Genesis 1 that make clear that there could be no evolution in the plant or animal kingdom.  “_________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

4.     Keeping in mind Colossians 1:16 (that all things were made by Christ and for Christ), state in your own words what you consider to be God’s purpose in creating all things.  _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

      The doctrine of creation (Lord’s Day 9) demands the doctrine of providence, for those things which God has made cannot continue to exist unless He upholds them.  Also, since God has a will or counsel, there must be government and control by God in this world so that the purpose of His will is always accomplished.  Although the doctrine of providence is of great comfort to children of God of all ages, it is of special benefit to young people.  Teenagers face many complicated problems and decisions:  what to do for one’s life work; whom to court and marry; what educational plans ought to be made?  God, in His providence, brings these things to pass in your lives!

A.    Underline the answer that best completes each sentence.

1.     God is our Father because:

a.      He has adopted us in Jesus Christ.

b.     we have chosen Him as our Father.

c.      He has created us.

2.     We know God is our Father because:

a.      He is in heaven.

b.     the Holy Spirit testifies of this in our hearts.

c.      the Bible tells us so.

3.     Everything that happens to us:

a.      happens because of what we have done first.

b.     cannot be avoided because of fate.

c.      comes about because of the providence of God.

4.     The evil things that come to us in this life:

a.      come to us in God’s love for us.

b.     come to us against the wishes of God.

c.      have nothing to do with God or His will.

5.     God’s providence includes the actions of men in such a way that:

a.      man is not responsible for what he does.

b.     man is still responsible for his actions.

c.      God does not know what man will do in a certain situation.

B.    God’s providence touches absolutely every creature and event.  Look up these passages, and place the corresponding number in the blank.

1.     Angels                          ___ a.  Acts 2:23

2.     Devils                           ___ b.  Ephesians 2:10

3.     Forces of “nature”        ___ c.  Matthew 10:29, 30

4.     Ordinary things             ___ d.  Luke 22:22

5.     Extraordinary things      ___ e.  Job 1:12

6.     Good deeds of men      ___ f.  Matthew 24:7

7.     Evil deeds of men         ___ g.  Psalm 147:16-18

8.     Death of Christ             ___ h.  Matthew 28:2

C.    Thought questions:

1.     By way of an example, show how a believing young person demonstrates trust in God.  ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

2.     In the light of the truth of providence, is it wrong to gamble or enter lotteries?  ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

3.     Is it possible that a proper understanding of God’s counsel and providence will cause a person to be lazy or fatalistic?  ______  Explain.  ________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

A.    The name Jesus.

1.     List as many names for Jesus as you can find in the Bible.

      _______________________  _______________________  ___________________

      _______________________  _______________________  ___________________

      _______________________  _______________________  ___________________

      _______________________  _______________________  ___________________

2.     Jesus is the personal name of our Savior (see Matt. 1:18-21).

a.      Who gave the name Jesus to the Son of God?  ____________________________

b.     How was this name revealed to Joseph and Mary? _________________________

c.      Why was He called Jesus?  ____________________________________________

d.     What is the literal meaning of the name Jesus?  ____________________________

e.      What name in the Old Testament has the identical meaning?  _________________

3.     Underline the part of the sentence that is true.

a.      Jesus tries to save or actually does save.

b.     Jesus makes salvation available or makes it an accomplished fact.

c.      Jesus speaks of His people with vagueness and indefiniteness, or definitely and certainly (see John 10:27).

B.    Jesus is the complete, perfect Savior.

1.     Read Acts 4:12; Belgic Confession, Article 22; and Hebrews 7:27.

2.     Man likes to think that the work of Christ is not enough, but that he must do something in addition to the work of Christ.  What are some of these things that man vainly tries to add to the sacrifice of Christ?  __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

3.     To what did Jesus refer when He said, on the cross, “It is finished”?  (See John 19:30.)   _______________________________________________________________________

4.     Underline the answer or answers that are true.  The death of Christ on the cross was:

a.      an example of what God could do to all of us.

b.     payment for sin.

c.      atonement.

d.     satisfaction of God’s justice.

e.      an example of a teacher willing to die for his beliefs.

C.    Salvation may be described as redemption and deliverance, or as the work of Jesus for us and the work of Jesus in us.  Write either for us or in us in each of the blanks below.

1.     ____________________  Jesus went to hell, bearing the wrath of God against our sins.

2.     ____________________  Jesus suffered the contradiction of sinners.

3.     ____________________  We are regenerated by the Spirit of the risen Lord.

4.     ____________________  Christ conquered death and the grave.

5.     ____________________  Jesus’ mind and thoughts become our mind and thoughts.

6.     ____________________  We are conformed to the image of God’s Son.

7.     ____________________  We will and do of God’s good pleasure.

8.     ____________________  More and more we hate sin and flee from it.

A.    The Son of God is the promised Christ.

1.     The name Christ has the meaning ______________________________; Christ is the official name of Jesus, and signifies that He stands in a certain office or position of service before God.

a.      Anointing implies two things:  that a person is chosen unto a certain task, and that he is qualified or enabled to do that task.  Christ was chosen or ordained by __________ and qualified by the _______________________________.

b.     There are many examples of anointing in the Old Testament:

1)     In I Kings 19:16 we read that _______________ was anointed to be ___________ in place of Elijah.

2)     In Leviticus 8 we read that ______________ was anointed to be _____________.

3)     In I Samuel 16:13 we read that ____________ was anointed ________________.

c.      When was Jesus appointed to be the Mediator of His people?  __________________ ____________________________________________________________________

d.     When was He anointed and equipped with the Holy Spirit?  ____________________ ____________________________________________________________________

2.     The office of Mediator has three aspects or parts to it:

a.      As our chief prophet, Christ _____________________________________________.

b.     As our only high priest, Christ ___________________________________________.

c.      As our eternal king, Christ ______________________________________________.

B.    Children of God are called Christians.

1.     We are called Christians because ____________________________________ and thus _________________________________________________________________.

2.     There is no sense in which we can be called after the name of Jesus (His personal name) or after the name Lord (His exalted name).  But there is a sense in which we are called after the name Christ;  we, too, are appointed unto an office and qualified in that office.  That office is the office of believers.  This office also has three parts or aspects:

a.      As prophets, we ______________________________________________________.

b.     As priests, we ________________________________________________________.

c.      As kings, we _________________________________________________________.

3.     Why is it such a serious thing when Christians sin?  _____________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     The Bible tells us that the disciples were first called Christians at __________________. (See Acts 11:26.)

5.     The most important point of this lesson is that we are called Christians because we are members of Christ by faith and thus share in His anointing.

a.      Faith is the living bond of engrafting (Lord’s Day 7).  We are one plant with Christ.  He is the Head, we are His body.   The Spirit that came upon Christ personally also came upon His body.

b.     When did the Spirit come to dwell in the church as the body of Christ?  ________ ___________________________  Personally, the Spirit comes upon the believer at the moment of his __________________________ (see John 3:3, 5).

A.    Christ is the only begotten Son of God.  This is the cardinal truth of the Christian religion, yea, of all true religion.  See Matthew 16:13-16.

1.     Proof of Christ’s Sonship:

a.      Quote John 1:18.   “_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     Quote John 3:16.   “_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

2.     These texts, and the Catechism, distinguish sharply between the Sonship of Christ and the sonship of believers.  The Sonship of Christ is unique.

a.      Christ is the only begotten Son of God, we are _____________________ sons.

b.     Christ is the eternal Son of God, we are sons in _________________________.

c.      Christ is the natural Son of God, we are sons by ________________________.

3.     We are children of God through the process called the adoption of grace.

a.      On what basis are we adopted by God?  ____________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

b.     How does God decide who should be adopted in Christ?  _______________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      Can we know whether or not we are children of God?  ___________ How?  (See Romans 8:16.)   ________________________________________________________

d.     When earthly parents adopt a child, what can they do for that child?  _____________ _____________________________________________________________________  What can they not do for that child?  _______________________________________

e.      After reading Romans 8:29 and I John 3:2, explain how our adoption by God through Christ does something that earthly adoption cannot do.  ________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

f.       The result of adoption is that there is a covenant family formed.

1)     The Father is ___________.

2)     The elder brother is _____________.

3)     The other members of the family are the ______________.

B.    Christ is also Lord!  Lordship implies both ownership and exaltation.

1.     How are we the possession of Jesus Christ?  (Quote I Cor. 6:20.)   “_________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

a.      What phrase from Lord’s Day 1 teaches that we are Christ’s possession?  “________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     We were not purchased by ______________________ but by __________________ ____________________________________________.

2.     The name Lord also implies exaltation and rulership!

a.      When did Jesus attain unto this great honor?  _______________________________

b.     What does Philippians 2:9-11 say about the exaltation of Jesus?  Quote three significant phrases from this passage.  “____________________________________ ________________________,” “________________________________________,” “___________________________________________________________________”

      The incarnation of Jesus means His coming into the flesh.  We believe, according to Holy Scripture, that the incarnation took place when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary.  Before you do this lesson, read Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:28-35; Hebrews 2:14; and the Belgic Confession, Article 18.

A.    Answer each question carefully.

1.     In your own words, tell what the virgin birth means.  ____________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2.     Why was such a miraculous birth necessary?  __________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

3.     What does this birth show, as far as the work of salvation is concerned?  _____________ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     Why was it important that Christ be born to Mary of the seed of David?  _____________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

5.     What is the profit of the incarnation of Christ for the church?  _____________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

6.     Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?  That is, did Joseph and Mary have sons and daughters? ___________  If so, what are their names?  __________________________

7.     Through the many years of church history, there have been various controversies (doctrinal disputes) concerning the natures of Christ.  Some denied that Christ had a real human nature.  Others denied that He had a complete human nature.  The result of these controversies is that the church has defined the human nature of Jesus with the following terms.  Learn these terms, and try to give an explanation for each one.  (You might have to fill in a few when you come to class.)

a.      Real —  _____________________________________________________________

b.     Complete — _________________________________________________________

c.      Sinless — ___________________________________________________________

d.     Weakened — _________________________________________________________

e.      Central — ___________________________________________________________

8.     Christ was made as much like us as it is possible to be, with the one important exception of sin.  He was even tempted as we are (Heb. 4:15).

a.      List the temptations of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11).   _______________________________, _________________________________, __________________________________

b.     Why was He tempted?  (See Heb. 2:18.)   ___________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

B.    True of False:

      ___ 1.  There were times when Jesus was tired, and hungry and thirsty.

      ___ 2.  The temptations of Jesus were not really difficult for Him.

      ___ 3.  Jesus had a human body, but a divine soul.

      ___ 4.  There were many times when Mary could not understand her Son.

      ___ 5.  God is the Father of Jesus also according to the human nature.

      ___ 6.  Jesus understands everything that we will ever have to experience.

      ___ 7.  When Jesus was born of Mary, He stopped being God.

      ___ 8.  If Jesus had had one sin, He could never cover our sins in the sight of God.

      ___ 9.  We can understand the word “virgin” to mean “young lady.”

      ___ 10.  Jesus had a human father.

      The suffering or passion of our Lord Jesus Christ was prophesied throughout the Old Testament.  Read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.   There is a beautiful description of Jesus’ suffering in the Belgic Confession, Article 21.  Read this article carefully.

A.    Fill in the blanks.

1.     When did Jesus suffer?  _________________________ but especially _______________ _______________________________________________________________________.

2.     Name the chief events of Christ’s suffering by reading these passages and then giving the event a short title or description.

a.      Matthew 26:36-46 — __________________________________________________

b.     Matthew 26:47-56 — __________________________________________________

c.      Mark 14:52-65 — _____________________________________________________

d.     Mark 14:66-72 — _____________________________________________________

e.      John 18:28 - 19: 16 — __________________________________________________

f.       Luke 23:26-32 — ______________________________________________________

g.      Matthew 27:33-50 — __________________________________________________

3.     What did the cross sign say?  ________________________________________________ ______________________________________  In what languages was this sign written?  _________________, _____________________, and ____________________________

4.     List the seven cross words, or short sayings of Jesus from the cross.  You can refer to Matthew 23, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19.

a.      ____________________________________________________________________

b.     ____________________________________________________________________

c.      ____________________________________________________________________

d.     ____________________________________________________________________

e.      ____________________________________________________________________

f.       ____________________________________________________________________

g.      ____________________________________________________________________

5.     Who was Pilate?  ___________________________  What was Herod?  _____________ __________________________________  Luke 23:12 tells us they were enemies before the trial of Jesus, but after this they were friends.  Quote the verse from Psalm 2 that is the prophecy of this friendship. “_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

6.     How did it become plain that Jesus was perfectly innocent?  _______________________ _______________________________________________________________________  How could God punish if Jesus were innocent?  (See II Cor. 5:21.)   _________________ _______________________________________________________________________

7.     The death of the cross was the ______________________ death.  That is, God had declared that the death on the cross (or tree) was cursed by Him.  See Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13.   The picture of a man on the cross is a terrible one:  the earth would not have him, neither would heaven receive him.  That man was utterly alone.

a.      Jesus had to die on the cross; hence, He was sent to ________________ because the death of the cross was a Roman death.

b.     The curse that was due _____________ has been laid upon ________________.

c.      Answer 37 uses the words, “the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind.”  In John 1:29 we read, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

1)     Can these statements mean that Jesus paid for the sins of every single person in the world or in the human race?  ___________  Explain.  ___________________ _________________________________________________________________

2)     How are such statements to be explained?  _______________________________ _________________________________________________________________

B.    Matching:  There were many persons associated with the death of Jesus on the cross.  Match the name with the identifying statement.

      ___ 1.  Pilate                                  a.  Was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus.

      ___ 2.  Herod                                b.  Was the father-in-law of the high priest.

      ___ 3.  Peter                                  c.  Was chosen to be freed instead of Christ.

      ___ 4.  Judas                                  d.  Was given to John to be cared for by him.

      ___ 5.  Annas                                 e.  Went to Paradise with Jesus that very day.

      ___ 6.  Caiaphas                            f.  Thought he was strong in himself.

      ___ 7.  Joseph                                g.  Presided at Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin.

      ___ 8.  Simon                                 h.  Reviled Jesus even though he was in the same

                                                                  condemnation.

      ___ 9.  Barabbas                            i.  Declared Jesus’ innocence three different times.

      ___ 10.  Mary                                j.  Thought more of money than of Christ.

      ___ 11. Elect malefactor                 k.  Gave Jesus a gorgeous robe and mocked Him.

      ___ 12.  Reprobate malefactor       l.  Buried Jesus in his own tomb.

      This Lord’s Day deals with the death of Christ, His burial, and descension into hell.  It also treats the subject of the death of believers.  It is because of the truths contained in this Lord’s Day that we can live and die happily.

1.     The heart of the gospel is that the Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep, or that the Son of God in our flesh actually died.

a.      Why was the death of the Mediator necessary?  (See Gen. 2:17.)   ________________ _____________________________________________________________________

b.     How could this sentence of death upon us be laid upon Christ?  __________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      Why was it necessary that the Son of God die?  ______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

2.     Question and Answer 41 is not simply teaching us that Christ had to be buried to prove that He was physically dead; everyone around the cross was convinced of that!  That is not the point.

a.      Burial in a grave belonged to the whole experience of death.  Christ was buried to show that His death was a real, complete death.  Really dead in the sense that His death involved everything that belonged to death.

b.     Quote I Corinthians 15:55 to show the close relationship between death and the grave.  “____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

3.     Explain how our death differs from the death of Christ.  __________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     What happened to our sinful natures (our old man of sin) when Christ died on the cross?  (Study Romans 6:6 carefully.)  ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

5.     What two results follow from the death of our old, sinful natures? 

a.      ____________________________________________________________________

b.     ____________________________________________________________________

6.     The fact that the death of the believer is the passage into eternal life allows the child of God to face death without fear, but with confidence.  There are many children of God who have died with a smile on their faces!

a.      There are several views of death that deny that death is the immediate passage way into glory.  Try to learn what the following views teach. 

1)     Purgatory:  ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

2)     Soul sleep:  ________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

b.     The Bible, however, is very clear on this point:  the moment a child of God dies, he is immediately with Jesus in heaven!  Look up the following passages, and, in your own words, explain how the text proves this point.

1)     Luke 23:43 — _____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

2)     Philippians 1:21 — _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

3)     Psalm 73:24 — ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

4)     Can you think of another text or two that proves this?  _____________________ _________________________________________________________________

7.     The descension into hell was the most intense suffering that Christ had to endure.  This is why the Apostolic Creed places it last in Article 4.

a.      Did Christ descend into hell before or after He died?  ______________________ Offer some proof for your answer.  ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

b.     What is hell according to the fourth cross word?  (See Matthew 27:46.)    _________________________________________________________________

c.      What are some of the terms or phrases Scripture uses to describe hell?  _____________________, ___________________, and ____________________

d.     Why was it necessary for Christ to go to hell?  ____________________________ _________________________________________________________________

e.      What is the result, for the church, that Christ has descended into hell?   _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

f.       How can we be assured in this life that Christ has gone to hell for us?  _________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

      The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the most wonderful event recorded in the Scriptures!  On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished,” in reference to His sacrifice for our sins.  In the resurrection God agrees with these words of Jesus; the resurrection is God’s seal of approval on the atonement.

A.    Fill in the blanks.

1.     The fact of the resurrection (see John 20).

a.      When did the resurrection occur?  _________________________________________

b.     Who explained the empty tomb to the women?  ______________________________

c.      What did John see in the tomb that led him to believe that Jesus had risen?  ________ _____________________________________________________________________

d.     What did the Jewish leaders say about the events of that morning?  _______________ _____________________________________________________________________

e.      In the book of Acts, the apostles are recorded as going about preaching that Christ was crucified and raised.  Record several references from the book of Acts that show this.  ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

f.       What proof does Paul give in I Corinthians 15 (first part) concerning the resurrection of Jesus?  ____________________________________________________________

2.     Name other persons who were raised from the dead (Old Testament and New Testament).  _____________________, ____________________, ______________________, and _________________________

3.     How were the resurrections of these persons related to the resurrection of Jesus?  _______________________________________________________________________

4.     How was the experience of Jonah in the fish’s belly related to the resurrection of Jesus?  (See Matthew 12:40.)   _____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

5.     According to I Corinthians 15:42-44, the body undergoes a change through the process of death and resurrection.  List the characteristics of the body as it is laid in the grave:  _______________________, _______________________, _______________________, _______________________; and its characteristics when it is raised:  ______________, _________________________, ______________________, ______________________.

6.     I John 3:2 and Philippians 3:21 both teach the same truth.  It is that _________________ _______________________________________________________________________.

B.    The Catechism looks at the resurrection from the point of view of its benefit for the church.  It mentions three important benefits.

1.     The first is that the living Lord makes us partakers of the righteousness that He has purchased for us by His death.  In other words, the resurrection is the proof of our righteousness, proof of the fact that we are justified before the judgment seat of God.

a.      Christ offered Himself on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.  If one sin of one child of God still remained, would God have raised Jesus from the dead?  _____  Explain your answer.  __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Quote Romans 4:25 here.  “______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

c.      Romans 5:1 states that the result of justification is ____________________________  ____________________________________________________________________.

2.     The second benefit is that the living Lord, by His power, raises us up to a new life.  We are given His resurrection life.

a.      When is this life given to an elect child of God?  ____________________________

b.     John 10:28 calls this _________________ life.  This life can never come under the power or influence of death, nor will it ever.

c.      In Colossians 3:1 we are told that since we are risen with Christ, we must “_______ __________________________________________________________________.”

3.     The third benefit is that the living Lord is the sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.

a.      I Corinthians 15:20 calls Christ the firstfruits of them that slept.  Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming (v. 23).

b.     The fact that Christ was raised from the dead as the firstfruits means _____________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________.

c.      Christ is not only an example of one who died but now lives, but He (see John 11:25) ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________.

d.     Will everyone be raised up in the last day?  _________ Will everyone be raised up into the same thing?  ___________________________________________________

e.      Read I Thessalonians 4:16, 17.   What is the order of the resurrection of the saints?  First ____________________ and then ____________________________________.

A.    The fact of the ascension into heaven (read Acts 1:1-12).

1.     Christ ascended ______________ days after the resurrection, and ___________ days before the day of Pentecost.

2.     He ascended into heaven from ___________________________.  Who were witnesses of this?  ___________________________________________________________________

3.     Do we know where heaven is?  __________.  How does Scripture speak of heaven, as far as its location is concerned?  ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     With what nature did Jesus ascend into heaven?  ________________________________

5.     Christ promises that He will never leave His church alone or without comfort (see John 14:18, 26).

a.      In what ways is Jesus always with His church on earth?  _______________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Would it have been better if Christ Himself would have stayed with us upon earth?  ______________  Why or why not?  ______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

B.    The tremendous benefit of the ascension.

1.     State the first advantage of the ascension in the words of the Catechism:  “___________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

a.      What is an advocate?  __________________________________________________

b.     According to Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 9:24, what does Christ do in heaven as our Advocate?  __________________________________________________________

2.     State the second advantage of the ascension.  ___________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

a.      Quote Ephesians 2:6.   “_________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     Christ is the Head; the church is His body.  Since our Head is in heaven we may know that _________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________.

3.     State the third advantage of the ascension.  _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

a.      Quote II Corinthians 1:22. “______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     What is an earnest?  ____________________________________________________

c.      How is the Holy Spirit an earnest?  ________________________________________

      This Lord’s Day instructs us in the truth of Christ’s exalted position at God’s right hand and His return to judge the living and the dead.  Before you answer the following questions, read Article 37 of the Belgic Confession.

A.    The right hand of God is a figurative expression for the position of power and authority Christ occupies at the present time.

1.     Quote these texts to establish the idea of the right hand of God.

a.      Mark 16:19 — “_______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     Last part of Hebrews 1:3 — “_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________.”

2.     That Christ rules from heaven over all things certainly means that all history is church history — or, that all things come about for the benefit of the church.  Mention two events from the history of this world that very clearly have benefit for the church.

a.      ____________________________________________________________________

b.     ____________________________________________________________________

3.     Not only does the Bible state that Christ sits at God’s right hand, but it also states that He stands at God’s right hand (see Acts 7:56).   What does this standing indicate?  ________ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     We can distinguish the rule of Christ over the wicked world and over His church.  He rules His church by His __________________ and the world by His _______________.

5.     What phrase in Revelation 1:5 shows that Christ has supreme power over all earthly rulers?  “_______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

6.     List the power of Jesus according to the following texts:

a.      Matthew 9:6   ______________________             d.  John 10:18   ________________

b.     Matthew 28:18   ____________________             e.  John 17:2   _________________

c.      Luke 8:25   ________________________             f.  Acts 10:38   ________________

B.    Christ’s position as Judge also belongs to His exaltation and our salvation.

1.     Read John 5:22.   Who judges, God or Christ?  ____________________________

2.     Why can the believer await the judgment day with head uplifted?  _________________ ______________________________________________________________________

3.     What will Christ do to His and our enemies?  __________________________________ ______________________________________  Do the words “His and our” refer to one group or two?  ________________

4.     All the elect shall be translated into heavenly glory.

a.      What is implied by heavenly joy and glory?  ________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     What, actually, shall the believer do in glory?  _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

5.     Who will have the stricter judgment, those who never heard the gospel or those who have heard it (Matt. 11:22)?   ____________________________________________________

6.     What two books are mentioned in Revelation 20:12, and what do they stand for?

a.      __________________________ means ____________________________________.

b.     __________________________ means ____________________________________.

A.    Answer the following:

1.     The three Persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are co-eternal.  What does that mean?  _________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

2.     Given to us, the Holy Spirit does three things for us.  They are:

a.      ____________________________________________________________________

b.     ____________________________________________________________________

c.      ____________________________________________________________________

3.     The Holy Spirit is given various names in Scripture.  By referring to these passages, find as many names as you can:

a.      John 14:17   __________________________       d.  Isaiah 12:2   _________________

b.     John 15:26   __________________________       e.  Other?  _____________________

c.      Luke 12:12; I Corinthians 2:13   ______________________________

4.     The Bible lists many activities of the Holy Spirit in the church.  Place the proper reference behind each activity after you have read them.  Romans 8:16; I Peter 1:22; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:2; Acts 16:6.

a.      Calls and sends our ministers — __________________________________________

b.     Chooses the mission field to be preached in — _______________________________

c.      Gives power to witness — _______________________________________________

d.     Testifies to the believer of sonship — ______________________________________

e.      Sanctifies or cleanses the believer — ______________________________________

5.     It is very important today that we understand what the true fruits of the Spirit are.  Pentecostals would have us believe that those who are really Spirit-filled are able to speak in tongues and perform miracles of healing.  Pentecostalism elevates the Holy Spirit above Christ.  But Scripture tells us that the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, and that He never does anything except in the service of Christ.

a.      Read Galatians 5:22, 23 and list the fruit of the Spirit.  ________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

b.     Read John 15:26 and John 16:13.   Here it is plain that the Spirit does not speak of _______________________, but of ________________________.

B.    The Holy Spirit was given to Christ as part of His Mediator’s reward when He ascended into heaven.  This Spirit Christ poured out upon His body, the church.  We may read of this in Acts 2:1-13 (see Acts 2:33).

1.     Upon whom was the Holy Spirit poured? (See Acts 1:15.)   ________________________ __________________________________________

2.     What were the signs that accompanied the outpouring of the Spirit?

a.      ____________________________________________________________________

b.     ____________________________________________________________________

c.      ____________________________________________________________________

3.     Was the miracle in the speaking of foreign languages, or in the hearing of them?  ______ _______________________________________________________________________

4.     Read Acts 2:12, 13.   What were the two reactions among those who heard this strange speaking?  _____________________________________ and _____________________ __________________________________________________

a.      In verse 23, Peter accuses the men of Israel of ______________________________ ________________________________.  But he also said that this came about by the ______________________________________________________________.  Does this fact excuse the Israelites in any way?  __________________________________

b.     Read verses 37-47:

1)     What was this being “pricked in their hearts”?  ___________________________ _________________________________________________________________

2)     What was Peter’s answer to their question?  ______________________________ __________________________________________

3)     How many were added to the church that day?  ___________________________

4)     Who were added to the church?  (See v. 47.) _____________________________ ____________________________  What does this imply?  _________________ _________________________________________________________________

5.     Quote Acts 2:39. “________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

a.      Why is this verse included in our baptism form?  _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     This verse, taken in connection with the speaking in tongues, clearly teaches _______ ____________________________________________________________________.

A.    Question and Answer 54 — The Holy Catholic Church.

1.     What does the word “catholic” mean?  ________________________________________

a.      List two phrases from the answer that show this catholicity.  ___________________ ___________________________ and _____________________________________

b.     The idea of a catholic church means one church, one people of God through all the ages.  Quote John 10:16.   “______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

2.     What three things does Christ do in respect to His church?  _______________________, ____________________________, and ______________________________________

3.     Through what means does He accomplish this?  ________________________________

4.     If every member of the church is a sinner, how can the church be called holy?  ________ _______________________________________________________________________

5.     What are some of the names given to the church of Christ? 

      ______________________________   _________________________________              

      ______________________________   _________________________________

6.     The church has been ______________________ unto everlasting life.  What is another name for this?  (See Canons, Head I, Art. 7.)  __________________________________

7.     The answer to Question 54 is very personal, for it states that “I am and forever shall remain a living member thereof.”

a.      What is implied in being a “living member”?  _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     How can we be so sure that we shall forever remain a member of Christ’s church?  ____________________________________________________________________

8.     Read the Belgic Confession, Articles 27-29.  According to Article 29, the marks of the true church are:  ________________________, _____________________________, and _______________________________________________________.

B.    Question and Answer 55 — The Communion of Saints.

1.     The first teaching of this answer is that all believers have many things in common; they are the same in many aspects.  Quote the phrase that teaches this.  “__________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________.”

a.      I Corinthians 12 likens the church to a body of which Christ is the Head.  Every member in the body possesses the same life of Christ, as well as all the riches and benefits that are in Him.

b.     Quote I Corinthians 12:13.   “_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

2.     Because of this basic oneness, believers can have fellowship and communion together.  But in order for this communion to flourish, God has made each saint different in several respects.  There are hands, feet, eyes, noses, etc., in the body.

a.      What must each believer do with his gifts?  _________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     How are we to view other members of the church?  (See Phil. 2:3, 4.) _____________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      Read I John 1:6, 7.   Fellowship is possible only in the _________________________ ___________________________.  Explain.  ________________________________

d.     Is it possible for young people to have fellowship?  ____________  How?  ________ ____________________________________________________________________

C.    Question and Answer 56 — The Forgiveness of Sins.

1.     The most wonderful result of belonging to Christ is that our sins are covered by His blood, so that God remembers them no more!

a.      What is sin?  _________________________________________________________

b.     Why does the Catechism mention “my corrupt nature”?  ______________________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      God does not impute iniquity to us, but He imputes to us the ___________________ ____________________________________________________________________.

d.     This peace is ours now, but it will also be ours when we appear before the tribunal of God.  What is the tribunal of God?  _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

2.     Psalm 32, a psalm of David, instructs us in the blessedness of forgiveness (see vv. 1, 2).

a.      David did not always have this peace and blessedness.  Verses 3, 4 tell us that for a long time he refused to _____________________.

b.     When God made him miserable and unhappy (v. 5), David _____________________ and God ______________________________________________.

c.      This simply means that the assurance of __________________________ is ours in the way of ___________________________________________________________.

1)     Quote I John 1:9. “__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

2)     See Proverbs 28:13.   True confession also includes the _____________________ ___________________________ of our sins.

d.     If we experience God’s forgiveness of our sins, how will we act toward those who sin against us?  __________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

e.      Which is harder for you, to forgive someone who asks you to, or to ask forgiveness of someone you have sinned against?  __________________________________  Why?  _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

      Before you answer the questions of this lesson, read the 37^th Article of the Belgic Confession.

A.    The resurrection of the body (Question and Answer 57).

1.     According to Lord’s Day I, our only comfort in life and death is that we belong to our Savior Jesus Christ with _________________________________________.

2.     Immediately at death our souls are taken up to Christ in heaven.

a.      There are many theories as to the state of the soul after death.

1)     The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a purgatory.

2)     Some speak of reincarnation (that a person comes back in some other earthly form).

3)     Some speak of soul sleep, that the soul knows nothing until the final resurrection.

b.     However, the Bible teaches clearly that the soul is conscious and active immediately after death.

1)     Read Luke 23:43.   What is the key word here?  ______________________

2)     Read Philippians 1:21.   How does this prove our point?  ___________________ _________________________________________________________________

3)     Read Revelation 20:4.   What words here show that souls in heaven are active?  ________________________, ___________________, ___________________, and ___________________________

3.     What three things does the power of Christ accomplish in respect to our bodies?

a.      _____________________________                    c.  __________________________

b.     _____________________________

4.     How is this truth of comfort to the believer who knows he must die?  ________________ ________________________________________________________________________

B.    The life everlasting (Question and Answer 58).

1.     Do we have everlasting life only in heaven?  (See John 10:28.)   _____________  Explain.  ________________________________________________________________________

2.     Although this present life is a continual death, the Bible teaches that the elect believer experiences eternal life in three stages.  These three stages are:

a.      John 3:3 —  __________________________________________________________

b.     Philippians 1:21 —  ____________________________________________________

c.      Revelation 21:1, 2 —  __________________________________________________

3.     Why is it that, although we have the beginning of eternal joy now,  we cannot adequately describe heavenly glory?  ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

4.     What persons in the Bible had visions of heavenly glory?  What did they see?

a.      Acts 7:55 — _________________ saw ____________________________________ _________________________________.

b.     Matthew 3:13-17 — _________________________ saw ______________________ _________________________________.

c.      Genesis 28:10-15 — _____________________ saw___________________________ _____________________________________.

d.     Revelation 4 — ______________________ saw _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________.

5.     What shall the church do in heavenly perfection?  _______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

      In the past several Lord’s Days, we have been studying those things necessary for the Christian to believe (the articles of the Apostolic Creed).  This Lord’s Day presents us with the tremendous profit or benefit we have because we believe all this.

A.    Answer these questions.

1.     What are the two chief benefits of believing all the truths contained in the Apostolic Creed?  ___________________________________________________________ and ____________________________________________________

a.      What is it to be righteous?  ______________________________________________

b.     What is an heir?  ______________________________________________________

c.      Does an heir inherit something because he has earned it, or does he receive the inheritance as a free gift?  _______________________________________________

2.     What is the conscience?  (Discuss this with your parents, if you are not sure.)  ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

a.      Is the conscience a trustworthy guide?  _____________________________________

b.     Try to give examples of saints in Scripture whose conscience bothered them.  _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      According to this Lord’s Day, of what three things may the conscience accuse us?  _________________________________, _________________________________, and _________________________________

d.     In addition to the testimony of our conscience, what other testimony or speech does the child of God have within him?  ________________________________________

3.     Despite the accusation of the conscience, what does God impute to His children?  _________________________________, ___________________________________, and __________________________________

a.      On what basis does God impute or grant these things?  ________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Is faith the work of man, or is faith the free gift of God?  ______________________  Quote a text to prove this.  “_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

4.     Let us look carefully at the phrase, “Righteous by faith alone.”

a.      “By faith alone” certainly eliminates any idea of ____________________________ __________________________________________.

b.     Does faith itself justify or make righteous?  ____________________________  How then does faith justify?  (Read Article 22 of the Belgic Confession.)  _____________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      Once again, therefore, we see that faith is not only believing but it is the living ____________________________ that unites us to Christ.

B.    Thought questions.

1.     Read the three answers of this Lord’s Day again.  Upon whom or what is all the emphasis placed in each answer?  ___________________________________________  Is this the same emphasis that the Bible itself has?  _______________________________________ ________________________________________

2.     A poet has written:

            “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

            I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

            On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

a.      Hope looks to the future.  To what future event especially does the Christian’s hope look with confidence? ________________________________________________

b.     “Sweetest frame” and “sinking sand” are really the same thing.  In your own words tell what these phrases refer to.  ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

c.      The Bible calls Christ a Rock and a Stone.  In what respect is Christ a solid rock?  _____________________________________________________________________

3.     We must agree with this Lord’s Day when it tells us that we have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them. In what way is this true of us?  ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

      This Lord’s Day takes a careful look at the relationship between righteousness and works, and also between grace and works.  There may be misunderstanding on these vital doctrines!

A.    The justice of God demands a perfect righteousness.

1.     By virtue of the fact that God is the only true God, the God of all authority, He is the one who constantly judges all things.

a.      Quote these passages that speak of God’s perfect righteousness.

1)     Deuteronomy 32:4 — “_______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

2)     I John 1:5, 6 — “____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

b.     The very best works which the child of God can do in this life are far from perfect; they are stained or defiled with sin.

1)     Mention several works or activities of the child of God that are or should be the best that he ever performs.  _____________________, _____________________, __________________________, and _________________________

2)     Show how even these works are defiled with sin.  _________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

3)     All this is taught in Isaiah 64:6, which states, “___________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

2.     Let us consider for a moment the possibility that our works were perfect (which they surely are not).  Could our works then merit with God?  _____________

a.      In military life there is something called “above and beyond the call of duty.”  A soldier can perform acts of bravery and heroism that no commander can expect of his soldiers.  Such deeds are rewarded and recognized with medals:  the medal of honor, the legion of merit, etc.

1)     Is it possible for man to do anything that is above and beyond the call of duty that comes from God?  ___________  Explain.  ______________________________ _________________________________________________________________

2)     Quote Luke 17:10 to prove your answer.  “______________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.”

b.     Read Romans 11:6 carefully.  In this passage, _______________ and _____________ are put in contrast.  Either we are saved by ____________________ and then we have cause to boast, or we are saved by _____________________ and we can never, never boast.

c.      It is true that God rewards us according to our works.  (See Rev. 22:12.)   But this reward is always of grace, because the works which we perform are God’s gift to us, and not ours to Him (see Eph. 2:8-10).   In other words, God chose us in grace, sent Christ in His grace, prepared good works for us to walk in by His grace, and rewards us by His grace.  It is all grace, and grace is undeserved favor!

d.     Circle the words in the following list that belong together, being consistent with the above discussion:  works, merit, reward, earn, grace, inheritance, wages, gift.

B.    The last part of our Lord’s Day deals with the question of what the doctrine of pure grace does to the spiritual life of a person.  Does this doctrine make men careless and profane?  ___

1.     Let us understand how the argument goes.  If our works cannot add to our righteousness before God, and the sins which we commit cannot subtract from it, will man not come to the conclusion that it doesn’t make any difference what he does or how he lives?  Will not man become careless and profane (wicked), since he is saved alone by grace in Christ?  We ought to notice that this charge was brought against the teaching of the apostle Paul as we find it in Romans 5.   The apostle senses that some might think that this is an excuse for sinful living.

a.      Quote his answer, found in Romans 6:2.   “__________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.”

b.     From verses 4 and 7, quote the phrases that prove that the doctrine of salvation by grace alone does not lead to a careless and profane life.  “______________________ _______________________________________________,” “__________________ __________________________________________________________________.”

2.     Positively, the Catechism tells us that it is impossible for those who are engrafted into Christ not to bring forth fruits of thankfulness or good works.

a.      Being engrafted into Christ means that as branches we live out of the vine which is Christ.  Quote John 15:5.   “______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________.”

b.     According to John 15:2 and 6, what happens to those people (branches) who do not bring forth fruit?  ______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

c.      Mention some good works which are the fruit of salvation.  ____________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

      This Lord’s Day begins the treatment of the means of grace, and of the sacraments especially.  Read Article 33 of the Belgic Confession at this time, and notice how similar the language is to Lord’s Day 25.

A.    The means of grace.

1.     All the benefits of salvation are in Christ our Savior.  We partake of, and enjoy, those blessings by faith.  The question now is, how is this faith worked, or where does it come from?

a.      The answer is, through the means of grace.  Means of grace are those means which God has chosen to use to bring to the child of God all the riches of salvation that are in Christ.

b.     According to the first answer of the Lord’s Day, which are the means of grace?  ______________________________________ and _______________________ __________________________________

c.      Who works through these means?  _______________________________________

d.     ___________________________ is the chief or more important means, because faith is ___________________________ through the preaching, and _________________ ____________________ by use of the sacraments.

2.     Because this is the only place in the Catechism where preaching is mentioned as a means of grace, we ought to understand clearly the scriptural idea of preaching here.

a.      Read Romans 10:10-17.   Read the passage again; then answer these questions:

1)     In order for a person to be saved he must ______________________________ ____________________________________________________.

2)     In order to call on the Lord a man must _________________________________.

3)     In order for a man to believe he must ___________________________________.

4)     In order to hear, there must be a _______________________________________.

5)     In order for a man to preach he must be _________________________________.

6)     In your own words, present the teaching of this passage, keeping in mind also verse 17.  _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

b.     Read Ephesians 4:8-12 carefully.

1)     When Christ ascended into heaven He gave __________________ unto men.  One of the gifts He gave to His people is the gift of preaching.

2)     Of this we read in verse 11.  Mention these gifts that were provided for the church:  __________________, __________________, ___________________, and _______________________________

3)     The purposes for which Christ gave the gift of the preaching of the Word of God are given us in verse 12.  List these purposes.

a)     ______________________________________________________________

b)     ______________________________________________________________

c)     ______________________________________________________________

3.     Today it is very common to try to replace the official preaching of the Word of God with various other things.

a.      Mention some of the things that are being substituted.  _______________________ ____________________________________________________________________

b.     Why is this so evil?  ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

B.    The sacraments in general.

1.     Sacraments are signs and seals of the righteousness that is by faith.

a.      What is the idea of a sign?  ______________________________________________

b.     What is the idea of a seal?  ______________________________________________

2.     Both the preaching of the Word and the sacraments point us to the same thing, namely, _______________________________________________________________________.

3.     There are various views as to the number of the sacraments:

a.      The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there are seven.  From some source, list these seven.  _________________, ___________________, ___________________, _________________, _________________, __________________, _____________

b.     From the Bible, however, we learn that there are but two sacraments, _____________________________ and ___________________________________.

4.     The Belgic Confession, Article 33, teaches us that God instituted these sacraments in the church on account of our ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________.

5.     Were there sacraments during Old Testament times?  _________  Were there institutions similar to sacraments?  __________  What were they?  ___________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

C.    True or False.

      ___ 1.  We do not need to hear the preaching of the gospel to be saved.

      ___ 2.  A man must be called and sent by Christ, through the church, if he is truly to be a

                  preacher of the gospel.

      ___ 3.  It doesn’t make any difference what a minister says from the pulpit as long as it is

                  true.

      ___ 4.  Preaching is the more important means of grace in the church.

      ___ 5.  Both sacraments present us with Christ crucified, as the only ground of our salvation.

      ___ 6.  It would be proper to have a sacrament administered in the church without a sermon.

      ___ 7.  Marriage is a sacrament because Christ is the Bridegroom of the church.

      ___ 8.  A child of God need not go to church as long as he lives faithfully.

      ___ 9.  A person must hear the voice of Christ in order to be saved.

      ___ 10.  The true preaching of the gospel is one way we may distinguish the true church from

                  the false.